Big River Blue Cats

Gearing Up—Heavy-duty tackle is a necessity. I’m now marketing rods of my own design, the Jim Moyer Boss series: 71⁄2-foot one-piece baitcasting sticks in light, medium, heavy, and extra-heavy powers. These strong E-Glass rods are perfect for river catfishing. For big blues I recommend the heavy- and extra-heavy-power rods.

I’m a longtime fan of Abu Garcia Ambassadeur wide-spool baitcasting reels like the 6500 and 7000 series. These have the line capacity, line-out feature, winching power, and reliability required for tackling big catfish. I usually spool my reels with 40-pound-test Berkley Trilene Big Game mono and use up to 60-pound test for leaders.

Baits and Rigs—Deadbaits rule for big blues and my favorite is skipjack herring. These big baitfish (up to 2 pounds) are abundant in rivers in my region and can be caught below dams on hook and line, using a spinning outfit with a couple of crappie tube jigs tied onto the line. Other regional bait favorites include goldeye, white suckers, chubs, and gizzard shad.

I used to insist on catching bait the morning of the trip, but I’ve discovered that if it’s refrigerated for 3 to 5 days, it consistently out-performs fresh bait. This storage time draws blood and oils toward its outer surfaces, enhancing the aroma and taste for catfish. I also keep frozen bait on hand in case I run out of fresh or refrigerated bait, preserving it in vacuum-sealed bags.

I use Gamakatsu circle and octopus hooks (mostly 8/0) on my rigs. Patience is required with circle hooks; don’t set the hook as soon as you detect a bite and expect many hookups. Instead, hold off a few seconds until the rod loads then give the rod a steady, sweeping set. Circle hooks catch 95 percent of the blues that bite—fish are usually hooked in the corner of the mouth or center of the lip, making for clean releases.

Keep plenty of spare line, hooks, swivels, and sinkers on hand, because hangups are just part of the game. And don’t try to break 40-pound line with your hands—wrap it around a boat cleat and move the boat to break it, instead.

Moyer’s Cumberland River Calendar

Dead of winter (water temperature: 35°F to 40°F)—This is the best time of year to catch giant blue cats, because they remain active and feed heavily in cold water. Target the midsection of the river, keying on ledges from 30 to 40 feet deep—spots that drop off quickly into deep water. If you’re unsure where to locate ledges, position your boat near the bank and idle slowly toward the middle of the river, watching on your graph to find where bottom cascades into deep water. Steeper ledges are better than areas with gradual depth changes.

Cover in the form of submerged trees, stumps, and logs is a big drawing card. Anchor upstream of the ledge with your boat’s bow facing into the current, then gradually let out enough rope to get into position. Make long casts parallel to the ledge, placing your baits between 30 and 40 feet deep. One of your rods typically gets the most bites, so once the productive depth has been determined, cast one or more rigs to the same contour, staggering them 10 to 15 yards apart.

Early spring (water temperature: 45°F to 55°F)—Blue catfish and most other river species generally make upriver moves as the water warms. I often find them within 5 or 6 miles upstream of where I was catching them in winter. Continue to fish steep, deep ledges, with most of your rigs in 30 to 40 feet of water. If it’s an unseasonably mild day and overcast, I often cast a rig on top of the drop, maybe 15 feet deep, to catch a roaming blue or a big flathead or two.