These areas are great for catching channels and blues if they're present. Flatheads prefer slower current, but may often be found at the base of the scour hole immediately downstream. Dams provide shoreline anglers with great opportunities to catch fish, too, and most of them offer convenient public access.

FISH ISOLATED COVER
How many times have you chosen not to fish an area because you knew you'd hang up every second cast? If you say "Never," you probably don't fish very much. But the fact is, most of us do frequently ignore such places. On waters that are not heavily fished, it's usually no big deal. We can find plenty of cats in easily accessible areas without having to worry about snags, lost tackle or broken shear pins. But to have the best luck on waters that receive heavy fishing pressure, it's often necessary to get into the thickest snags and ugliest backwater areas.

Heavy wood tangles, backwaters, flooded areas, stump fields, and the like are among the most productive areas to target on heavily fished waters. Those little snags of wood you'll find on the main river or lake are not the places to be. Every passing angler has already battered such spots with a wide assortment of cut baits, stink baits, live baits -- you name it.

Not every nasty pile of timber or brush will hold fish, either. Be prepared to move frequently and make your approach and presentation as carefully as possible. Big fish did not grow big by being gullible.

Use heavy line and stout tackle when targeting areas of heavy cover, because you'll need to get the fish out quick. Some anglers use un-weighted rigs, often just a hook and bait, which helps prevent hang-ups. Drop your bait inside all the various pockets, niches and openings in the structure, and be sure your bait reaches the bottom, where most catfish hold. Cover each area slowly and thoroughly before moving on.