By Keith Sutton

The channel cat is the pinup of the catfish world - sleek, muscular and one of the best of all reasons to be a country kid with school just out and a farm pond nearby.

Fishing for these widespread whiskerfish is beautifully simple. Yet many ardent cat fans take this simplicity a step too far. They have one favorite place to fish, one favorite rig to use, one favored bait and one way to go about it. And if those don't produce . . . well, there's always next time.

Fact is, you can greatly improve your catfishing success by trying a few new tricks and by focusing your fishing effort on the most attractive catfish habitat in whatever water you do fish. Use favored approaches when they're producing cats. But when the old standbys fail, the following pointers could help your catch rate soar.

Cut baits are pieces of sliced baitfish. Body fluids from these baits attract cats over long distances. Use oily fish when possible - shad, herring, goldeye and the like - but when these aren't available, almost any baitfish will suffice.

Cut bait is prepared many ways. Some anglers fillet strips from the sides or belly of the fish, saving the carcass and entrails for later use. Others cut the bait in chunks - head, midsection, tail. Vary what you use until you determine what catfish want.

Match the bait's size to the fish you're likely to catch. In waters with few cats over 5 or 6 pounds, use 1- to 2-inch chunks or strips of cut bait. Where bigger cats are common, 3- to 4-inch-long baits aren't out of place.

Zach Sutton hoists a nice channel cat. Channel catfish angling is simple fishing, which is part of what makes it so popular. Photo by Keith Sutton

Other channel cat honeyholes in small to midsize rivers include eddies, boulders, low-head dams, logjams and channels to backwaters.

When still-fishing from shore, it's important to set up where action will be best. The area just below a river dam provides some of the best channel cat action, especially if you can cast to the slack-water areas between open gates. Many bank-fishermen set up below tributaries or at the junction of two rivers. Fishing near fallen trees at the head of a deep pool on an outside bend of the river also can lead to good catches. Carry rod holders that have long, sturdy spikes at the bottom to permit secure upright placement.

When still-fishing from a boat, carry two anchors to position your craft sideways in good holes. This way, your rods are spread out to cover more water and avoid tangles. Try to pinpoint prime catfishing spots, such as channel edges and humps, then narrow your fishing zones down to a few best areas - a stumpfield near the channel edge, for example, or a large snag along a riprapped bank. Position your boat for best access to the structure you've chosen, then cast your bait to that spot and wait for a bite.

When in a boat, use a drift rig comprised of a slinky or bottom-bouncer sinker placed on the line above a barrel swivel to which is attached a 2- to 3-foot leader with a 3/0 hook on the end. A small bobber added on the leader just above the hook floats the bait above the bottom so catfish can see it. Drift with the wind, or using a trolling motor, move back and forth over areas with catfish-attracting structure.

When wading or bank-fishing on a river, you can drift your bait beneath a bobber. This allows the bait to move naturally downstream, responding to the current. Use a slip-bobber on the line above your baited hook, and as the rig drifts, guide it alongside catfish-holding structure and cover. Keep a tight line at all times, and feed line as the bait moves downstream. Drift by one side of a hole, then down the other and finally right down the middle. If possible, shift sides of the river now and then to present baits in every likely spot as you move.

Keep your rod tip high when drifting a bobber rig. This keeps most of the line off the water, resulting in better rig control and hooksets.

Stick to traditional approaches when they're producing cats. But remember: When other tactics fail, the tips presented above can make your catch rate soar. Give them a try.