Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Show off your catch I feel incompetent.

Hope that someone can lead me out of this funk....


My situation is that I need to catch some of the CC in my pond. The last three times I have tried I have been foiled by:

1: Turtles. They will get to the bait before the catfish can.
2) Bluegills. I know some would say Im terribly lucky but the big bluegill have taken whole 16 count shrimp...i mean swallowed them. By the time the bait falls it seems there is an underwater race between these slab BG and the stupid turtles.

I Have tried Chicken liver..less BG issues but turtles seem to love them.
I have not even considered worms.
I have tried prepared bait like "Gulp" and shad with little or no success.


So, masters of the pondworld....what would you do if you were me?

I would cut up one of those Bluegills, and use the chunks as bait for the CC....
Cut BG is my favorite catfish bait. The turtles will still find it, though.

Have you tried feeding the CC with floating fish food? I discovered that my catfish took to it in about three days. Now, when we want a CC, I just throw out some feed, wait about 2 minutes until the CC get there, and cast out my chunk BG bait. We'll usually have one in less than 5 minutes from start to finish. It's almost boring.

What kind of turtles are you dealing with?

Take out the turtles and keep searching for the CC. All my CC prefer one small area of my pond. I may catch them elsewhere occasionally, but ALWAYS in that one CC honeyhole ledge in 4-6' deep water.

If you have so many turtles they are taking bait, you need to thin them way down anyway.

Personally, I only use chicken livers on #2 treble hooks.

I started thinning the herd yesterday.


Im in the process of building a Grass Carp Bow fishing Platform for the shallow end where the devils hang out just out of bow range from the bank. After I hauled the new experiment to its spot, I cleaned up tools and fed fish. As soon as the fish food hits the water you will see a couple or 4 or 5 Turtles stick up their heads and move toward the fish feeding. So, with my trusty Ruger 22 pistol, I counted coup on 5. They lost interest after that.

Mr Sparkplug, I do feed and the CC eat readily. But I have found that if I fish when feeding, I may catch one cat then they are out of there for at least 45 minutes. Sensitive i guess seeing a brother or sister taken to the stringer...

But thats a slow way, fun , but slow to kill turtles.

One observation...the CC could be 2 feet from said Turtle and the shot seemed to have little or no effect on them. BG's just ignore it and go on feeding.

A number of years ago I found Pond Boss becaue of my problem with a pond full of monster catfish that were regularly outsmarting me. I`m on top of a 5000 foot mountain with inly my Kndle so I can`T add links. But if you search my name and catsish you will find a number of good links about catching big cats.

Probably the most effective method was using raw shrimp. Near sundown I`d cut several of the shrimp into pieces and throw them into the water near where I would be fishing. Then I'd put a shrimp on a #4 circle hook on a pole with 16-20# line. No weights. Nothing else. Sit back and wait. Let the fish run for several seconds with it before setting the hook.

Mr Catmandoo...I agree shrimp has worked great when the catfish can get to it.....but last week I used 22 shrimp and caught zero cats in 4 hours....turtles were thrilled and i did enjoy catching those monster BG.

If you use live bluegill as bait, maybe the turtles wouldn't get them so quick.

I put my minnow trap under the dock this afternoon while mowing. The six tiny bluegill from the trap caugt four bass that were about 10 inches each. But, the BG also helped catch an 18 and 20 catfish. The bluegill were 1 to 1-1/2 inches.

I'm down to 6 large CC. I recently caught a 11.5 pounder by using a 4 inch BG with no cork or weight. If I use a cork, they ignore the bait.

Toss out some feed to get them interested and then quit and toss out the BG. I doubt that you will catch more than one per outing. Those old boogers have figured me out.

"Those old boogers have figured me out."

You might have that wrong....let me take a crack at it.

"Those old boogers have figured this old booger out."

That might be more accurate.

If the old booger factor is involved then no wonder Im at a loss. Maybe its the bibs. Next time ill dress different and carry one of the boys ipod things and wear those little speakers in my ears. Old boogers can be crafty.

I have some aged turkey necks in the freezer if you would like to try them for catching those CC.

I can ship them via US mail so they will be fully thawed upon arrival.

Now thats country....