Setting up near these spots and fishing a hunk of cheese bait or cut shad under a cork can work quite well on channel catfish. The channels that hang around these spots typically run between 1 and 2 pounds -- perfect for the frying pan.

Spring and summer are the peak times here. The areas most likely to prove fruitful will be found in the river channel and creeks feeding into the main lake.

SAM RAYBURN
Most anglers know Rayburn as one of the chief spots in Texas for catching a lunker largemouth, and it's attracted some publicity recently for its magnificent crappie fishing. However, few realize is that this lake harbors significant numbers of channel catfish, a lot of which hang out over brushpiles set out for crappie.

The guys from work might think you're crazy when you pull up to a big brushpile in open water and tell them that this is where you're going to fish for cats. But when they start catching big fish, their attitudes will change!

People know that brushpiles provide structure and draw in baitfish, and so attract for crappie. But catfish too like structure, and naturally prey on baitfish. Brushpiles are accordingly a magnet for hungry cats of all species.

Rayburn's brushpile fishing sees a peak in late spring, but it turns on in the fall as well. Anglers unfamiliar with brushpile locations should cruise the lake with a good pair of polarized sunglasses and look for submerged marker buoys set out by hardcore crappie anglers; these usually contain a bunch of fish. Anglers typically bait them with cottonseed cake, which draws not only panfish but plenty of cats as well.

To ensure a successful brushpile catfishing trip, you can do no better than to stay on top of all aspects of the fishing process. Pay special attention to your electronics: When you run around some of the markers, you'll probably come across a smallish brushpile right off, but there are usually bigger ones around it, and those will be the ones with most of the fish.

Last year was a banner catfish year for Rayburn -- and 2005 looks to be even better!

FAYETTE COUNTY RESERVOIR
This 3,000-acre power-plant reservoir near La Grange is loaded with opportunities for blues and flatheads.

The top spot to catch them lies at the outfall canal; the top times are at night and early in the morning during the early spring and late fall, when cool water temperatures push baitfish into the warm water and in turn lure in the catfish.

Fish with large balls of night crawlers or earthworms, or use cut carp for the best results. Float these on a slip-cork; feel free to pop the cork frequently to get the attention of local cats.

Most bait camps in the area sell waterdogs, a larval form of the tiger salamander. Anglers ordinarily use them to bag large largemouths -- but they also do good service with the cats. Rig them on a medium- to heavy-action rod fitted with a dependable casting reel spooled with braided or fusion line and finished off with a Kahle hook. Rig the waterdog through both lips and put a small split shot weight about a foot above it. Drift it over grassbeds, or target the spillway or riprap along the dam.