The information on this blog post is for action-packed Channel Catfish targeting large numbers! We do catch larger channel catfish with these tactics, but these methods are targeting big numbers in the cooler in a short amount of time! These tactics will put big channel cats in the net and some big blues too, but if you want Trophy Catfish on Lake Tawakoni follow Big Blue Catfish. Our Channel Catfish Season on Lake Tawakoni is fast-paced with lots of fish in a short amount of time! We like to call these outings Family Fish-Fry Trips!

Channel Catfish Tips from Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide Tony Pennebaker

We love to share our Channel Catfish Tips, Tricks, and Techniques with our clients but find most weekend anglers go about it the wrong way and that equals no fish fillets in the bag! Read this blog post and cut down on your Channel Catfishing errors and fill up that Igloo Cooler on Lake Tawakoni! Eater Channel Catfish are plentiful on Lake Tawakoni, but we do find a few trophies each summer. Lake

Tawakoni has huge blue catfish, and the average channel cat is one to five pounds using the techniques listed below. We love our Channel Catfish Season on Lake Tawakoni because it means big numbers and the action is fast and furious. With the proper gear, baits, and location catches of over 100 Channel Catfish in a few hours are not uncommon on Lake Tawakoni!

Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide Tony Pennebaker Top 5 Channel Catfish Tips

A successful Channel Catfish Angler will have the proper gear or equipment!  You don’t want to hold a heavy rod and reel all day can come home with a torn rotator cuff!

#1 Rod and Reel 

We like a 7’6″ rod that is light enough to hold all day and has the backbone to muscle a channel catfish to the net!  Channel Catfish have a light bite, hold your rod and set the hook quick!  Rod Holders will equal less Channel Catfish in the boat!  A 7’6″ rod helps with techniques like flipping, pitching or shooting and getting the bait in the right spots!  The reel is simple for Channel Catfish Anglers. 

You don’t need a lot of fishing line, just a smooth functional reel with a good drag will do the trick!  It’s hard to go wrong with an Abu Garcia 5000 Series. This reel is a great size for channel catfish and has a good drag system. If you take care of the 5000 Series Reels they can last for a lifetime.  Get them cleaned and serviced once a year!

#2 Fishing Line

Your line is the direct link between angler and fish!  Don’t go cheap and don’t worry about the line color on Lake Tawakoni.  Channel Catfish are not line shy, and Lake Tawakoni is far from gin clear.  Don’t go too heavy on your fishing line!  These are not 60 pound Blue Catfish.  We prefer 12-pound monofilament in orange or yellow.  Stren Catfish Mono is what we like to use on Lake Tawakoni! 

#3 Hooks and Weights

We use treble hooks and they have to be very sharp.  We don’t get caught up in the color of the hook because we use punch bait and will discuss this topic in the next section.  If the hook does not come out of the box and make a scratch line on your thumbnail, find a new hook.  The treble hook should stick on your thumbnail and make a scratch line.  Keep a hook file and sharpen your channel catfish treble hooks often.  We like a size 4 or 6 treble hook.  Don’t go too big with your treble hooks and punch bait. 

The mouth of a Channel Catfish is very tough so don’t go cheap on your hooks!  Weights are very easy!  Use the least amount of weight on your Channel Catfish rig as possible.  Channel Catfish bite very light and when they get any resistance when they take your bait, they will drop it.  If you keep missing Channel Catfish try downsizing your split shot.

#4 Slip Sinker Channel Catfish Rig

We use a slip bobber catfish rig for Tawakoni Channel Cats

The Slip Bobber Catfish rig is great for Channel Cats on Lake Tawakoni.  We fish a lot of shallow water (less than 10 feet) and like to suspend baits near timer.  Channel Catfish bite lite and the slip bobber will give you a visual before you feel the tug!  A very simple rig and it catches fish.  We plan on shooting some Catfish Rig videos this summer.

#5 Punch Bait

The best Catfish bait for Lake Tawakoni Channel Cats is punch bait!  When the Summer Channel Catfish Season starts (June) on Lake Tawakoni, there is no better bait for numbers of channel catfish than punch bait! It is quick to rig and very effective on Channel Catfish between 1 to 10 pounds.  You can find plenty of brands with a google search.  We use several brands and don’t want to turn this blog post into an advertisement.  For more information please follow Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide Tony Pennebaker.

About The Author

Meet Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide Tony Pennebaker!  Tony is the owner-operator of laketawakonicatfishguide.com and Thunder Cove Guide Service.  Tony targets trophy blue catfish from November to March and puts big fish in the net!  Spring and summer you will find Tony chasing Channel Catfish!  Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide Tony Pennebaker has over 30 years experience fishing Lake Tawakoni and now is a full-time guide! Tony loves to show clients why Lake Tawakoni is the Catfish Capital of Texas!

Source: Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide-Tony Pennebaker

Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide Tony Pennebaker Contact Information 

Corporate Headquarters
2201 E Rabbit Cove Rd.
West Tawakoni, TX 75474
903-474-3078
[email protected]