Shares key rigging intel for targeting big cats
LAKESIDE – Trout season is running full speed at Lake Jennings, but alternate species are giving anglers extra options even at this point in the heart of winter. Winter is actually a favorite time of year for trophy catfish anglers, and a well-known and highly-decorated catfish hunter recently bagged a nice one at Lake Jennings, and he’s just getting started.
“Jennings has night fishing once a month until the summer, so I wanted to take advantage of the first real measurable rainfall,” said Ronson ‘Catmando’ Smothers who long-time WON readers will recognize from his big-catfish exploits at Irvine Lake and beyond. “Last month, I attended the night session and found solid 4- to 6-pound channels in the shallows along the tules in 4 to 10 feet of water on mack chunks. Unfortunately, I had to leave them while they were biting to get back to the docks on time.”
Smothers went back to the same spot for a morning session but did not get a bite in over an hour, so he headed over to the dam where he has found some success in the past.
“I was using mack heads, so when the line started peeling off my reel, I knew it was going to be something solid,” said Smothers. “I was fishing 30-pound test with a mack head pinned to an 8/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook, which is by all means my favorite hook. Using larger baits may lower the number of bites, but I only fish for a couple bites and quality, not quantity anymore.”
Smothers told WON he’s a little rusty, so he let the fish run for a full minute before setting the hook, and he was able to see the fish for a good chunk of the battle in the clear water at Lake Jennings.
“This is the only lake I’ve actually fished in 70 to100 feet and caught fish,” he said. “The water is so clear there that I could see the cat 20 feet down as I was reeling it in. That was it for the day. I only fish lakes that have fish over 100 pounds in it. If not, I’m wasting my time. This was a very good start for the year.”
“Catmando” has been busy off the water, but he’s clearly making a point to get back into the catfish game on a regular basis. He said he’s monitoring conditions for the right time to strike at Jennings again, but don’t be surprised to see him stalking giants at San Vicente, Lower Otay and Lake Wohlford.
Lake staffers reported more catfish being pulled from Siesta Cove and Shadow Cove by anglers using cut mackerel or dip baits. The water temperature is 57 degrees near the dock, and the water is very clear. Another 1,500-pount trout plant is slated for this week (February 17), and the previous delivery of that size went in on February 3.
