continued. . .

How To Catch Them
How you fish depends on what kind of catfish you're after. Just like in lakes without strong currents, channel cats are typically caught at or near the bottom, while blues are more likely to be suspended.

Procell ties a weight on the end of his line, then attaches one or two 4- to 6-inch drop lines about 18 inches up from the weight. He uses #2 hooks and finds Danny King's Punch Bait to be one of the most effective prepared baits on the market.

Whether to fish power plant lakes during the day or night is a matter of personal preference based on comfort and convenience. Guides report that nighttime trips aren't necessarily more productive than daytime outings since water temperatures don't vary that much on a daily basis. However, a good rule of thumb is to look at the bigger picture – during the heat of the summer, people should migrate their patterns away from the hot water source and should move closer to the discharge area during the winter months.

Power plant lakes can offer some excellent fishing and are generally under-utilized. The lack of fishing pressure combined with the fact that many of these lakes are regularly stocked by Texas Parks and Wildlife add up to good opportunities to catch some big catfish for those who know what to look for.