The Dan River Blue Catfish Feeding Mystery
Most Large rivers that flow throughout the Virginia landscape provide anglers with many opportunities to land more blue catfish, specifically when the water level is up. The debris from logs, limbs, fallen trees, and other structures upstream flush vast amounts of nutrients and cover for blue catfish of all sizes downstream.
The Dan River has a unique history behind its blue catfish feeding and spawning habits, especially during heavier rains. As the water rises above normal, bluecats gain an advantage over other catfish species when it comes to feeding. Their nesting habits require cover with steady currents. Unlike annual spawning periods, bluecats are found in the oddest places along the Dan River. The most common is no longer a mystery.
My knowledge of this was verified by other catfish anglers who fish the Dan River banks on a regular basis. One of which is a Dan River bank fishing legend, Mr. Joey Edwards. Mr. Edwards has over 30 years experience fishing for catfish along the Dan River. Bluecats, according to Edwards, swim upstream after heavy rains. The river swells to higher levels. The water quickly becomes discolored and rough. This is the prime time to have your bait in bank-side holes, under log jams, or floating structures.
Flathead catfish also occupy the Dan River waters. Despite the bluecat’s survival pattern, flatheads simply find it irresistible when bait fish hover around log jams. Bait fish take advantage of this period to feed on the microscopic organisms found in and around underwater logs and debris. These are prime areas to fish. The key cycle of spring and summer feed patterns of bait fish will send any Flathead into a feeding frenzy. Bluecats and flatheads share the same feeding habits found in heavy river current. This is a major factor when it comes to providing natural food washed downstream.
Flathead catfish roam around searching for log jams and back water holes for bait fish that stray outside the school. These powerful catfish will storm underwater log jams to disrupt the school in hopes to catch a weaker or injured bait fish. Contrary to belief, flathead catfish like to eat their food slow. Even when the attack is aggressive, they gently open that huge mouth and slowly engulf their food of choice. They are the slowest eating catfish. No other catfish prefers this feeding method.
Of the 200 mile long stretch of the Dan River, roughly 100 miles has some of the fiercest fighting blue catfish ever found in Virginia rivers. Mr Edwards has landed bluecats ranging from one pound to over seventy five pounds. His unique bank fishing method has proven that hard work pays off every time after a heavy rain. He swears by this and waits until the river starts to swell upstream. He monitors the river and debris levels. Sometimes, heavy rains will not loosen up debris, but will carry valuable natural resources down river to be recollected in smaller pockets of backwater. These smaller river havens attract bait fish and anglers alike.
Local anglers who know this prepare themselves early for the annual spring spawn. Only small catfish are kept for consumption, while larger ones are photo, weighed, and released back for stock. According to Mr. Edwards, it’s a huge challenge to land a blue catfish from a deep bank-side hole. One covered with structure from top to bottom. And one that could be potentially hazardous to your health, too! Roaming along the banks of the Dan River to locate a deep hole with structure and heavy current can very rewarding, but he claims you must know the way to avoid the dangerous terrain.
The real mystery behind landing lunker blue catfish in the Dan River has always been said you have to be in the right place at the right time. Use the catfish’s bait of choice in the right hole during the high water period and your chances of landing more bluecats will increase exponentially.
For example, let’s say you find a section to fish in the Dan River. You locate a log jam or deep hole with plenty of structure. And, you float your bait by a pile of logs. Suddenly, the line gets tight. The rod tip doesn’t twitch, but slowly bends. You wait to feel for the pickup and the fight is on. What has taken place is easy food for the catfish. What has occurred is the bait secretes an oil from the hook penetrating through the body of the bait. This oily substance creates curiosity and the catfish will come to investigate. If the meal looks inviting, the catfish will slowly place the bait fish in their mouth and take it to its eating place where it will be safe.
Fishing for catfish the Dan River isn’t for everyone. It takes dedication and extreme knowledge of the river for safer fishing. If you’re planning a fishing trip to the Dan River, be prepared to watch the weather, talk to the local experts, and make sure you have plenty of tackle! You will want to make sure your presentation of the bait is in constant view, wait for the pick-up, set the hook, reel it in and land the fish. If you try to skip anyone of these steps, you will not catch many fish. Sure, sometimes you can set the hook immediately, and get lucky once, however, if you learn how to master when to set the
hook, you’ll catch them every time. All that is required to catch big blues is simple intelligence, patience, and know when the time is right.
One of the most overlooked parts of fishing from the bank is that the Dan River increases in width every year. This particular river channel has a long history of cleaning itself from sediment and large structure after rainy periods. The water rushes downstream at a fast pace and anglers think they can go back and fish the same river hole every year, but that’s not true. The holes inside and under the banks are not going to be there next year. Don’t expect to go and catch catfish everytime, because what fun would that be? And, it would quickly get boring. You can also use many sizes of hooks, weights, and baits to use. Honestly, get used to whatever makes you feel comfortable and catch fish most of the time. Most importantly, have fun and stay healthy and stay dry!
