BLUE CATFISH
Blue cats, Patterson reports, often hold in holes near the river's many rock wing dikes, where the main river current is diverted into the channel, creating a big circular rotation in the water below these structures. These holes are often over 50 feet deep and are found using a sonar fishfinder.

"I don't fish the eddy part of the rotation," Patterson noted. "Instead, I fish the current along the edges. I find that catfish in eddy water are not active. Active cats are along the edges. I want to be anchored and fishing right along the edge of the eddy."

Shad and skipjack herring are Patterson's preferred blue cat baits. "I use live shad a lot," he said. "I locate them by sight or with a depthfinder, then throw a cast net over them. Cut skipjacks also are good bait." The latter he catches using Mustad Piscator rigs, which have multiple drop lines tipped with tiny fly-like lures that the skipjacks find irresistible.

The three-way-swivel rig described earlier is Patterson's standard blue cat-catcher. "I anchor above the hole I intend to fish," he said, "then cast to the spot and let the reel free-spool until the weight hits bottom; sometimes I'll have out 200 feet of line. Blues usually hit hard and quick, so rod holders are necessary if you fish more rods than you can hold."

It would seem that a bait tossed to the edge of one of these huge vortices would swirl round and round, but when it's done properly, the bait will sink quickly to the bottom and remain stationary. Reposition your rig if necessary to achieve this end; then, prepare for the rod-jarring strike that will soon follow if a giant cat is nearby. Often, big cats cruise slowly through a hole, waiting for something to jolt their taste buds before they rush in to strike. Allow the bait to sit up to 10 minutes, but if there's no bite by then, move and try another eddy hole.

Because catfish are so common, it is difficult to pick one portion of the river over another when selecting the best fishing areas.

Strikes usually come quick and hard, so use heavy tackle, and keep a firm grip on your rod at all times. One moment of inattention could cost you the catfish of a lifetime. Clear, high-pressure days with a north wind are Patterson's favorites.

FLATHEAD CATFISH
"The flathead has a mystique all its own," Patterson said. "And part of that mystique relates to the difficulty of catching it. Even in waters like the Mississippi River, where flatheads are common, locating trophy-class specimens is not an easy task. In a big-river environment, water levels and water clarity are ever-changing, and the location of prime fishing spots is unpredictable day in and day out."