Alex Hinson shows off a big blue cat just below the Benzal bridge on the lower White River. Photo by Keith Sutton.

If you watched the weather forecast last night, watch it again tonight: Chances are good that the meteorologist has changed the prediction. Weathermen are as fickle as the weather itself.

When you read the following catfish forecast for Arkansas, however, you won't find me waffling on my predictions: There's no doubt that the waters I'm about to describe are sure bets for hot catfishing action in 2007. Anglers visiting these whiskerfish hotspots will have the opportunity to catch lots of "eating-size" cats and some trophy heavyweights as well. As a friend of mine likes to say, "Be there or be square."

ST. FRANCIS RIVER
Extraordinary populations of big flathead, blue and channel cats swim in this broad bottomland river, but besides local catfishing fanatics, few anglers ever sample the St. Francis River's bounty. Those fanatics report, however, that in recent years catfishing has improved here, and huge flatheads in particular seem to be more abundant than ever.

The river forms the border between Arkansas and Missouri's bootheel, continuing south past Lake City, Trumann, Marked Tree, Parkin, Forrest City and Marianna before spilling into the Mississippi River. Particularly good locations include the 10-mile stretch upstream from the Highway 64 boat ramp east of Wynne; the Sunken Lands area, which covers 30 miles of river between Monette and Marked Tree; and the portion skirting St. Francis National Forest near Marianna. Deep holes, outside channel bends, and areas above and below sandbars are good places to fish with favored local baits such as night crawlers, small sunfish and chicken liver.

LAKE CONWAY
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drew down the waters of 6,700-acre Lake Conway during 2006, but that's good news for catfishermen. When the lake refills during 2007, visiting anglers will be able to target the lake's numerous blue, channel and flathead catfish, which will have grown fat on the bounty of smaller fish they were crowded with when the lake was drawn down. One local angler showed me photos of several 30- to 60-pound flatheads he landed on trotlines and limblines last summer, proof of the potential of this lake to produce big cats. Conway also turns out some hefty blue cats (some over 40 pounds) and 2- to 10-pound channel cats are as common as bluegills. I heard numerous reports last year of Conway regulars taking 300 to 400 pounds of catfish a week in the deep pools (mostly old inundated lakes) that remained after AGFC pulled the plug.

This stump-filled lake two miles east of Conway can baffle the first-time visitor. Everything looks pretty much alike, so it's hard to decide where to fish. A sonar fishfinder will help you pinpoint the best areas, particularly inundated lakes and creek channels like Adams Lake, Greens Lake and Palarm Creek. These are excellent locations for baitfishing with a rod and reel, and none is that difficult to find if you inquire at local bait shops about their whereabouts. When you're in the general vicinity, you can run sonar to pinpoint each structure's exact location, and watch for signals indicating big fish holding near edges and on drops.