Pay Lake Catfishing!!!!

[flippinstick]

Has anyone been to any paylakes? Which lakes, any fish being caught, and what bait was being used? Any information would be great. I am wanting to go here soon and would like to catch some fish. Also if anyone has any recipes they would like to share that would be great too.

[pastorbass]

In the Bowling Green area, Shorty's paylake seems to be "the catfish paylake".

Also, the weekend of the 4th you can go to the catfish festival and fish in the river tournament. A guy at church said There is a tagged fish swimming around worth $50,000.00 (biggest payout in a long time) with other tagged fish at other amounts.

[tglass]

What area do you live in? I live in NKY and fish a bunch of paylakes in and around Cincy. I am actually going to one tonight. If you are up this way i can tell you what i know.

[flippinstick]

I live in louisville, what are some your most productive baits. I know alot of people make some weird stuff. I go to the lakes around here now but would like to hear about some different baits and lakes.

[adam7456]

Fresh catalpa worms is your best bait. If not fresh then frozen ones but only if they were processed right. If frozen they need to be kept alive for a day or two and then frozen in tap water. When you get them to the lake keep them in tap water until you put them on the hook. Most other methods will turn the worms black and the insides brown. Good frozen catalpa worms will ooze white when you put them on the hook. If they don't they weren't processed right.

There is a pay lake near Lousiville that a friend of mine fishes at. They allow you to take unlimited fish on your ticket. Over the weekend he pulled out 150lbs of catfish using his frozen catalpa worms. No one else was catching anything there including the people that threw their lines over top of his and then crowded him out.

[Stonewall2002]

I used to fish "Catfish Haven" in Southwest Jefferson Co. One of the better pay lakes that I know of. In addition to the main lake they have a bonus pond that they allow you to fish for an extra fee (I think, I'm not sure how that works, its been some time since I last fished there). They are open 24 hours a day.

Also, down Dixie Highway just a couple of miles is Horseshoe Lake. I've never fished it but a buddy of mine says he has had alot of luck there, landing some that have gone over 20. A few years ago someone pulled a catfish weighing over 90lb out of Catfish Haven.

Good luck and let us know how you do. I have always been curious about what pay lakes are better than others.

Does anyone know if there are any Bass pay lakes?

Keep on chuckin'

[bighunter]

I have been to Catfish Haven and done very well on bluegiil and nightcrawler. I have also been by Horseshoe and it was a ghost town they are only stocking a few hundred lbs a week not everyday (not even of Saturdays). There is another pay lake around southern Louisville called Childress, have haven't been this year but have been in years past a done very well.
Bighunter

[blkbassinrangr]

I used to fish paylakes until I got a boat this year. My favorite was Childress in South Louisville. Been once this year due to engine problems and got about 7 in hour and a half on a Tuesday. Second lake is best all around, but top lake is good at night with cut bluegill. Impossible on weekends and holidays with crowding and numbers. 5-10 minutes from there is Bob's Pay Lake, shallow lake with several monsters in it, but they close early on the weekdays, but 24hrs on weekend. Smaller fish than Childress, but with live gills or rock bass, there are some monsters to be had 30, 40, 50 pounders that are catch and release with heaviest of week winning money. There's Catfish Haven, another closer to bullitt county, but can't recall name, Gilbert's opposite turn for Childress. Bill's and Maryville Lake(I believe that is the name), in Indiana. But I would take Childress' second lake over all the others on any given day. He stocks good size and numbers, with no limit in the second and third lakes. As far as bait, it's up to your imagination. I have caught them on everything from wax worms, strawberry shrimp, yellow chicken to hamburger bait that has sat in the sun for weeks. They can be tempremental at times, but usually when the bite at Childress, it's a school, not a stragler.

[DJ]

I recently took my father on the last fishing trip of his life as he has terminal cancer. We went to catfish haven and caught a few fish with very easy access to the waters' edge. I even hooked a 3 1/2 LM on 1/8 oz chartreuse spinner bait. Don't overlook bucketmouths in these waters.

[mhall]

>I recently took my father on
>the last fishing trip of
>his life as he has
>terminal cancer. We went
>to catfish haven and caught
>a few fish with very
>easy access to the waters'
>edge. I even hooked
>a 3 1/2 LM on
>1/8 oz chartreuse spinner bait.
> Don't overlook bucketmouths in
>these waters.
>

DJ, I am very sorry to hear about your dad. I know all too well how it feels to loose your father. Hang in there and may God be with you and your family during this time of need.

[HoskiFishin]

Does anybody know where to get catalpa worms??? My in-laws have a catalpa tree in their back yard but when do the worms appear? And what does the tree and worm look like? I am not sure which tree it is?? THANKS!!!

[JimDicken]

Best Catalpa Worms frozen in Louisville come from Smyrna Bait and Tackle.. but call them to make sure they have them. They process their own and do it right. www.smyrnabait.com
Jim