Don looks like alot of good advice acouple things I might add is most spawning cats prefere water temps 75 to 80 degrees give or take a couple degrees and can start from May and run threw July. Remember that catfish have one of the longest spawning periods of all fresh water fish and just because they are spawning in one area of a lake doesn't mean they will be spawning a few miles down the lake.As for blues and channels most times I catch a mess of males first for they are usally the first to show up and create a bedding area.If you notice bite marks and red fins as mentioned before its a good sign of fish marking there area.Both like places with easy access to food so look for areas that have good populations of shad and other fish. I've found very good flathead fishing during the spawn around bedding bluegill and downed timber.As for bait channel cats will eat about anything blues and flats prefer live or fresh kill.Shad,skipjack,mooneye,bluegill,suckers,bullhe ad,buffalo,and of coarse greenworms,nightcrawlers,catalpa are all good bait. Sorry to ramble hope this helps heck we need to get together..I talk alot better than I type. Chuck