Some of the guide's favorite spots to fish include the mouth of Possum Creek, Elm Creek, and the Frio River arm above the FM 99 bridge. "The shallow flats adjacent to the creek channel usually get covered in hydrilla from mid to late summer," he offered. "Use your sonar and look along the channels and you can find plenty of open water to fish."

According to Atkinson, little Lake Corpus Christi, a few miles out of Mathis, is full of channel and blue catfish, as well as big flatheads. Trotlines and juglines set along the creek channels and baited with small live perch produce some big-fish action with flatheads and blues. "Just look for open water along the channels and set the baits 8 to 10 feet deep," he advised.

Big, clear and deep, Lake Amistad on the Texas-Mexico border near Del Rio provides catfish anglers with some of the most beautiful scenery in the state -- as well as plenty of channel and flathead catfish to tug on their lines! Charlie Rumfield, who's guided there for many years, reports that early summer will usually find the channel catfish in water 2 to 12 feet deep.

"The water here is gin-clear, and long casts are necessary to avoid spooking fish," said Rumfield. "I like to locate a windy bank with plenty of brush where the water is off-color and target channel catfish in shallow water this time of year. A slip-cork works best. We cast up close to the brush and allow the wave action to position the bait on the edge of the heavy cover. It's important to set the hook and begin reeling as soon as your floater indicates a bite."

Trotlines and juglines baited with live perch produce some jumbo flatheads. Fish in the 30- to 40-pound range are fairly common. The trick to jug-fishing is using a weight light enough to allow the wave and wind action to move the jugs along.

Rumfield is of the opinion that fishing should be equally good in the three rivers that form the lake, but he prefers fishing the Pecos arm, probably more out of habit than any other reason. The Devils River Arm and Rio Grande also provide good summer catfish action.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Catfish Tournaments
A.C.A.T.S. has several catfish tournaments scheduled for Texas. Here's a lineup of their summer tournaments: Toledo Bend, June 17; Whitney, August 12.

For more information, contact tournament director Dennis Rice at (918) 693-8519, or register online at www.catfishangler.com.

Catfish Guides
Amistad: Charlie Rumfield, (830) 774-3484; Choke Canyon: Carroll Atkinson, (361) 215-0766; Texoma: Roger Hill, (903) 818-FISH; Cedar Creek: Chris Watson, (903) 654-1765; Richland-Chambers: Bob Holmes, (214) 728-3310; Limestone: Keith Ginsel, (903) 529-3107.