Autumn Reflections on South Fork & Channel Cats

The brown leather journal was wedged on a shelf of a steel bookcase in the basement at In-Fisherman headquarters. It was inconspicuous among the large collection of archived books, reports, and other 30 year old documents set aside for safe keeping.

No telling how long it had been there. It’s well worn and the binding is splitting at the ends. No evidence of who the author is, or to whom specifically it belongs to here. Inside the front cover is a small piece of personal stationary with the monogram ‘B.H.C.’ The short note reads:

“My husband loved to fish for catfish. He’d take the old boat down to the South Fork so often after he retired. He looked forward to receiving your magazine in the mail, and especially enjoyed the articles about catfishing. Perhaps your group would appreciate this most, so it seemed fitting to send it to you.”

The journal’s pages contain about three and a half years of handwritten entries, a self-reporting of one man’s experiences from time spent on a small river, South Fork. Noteworthy is his knack for reading the river and how he adapts to the changing conditions. Here we share selected entries from one fall season. We also have added some supporting notes along the way about what we’ve learned about principle patterns for catfish in small rivers this season.

Sept. 9: I etched another waterline on the trestle footing at Parker’s Crossing. The level is typical for this time of year. The marks from the last two years are underwater, probably about 8 inches to a foot. Clean running all the way from Parker’s to Sandy Flat below Fence Pool. Pulled the boat through Sandy, with easy going upriver at least another mile to the top end. Eleven channel catfish to 4 pounds.

Sept. 12: Went upriver again today. Sunny and mild. Caught 7 nice catfish, biggest about 6 pounds. The upper section is holding quite a mess of fish this year, not like the last couple, and some bigger ones, too. Each good hole is still producing 3 to 5 fish. Water holding at about 4 feet in some of the deep spots where the catches are best.

Editor’s Note: Channel catfish display seasonal migratory behaviors, one type being to search out spawning sites during the Prespawn Period. Most often this movement is in an upstream direction and can cover long distances, either from lower sections of rivers into smaller upstream reaches or side tributaries, or from reservoirs up into feeder creeks—areas often containing the best spawning cover.

Catfish often continue to hold in upstream reaches throughout summer and into early fall if water quantity and quality remain suitable. (The reference to water levels at Parker’s Crossing suggests flows were good.) Consistent summertime flows maintain appropriate depths in pools and refresh otherwise stagnant water. Higher water levels also maintain connectivity among adjacent habitats for localized feeding excursions.

A stream no wider than 20 feet with pools often no more than 3 feet deep can hold cats into the late summer-early fall period. In dryer summers, often during July into August, flows can become too low in small streams to support catfish. Expect catfish to retreat downriver earlier in summer under these conditions.

Sept. 15: This morning I motored into the second big turn up from Fence Pool and the river looked different, making me second guess for a moment where I was. I realized that Big Cottonwood had finally fallen, blown over in the strong winds of the storm last night. It’s remarkable that the big deadhead stood this long, leaning over, most of the roots exposed from the river working under it.

The rootball is wider than my fishing rod is long, must be 8 feet from end to end. It has pulled up a good portion of the bank soil, and the trunk’s resting in the water at the edge of the river. Several of the thick, remaining limbs are blocking passage and need to be cut back, just enough to get through. What a fine spot this will make for catfishing next year, even better later, once the water digs out a good hole beneath it. Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a fish or two here already, taking refuge in the big tree. Bring the saw.