Growing up in a Tom Sawyer-like existence, it was only natural that Larry Woodward would become a catfishermen. Woodward, a veteran angler, guide and television host, has lived on the Mississippi River all his life. He loves those whiskered wonders that prowl the big muddy. Sometime back we sat down at a dinner and he explained how to catch catfish on a crankbait.
It is probably no surprise that Woodward would pioneer a new technique for catching cats with crankbaits.
Woodward states that his technique works best from the first part of May to the first part of August in most years. He is quick to state that the water conditions need to be right. Those conditions are clear water and a slow flow. “The slower the flow the better,” says Woodward. “The water does not have to be super clear,” explains Woodward, “But, you need good water quality and slow current.” It does not work in tailwater type conditions.
Larry believes his technique will work in lakes, rivers and ponds. “It works anywhere there are rip rap banks next to deep water,” explains the cat master.
“I fish a couple different crankbaits,” says Woodward. One is a Rebel Deep Teeny Wee-R and the other is the Rebel Deep Wee diving crayfish bait. He likes the 3 inch bait with a dark brown or black back and a hot red or pink belly. Other combinations of colors that work for Woodward are chartreuse/lime, chartreuse/orange, and brown/orange. Larry is quick to add that when the fish are really biting, he thinks that it does not matter what color is on the lure. https://dongasaway.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/crankbaits-for-catfish/