We quickly scooped up several, threaded them onto catfish hooks, and sent them to the bottom with sinkers. It was as if the catfish were waiting down there for just such an event. I soon had an 8-pound channel cat in hand. We caught a mess of big cats that day.

Live shad, minnows and waterdogs have likewise proven highly productive in this prime lake.

Some of the many bait and tackle dealers in the Ute Lake/Logan region include Ute Junction at (505) 487-2330, Minnow Ranch at (505) 487-2286, Ruf-Nec Tackle at (505) 487-2406 and Ute Lake Marina at (505) 487-2349.

LAKE VAN
Last year, I would have directed you to Lake McMillian/Branley State Park, on the Pecos River between Artesia and Carlsbad, as a sure-thing catfish hotspot. It's a relatively new still water, constructed within the past 15 years. This makes the lake especially fertile, with plenty of shad and crayfish to fatten catfish quickly. But high levels of DDT have been found in several fish, and the lake has now become essentially catch-and-release.

This has transformed Lake Van into the southeastern New Mexico's new catfish hotspot. Also, being just down the road from New Mexico Game and Fish's Dexter fish hatchery, it receives additional influxes of fresh stockers that were formerly headed to Branley. In fact, Lake Van receives the heaviest stocking of all species in the southeast region.

The potential for big channel cats is fair. Stockers are suckers for any of the typical aromatic baits offered commercially. But once a cat has established itself in the lake, shad in any form is more likely to produce results. Live shad, dead shad, cut shad, are all good bets on this water.

Live crayfish should also be productive. The lake has a healthy population of largemouth bass, so using live bait for cats increases your likelihood of hooking a potential trophy bucketmouth as well.

Fishing from shore is good on this relatively small impoundment, but a small rowboat or canoe gives you more access to lightly fished holes in the middle of the lake.

ALBUQUERQUE AREA DRAINS
Just because you live in the big city doesn't mean you have to drive far to catch a catfish dinner. The Albuquerque metro area is not far from a number of large drainage ditches and city ponds that Game and Fish stocks heavily for the enjoyment of Duke City anglers.

These waters can be located easily from Bernalillo to the north, down to Belen to the south. Tingley Beach Lake is found right in the middle of town and stocked heavily. Other possibilities include, from north to south, Bernalillo, Corrales Riverside, Albuquerque Riverside, Peralta and Belen Riverside drains.

These waters get regular angling pressure, so are essentially put-and-take waters. Baits with a strong odor normally attract the most attention from uneducated hatchery cats. This makes sure bets of garlic cheese, stinkbaits and dough, PowerBait, salmon eggs and canned corn.

We all fish for different reasons, but our most common denominator is that we want to feel that tug that means we've caught a fish. Catfish can certainly provide that thrill. With their deeply forked tails and tenacious attitudes, they will fight harder, pound-for-pound, than even the renowned largemouth bass.

More to the point, landing a catfish is normally much easier than catching nearly any other species. They live in any type of water, and always seem to be hungry and ready to bite. And, of course, they taste pretty darn good from the skillet as well.

Try these hotspots this summer to find your thrills, and perhaps bring home some succulent filets for a summertime catfish fry.