Cats

first a few questions for you. when and where are you going to try for these cats. to answer your question as stated would take a long time.

cray

I've got the same question. I'll be fishing the river anywhere from stateline threw garden of eden by boat. during the day. My place is in garden of eden so at night I'll be shore fishing my bank on the back of the island.

I mostly fish around hunting area 9 and the state park area. I usually fish from may to october. Also, any bass info would be very helpful as well. Thanks in advance

egan i cant help ya bud. tom i can help you tho. in the spring i dont target the cats. but in the summer when hellgramites are around i go hard after the cats. helgrammites hide under rocks near the waters edge. nasty little suckers. be careful theyve got pincers. fish these guys under a float through pools below a riffle. in late summer and early fall i have to say that a rebel craw will consistently catch big cats....along with everything else. stick to deeper pools. mainly find an area where your comfortable that has deeper water and riffles nearby. get to know it real good and youll take cats. the boat launch and its pipelines and pools has good catfishing

cray

Follow cray's advice! The hellgies will get you big smallies and kitties on consecutive casts in the same hole. Always fun to navigate a 10 lb. flathead while waist deep in the river.25
From Momence to the state line, look for any deeper area...especially outside river bends.
I have success vertical jigging a crawler on a mono leader below a 1/2 oz. egg sinker. We could go on and on about this topic, there are so many methods. Floating livers...shrimp...etc.

Thanks for the info! enjoy fishing the river this year!