It’s summertime — let’s get on the river and go catfishin’

Agood time for Yumans to be on the river is summertime when catfish are biting like crazy. Choose low light times of the early morning and night when it’s hot and muggier than all get-out and go prepared to stay awhile. Be sure to take along plenty of drinking water and mosquito repellent (with DEET is best). Snacks are also good to have along.

Try early mornings for channel catfish with prepared stink baits, a No. 6 treble hook and a light bait-casting rod with 3/8 to 1/2 ounce bullet sinkers. Or fish minnows and worms in pools next to undercut banks, below rock piles and fallen trees, at deep bends of the river, at points and at gravel bars where there’s a break in the current. Also watch for brush-filled sandy bottoms, drop-offs near river channels, points and islands. One fellows favorite bait is leaf chewing tobacco wrapped around and dangled from a treble hook, another tried-and-true enticer is salted minnows, and if all else fails, try (no kidding) white or pink marshmallows. Add a bobber to keep your offering just off the bottom and to keep you from hanging up. Nightcrawlers and shrimp also work for bait. Even bits of hot dogs do the trick at times. Be careful not to set the hook too soon after you feel a bite. Let the fish get the bait in its mouth first. Keep the drag set light — if you tighten the setting too much, the cat might snap the line.

If it’s a real fun and hefty fight you want, go after the big ugly flathead catfish. Flatheads are most active when water temperatures are in the 70s and 80s. Watch for areas with a steady water flow and a hardened mud or gravel bottom. The outside bends of the river are among the most productive spots, especially where trees have dropped into the water and the current has dug deeply into the bank — forming undercuts. Potholes or slight depressions along the river bottom also will attract the big flatheads as will the upstream sides of underwater humps, shallow flats and drop-offs near the mouths of the lakes and back waters. Also fish white water areas below Imperial or Laguna dams where water is well oxygenated. Using a float in these fast waters will keep weighted live bluegill or shad, or whatever bait you are using, just off the bottom.

Heavy tackle works best for these monsters, and try drift fishing. If you’re fishing from a boat, keep a tight line while allowing your bait to bump along the bottom. If you’re fishing from the bank, hold your rod securely, leaving the reel in free spool until your detect a strike. Be sure your reel’s drag is properly set.

Set the hook when you feel the cat has finally taken the bait in its mouth. If the fish takes the bait and keeps moving, brace yourself and set the hook hard. If it moves and then stops, set the hook when the fish starts moving again. Once your hook strikes home, get ready for the fight. Don’t fight the fish with the reel. Play the catfish with your arms and the rod while storing line on the reel.

When the fish tires enough for you to start reeling, use your arms to pull the rod from water level to 12 o’clock, then drop your rod tip to the fish, and as you bow, wind quickly, and repeat keeping the line tight as you wind.

The best time to fish for flatheads is at night with live bait — shad, and decent-size bluegill both work well. Flatheads also go crazy for stink baits, the stinkier the better. I haven’t tried soap bait but have looked into it and came up with Redneck’s Catfish Bait Soap — Old Fashioned Lye Soap Catfish Bait. Visit www. catfishbaitsoap.com. This is not like a regular soap you’d use for washing clothes or bathing, but stays soft and pliable to stay on the hook, with ingredients that attract the fish, with a strong scent of anise, to draw them in to bite.

Fishing clubs

• Desert Bass Anglers “the fun way to fish”: Be sure to get signed up either the night prior to fishing at Sportsman’s Hideaway or early morning before launch at Fisher’s Landing for the Aug. 5 tournament on the Colorado River. Questions? Call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

Note of caution: So you don’t get caught in an area with low water conditions, check how much water is at the ramp at launch, and plan your trip accordingly.

The club reminds all anglers, and this is for anyone who fishes, and so important in warm to hot weather: Be sure your livewell is working properly — it needs to be in top condition. Time to check your pump and screens and be sure there is maximum circulation in the well. Bobbie and Mac remind us to be sure to check fish you’ve caught several times during any day on the water. Be sure to carry lots of water and sports drinks, towels, long sleeved shirts, sunscreen and hats to keep you cooler. It’s hard to guess where the water levels will be this time of year. Be prepared for hot temperatures and lots of boat and jet ski traffic. The sandbars have really moved around so be aware of your surroundings and be careful.

• ABA American Bass — Yuma division: If you haven’t fished the Yuma area ABA tournaments, they will begin when weather cools. Call Jeff Woods at (952) 824-0553 for information on becoming a member and get signed up to fish.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: An extra good reason to join the YVRGC is to get in on all the fishing fun. Hope to have results soon of the Bob Hefner Memorial bass derby at Mittry Lake or you can call Clint Fraser at 580-3231 or Danny Woods at 448-8476 as well as results from John Nicewander’s annual catfish derby held this weekend.

Sixty-five club members attended this year’s annual Prairie Dog Shoot at Seligman, Ariz. Anyone interested is welcome to attend any club meeting for not only fishing but hunting and wildlife conservation information as well at 7 p.m. 1st Wednesday each month at American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive. Call Becky Mae Pope at 502-0121 or email maybhunting@gmail.com for club information.

• Yuma Draw Series/Pro-Am Bass Club: Call Manuel Garcia at 210-0043 to learn what they have to offer.

• Yuma’s High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any youngster to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing boats and equipment as well as guide the youngsters, both guys and gals, in gaining a good share of fishing know-how’s. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started. Any interested high school student will be a part of an exciting year for our next generation of anglers at Fisher’s Landing at Martinez Lake.

Shooting sports

• Yuma 4-H Shooting Sports: The 2017-18 training season for 4-H youngsters ages 9-19 will begin Sept. 21 at the 4-H extension office with a 7 to 8 p.m. class to sign up, take a safety class with questions/ answers about the year’s project. At that time, youngsters will pay a one time $10 fee for consumables. Actual training will begin 9 to 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at the west gate of the Yuma County Fairgrounds with other training times to follow. If you have a youngster who is interested in being a part of a 4-H club in order to get into their shooting sports program, call the 4-H office in Yuma at 726-3904 or Stanley Gourley at 344-0740 to learn what they offer.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: The practice range at the Foothills Archery Range, east of Foothills Blvd., south side of I-8, is open (free use) daylight hours all week for practice and enjoyment. Do what you can to prevent vandalism while at the range so all can enjoy. When you’d like to shoot the 3D animal trail for good hunting practice or recreation, let us know beforehand by calling Jean Wilson at 247-4450 or Kevin Wilson at 726-0953 so we can get it set up and ready to meet you at the range.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet can shoot 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Now that it’s summer time, there are no weekday matches until the fall. Call Bob Avila at 910-0622. Young people still in school (including college) who might be interested in getting together with the Yuma Young Guns and the scholastic clay target program, call head coach H. McNutt at 580-0918.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Open black powder matches at the Adair Park range, 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453. Ask about .22 matches.

• Cholla Gun Club: A full schedule of shooting is offered at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range, beginning again this fall, and all open to the public with instructions available upon need. Call Rick Kelley at (928) 502-0736.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: Shooting matches at the Adair Park big bore (high power) range will begin again Sept. 10 with a 3X 1,000 yard long range match. The vintage rifle match will be Sept. 16. Pistol matches scheduled for 2017 are cancelled as of now but we may resume them in 2018. Call Joseph Murek at 627-4556, Paul Lerma at 580-7456 or Gerald Brooker at (858) 349-1311. Visit the club’s website at hprifleyuma.com or email Joe at umpire1@q.com or brookergerald@att.net.

• Yuma Matchmasters: A variety of matches are offered at the Adair Park small bore range, all open to shooters with 7 a.m. sign-up, shooting at 7:30 a.m. that includes the steel challenge the 1st Saturday, multi-gun matches the 1st Sunday, IPSC combat matches the 2nd Sunday with the SASS cowboy matches the 4th Sunday. Call Larry Wiles at 920-2157 or Irene Snyder at (920) 613-4598 if you are interested.

• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: Archery is offered on Sundays with their practice range also open all week. Call Keith Parsels at 7821097.

Hunt happenings

• Firearms training: The eighthour Concealed Carry course at Sprague’s Sports is one of the most thorough in Arizona covering all aspects of firearms ownership including gun safety, maintenance, marksmanship, weapon selection and safe carry procedure within Arizona’s concealed carry law parameters. Lead instructors Matt Dusek and Ross Nicolette bring many years of professional teaching experience along with decades of law enforcement perspective and wisdom to this class as well. Cost is $89. The 5-year permit is only $60. Classes are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday only. The next class will be Aug. 12 and Sept. 9.

Sprague’s has other training classes as well such as refuse to be a victim, first shots, first shots 2nd round, first shots shotgun, shooting tips from NSSF, active shooter defense classes, basic gun maintenance and know your AR. Visit Sprague’s.com/training.html or call 726-0022.

• Hunter education reminder: A regular hunter safety education class will be held July 31 at the Region IV AZGFD office with a bonus point field day Aug. 19. Sign-up for either class at (928) 329-0091. In addition, online classes are a self-paced program completely online once the passing score of 80 percent is successful, with stations for line of fire and matching practical hunt and a written exam. Average completion is one hour. Visit www.azgfd.com/ education/hunting and get signed up or contact Pat Headington at yumahuntered@gmail.com.

• Dove season: In spite of our hot summer, think ahead beginning early morning Sept. 2 at the Ware Farm in Dome Valley for the annual Clint Curry Youth Dove Hunt, mentored by members of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club, open to all youngsters who want to hunt and are accompanied by a parent/guardian. Call Mark Brooks at 210-7627 for details or if you want to assist at the kids hunt. Then a bit later that same day, the 2nd annual Yuma World Championship Dove Cook-Off, will be indoors at Cocopah RV and Golf Resort with registration open as of Saturday. Visit www.yumadovehunting.com/ spacelimitedazgfd. And with the dove season in full swing, the YVRGC will host the 11th annual Mike Mitchell Dove Hunter barbecue, also at the Cocopah RV and Golf Resort with Chris Mitchell chairman promising a great evening and delicious food for all who attend. Anyone who might want to become a sponsor or assist in any way, call Chris at (928) 580-1461 or Chase Mitchell at (928) 503-1329.

Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.