Daniel Ambrose answers:

For channels and blues, stinkbaits and oily chunk bait works fine.
Flatheads are predators. Especially a big one. Use live bait for these. A bluegill, pumpkinseed, bullhead, small carp or chub. Any 4 to 10 inch fish that is legal to use in your state.
At night, just the opposite of the deep holes during the day. Find a sandbank to set up your camp. Or the bottom end of a sandbar or island if you have a boat. Shallow water. 2 to 3 feet deep is probably plenty. Right along the shoreline or at the end of a riffle just above a hole. They leave their daytime haunts at night to go hunting.
Use gear heavy enough to cast one of these baits along with 3 or 4 ounces of lead. Let the line freeline through the eye of the weight, stopped with a swivel. Add a short leader (not over 8″) and a big circle hook. Size 4/0 to 8/0 depending on the bait size. Just hook the bait once near the tail leaving the point and most of the hook clear. Take care not to pierce the spine of the bait. You can also hook it either in the lips or nose if the bait is in a current.
Don’t set the hook if using a circle hook. Just let the fish tighten up the line and he’s on.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

As a general rule live bait is going to be best for flathead catfish. Anything like perch, bluegill, sunfish, or even goldfish.

Hot dogs, shrimp and the likes are not going to get you anywhere with flathead catfish.

Here is a good guide on choosing the right catfish bait based on your target species.

Http://www.learntocatchcatfish.com/best-catfish-bait

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Blue gill if its legal in texas

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Catfish eat anything they don’t really have to chase. Flathead catfish like live bait…shad, perch. Channel catfish like anything dead. The smellier and deader the better. Blue catfish like anything..shad, perch. Find some still water off to the side of fast moving water. They are ambush experts.they lay there till something comes along or they can smell something to swim to. They also like to feed in the shallows. So you don’t have to be in the middle to catch them. All of them like to feed at night. If the water is rising..they’ll bite. If the water if falling…forget it.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Hey man there are many many many many many many many many many lures and techniques that you can use for going after the ol bass and what you will hear in all these answers will probably be right and what i say and what they say doesnt mean that those are the only and best ways to go after them. It really all depends on the techniques and methods that you like to use. You can use spinners, i like the double willow blades lures. They can be fished fast, slow, and they can be fished as a jig. This is a very versitile lure. It can be fished at all the different water levels.

This one below is the booyaa mini spinner. I really like this one because they target all sizes of bass. True enough that horsing in a huge bass is fun but the smaller ones can provide so much fun while you are waiting on the wall mounter

http://www.hookmupworldwide.com/site/456404/product/MMPG05DWpSK31

another method is the plastic worm. You can drop shot them, fish them texas rigged or carolina rigged,weightless and weighted. It is a very popular and effective way to fish, especially around structure and in water grass. I prefer the ribbon tailed worms. The color all depends on the water clarity of the body of water that you are fishin. Hit up the local bait and tackle shops and they can tell you what color is selling the best. Usually if you look on the shelves and the packages that has the least amount of dust on them that is the color that you use.

Different color worms

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp;jsessionid=BELOKDX04RZZTLAQBBKCCNVMCAEFKIWE?id=cat600384&rid=0180101070502&cmCat=perf&cm_ven=performics&cm_cat=yahoo_non_brand&cm_pla=fish_softbait_worm&cm_ite=plastic%20worms&_requestid=98832

there are a pile of colors out there and all of them work the trick is finding the ones that work for you

texas rig

http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/Texas_Rig.html

carolina rig

http://www.fishin.com/articles/georgewelcome/C-rigarticle/carolinarig.htm

in my opinion i like the texas rig better. Less knots and less equipment and weights.

Another type of fishing i love to do is crank baits. I really like a 3 to 4 inch broke back minnow. Just toss out and reel it in. This lure it very versitile and effective. After you get the hang of it you can change up your presention and slow it down or speed it up add a little twitch here and there. It is just a easy bait to use and it is effective in all kinds of waters, the color of the lure is just like the worms. Need to get the color that works best in your neck of the woods

http://www.georgiariverfishing.com/GAarticles/TopRiverLures/RapalaBrokeback/RapalaBrokeback.htm

i introduced the broke back minnow to my wife and she took to it well and now that is all she uses.

Man i will leave it at that, there are just so many types of lures and techniques that i dont believe that yahoo answers will allow me to type that much but for me those three things are the basic and effective ways to go after the bass. Just dont forget about the ol kitty kitty fish. That is actually my favorite fish to go after.

Good luck good fishin be safe and remember to share the experience

Daniel Ambrose answers:

In an acre size pond in 90 degree heat there are a few things you should be mindful of right off:
oxygen levels in the deeper water will be much less than in shallower areas so all species will be in skinnier water.
Fish early and late in the day or at night. That’s not to say that fish won’t be catchable at other times but many more will be caught at the times i’ve mentioned.
3 days before and 3 days after a full moon are ALWAYS the best times for good fishing and biggest fish.

As far as baits go, for cats, the baits you’ve indicated are all good but live bait- shiners, suckers, small bluegill are the “go to” baits for big cat’s- of any species.
As far as terminal tackle goes the most important thing and one that can’t be stressed enough is CIRCLE HOOKS!! Other hooks,especially trebles, will catch the fish but will in all likelihood kill the fish and what good would that be on a 10″ fish that’s not worht keeping? Circle hooks will almost always hook the fish in the corner of the mouth instead of the fish swallowing the hook and getting “gut hooked.” also, with circle hooks, you DON’T set the hook, it sets itself as the fish swims off.
Good abraision resistant line or braided line work well and leaders aren’t needed. Split shot or egg sinkers work well but you will do better using live bait under a bobber to allow the bait to swim freely.
In such a small pond the most important advice i can give you is “CATCH and RELEASE!” it won’t take long to deplete the large fish and they get large for a reason- they are wary and have superior genes. The only way to maintain that gene pool is to throw back the big one’s. If you want to eat some smaller one’s go right ahead but keep in mind what i’ve said-one day YOUR kids may want to fish that pond so leave some for them!
Grab a book or two on cats-they are fascinating hunters in their own right and not just “bottom feeders.” check out “bassmater’s”, “in-fisherman,” and “north american fisherman” magazines and websites. They will show good rigging techniques.
One more thing, check out the site i’ve included or any other by Dr. Rose
TIGHT LINES my new found friend on the water.
Http://fishscam.com/faqPain.cfm

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Catfish, one of my favorite subjects.

You listed Flathead catfish first, so we can start there. Flatheads tend to be more predatory than scavenger fish so I prefer using live bait. Large minnows, chubs, sunfish, bluegills and even gold fish are all very good baits for Flatheads.

For Channel catfish live bait works as well, but I have personally had my best luck using chicken livers at night. The funny thing about channel cats is that I have actually caught them with crankbaits while bass fishing. It was a heck of a surprise the first time it happened.

For Blue catfish I prefer cut baits that are a little oily such as mackerel, herring and such.

Punch baits, stink baits, blood baits and worms will all catch catfish as well, but I find they are usually best for yellow or black bullheads. Before anyone yells they also work for channel and blue cats as well.

Good luck and I hope you catch a big mess of fish!

Daniel Ambrose answers:

You can catch both pike and bass on a good sized bass spinnerbait.

You’re wasting your time fishing for catfish with lures. Stink baits are the best answer there.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Well if you do go to the dam (which is what i would do because of the monsters) use live bluegill because large 40-100 pounders sit and wait for a bluegill or any other fish that will fit in their mouth you will also need at least 50lb test because just the current can snap ur line btw if one of these monsters does take ur line (that’s all that under the dam because little guys would die from the current) you will know because they just swallow it instantly Soo hold onto your pole and good luck

Daniel Ambrose answers:

The water which you fish really isn’t the issue to consider. Instead, consider what fish you will be going for and what kind of baits you will be using.

If you’re just a casual Bass and Panfish person, stick with a monofilament line in the 6-10 pound range. You can throw about any bait you want to when staying within this limit, except for heavier baits and deep running baits like jigs or deep diving crankbaits.

If you plan on using deep diving/running or heavy baits, you’ll probably want to up the line a bit. Look into the 12 to 14 pound monofilament.

If you’re going for “teethy” fish like Pike or Musky, you’ll want to at least use a braided leader. I absolutely hate braided line, but sometimes it is necessary. Beware of this stuff though. It will really screw up your rod and reel with time if you’re not careful.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Taken correctly, you can can drag up rubber boots all day, but rainbow trout and brown trout are the only species of fish that you are allowed to catch and take home. Anything else that you catch must be removed from the line and be put back into the water.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Most name-brand freshwater tackle will stand up to the salt, as long as you rinse it with fresh water after a day fishing. I’ve caught good fish in the ocean using everything from an 8-pound test freshwater spinning outfit to a heavy 80-pound test trolling outfit. It all depends where you’re going and what you’re after.

For what it’s worth, for a basic inshore trip summer in southern California, I’d recommend a largish spinning or baitcasting outfit, or midsized conventional outfit, with 15-20 pound line, though if larger fish (yellowtail, white seabass) are biting, or if you’re heading offshore for tuna, you might want to go a bit heavier. In other parts of the country your needs will be different.

As for brands, Penn is the old standby, Daiwa and Shimano make high-quality saltwater gear as well.

As for sharks and live bait: Just about every fish will eat live bait (sardines, anchovies, mackerel, etc.) as it’s their natural food. Sharks will eat it, too, but you’re no more likely to get a shark with live vs. Dead bait. Most of the sharks you’re likely to see will be the small, basically harmless bottom-dwellers, these you just unhook and release. If you get a big shark and don’t want it, either break it off beside the boat or clip the line (assuming it hasn’t bit through your line already).

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Dane named it all for u

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Corey has the right answer. The big flatheads like to hit live bait not dead or stinking bait like other catfish prefer. And they often come up on shallow flats to feed at night. A good limb line or stump line baited with a live bream will work great. Use no weight on it and let the bream swim freely. But remember, game fish is not legal to use as bait in most places in the US.

Daniel Ambrose answers:

Flatheads generally prefer live bait. Shad, bluegill, a small carp, etc.
Blues will take live baits also but will generally react to the same baits as a channel cat.
Chunks of fresh gizzard shad or carp works well for both of these.
If you have flatheads and blues, you most likely also have gizzard shad or river herring (bluebacks) available in the same waters. Both are good and oily and make excellent cat bait.