Often the blue and channel catfish will be found together, especially if you're using stink bait. The shad and cut baits will work best for the blues. Throughout the summer and fall, good fishing exists. However, as the season progresses, you'll have to fish deeper and deeper water and likely have to try more places to make a big catch.

For the flatheads, the fishing really begins to get right about May and progresses toward a peak, which is usually in September and October, with Lake Marion the better of the two lakes. For these fish, live bait is the best bet and most guides suggest that you literally "hunt" for the big fish using your depthfinder. Most successful fishermen work the main body of lower Lake Marion, checking the many drops to locate the big fish. There is much natural cover on the lake floor and you'll have to be pretty good at interpreting the graph to know when you've marked a fish, or if you're simply marking a log. Fish vertically for these fish and lower the live bait to the bottom, then reel it up about a foot to 18 inches, just about eyeball level for a 50-pound flathead.

Even wintertime brings great catfish opportunities here as well. From December to February, outstanding fishing for the blue catfish is had by following the schools of shad. The shad bunch up in tight clusters when the water temperature drops during the winter and the blues forage on them like crazy. Again, use the graph to locate the baitfish and the blues will be marked underneath and beside the shad. Catch shad in a cast net and lower the bait to the depth the fish are marked. This cold-weather fishing can provide some of the fastest action of the entire year.

However, don't wait for the fall and winter to go catfishing. This is the time of the year to think in terms of catching catfish. Warm weather and catfish are linked because it is prime time to enjoy the lake and catch a bunch of catfish. From the list of hotspots we've listed here, you have more places to fish than you have time to enjoy . . . unless you get going now.