gaston/buggs catfish help

[vatreefarmer]

My father starting going on a yearly catfish expedition about 3 years ago with a few of his other 70 year old cronies. They stay at some campground on the NC side and keep it pretty primitive. I don't think they catch many fish, but I don't think they really care, just some old men eating beanies & weanies and having a shot of bourbon at the end of the day (good for them.) Anyway, the biggest reason I bought my boat was to be able to go along and supervise this crew, and share a few memories with Dad. Anyway, I'm looking for a few pointers on Gaston catfish for next week. I think they throw chicken livers and such, but I have oftimes seen a good catfish bite on live bait. If there is not a baitshop nearby, do y'all have any suggestions? I'm thinking of taking a 6" swimbait and stinking it up pretty good with garlic flavored Pam cooking spray and letting it drift on bottom.
Please chime in a give me your favorite catfish techniques for this lake, baits, locations and depths. Any help to get Dad's buddies on some fish would be greatly appreciated.

[Just_add_water]

I have always done well throwing chicken livers in August on Buggs. I usually fish right near the bridge at Nutbush. Not a lot of quality there but a lot of good sized eating fish collect there feeding on the shad. I have also done well fishing the creek channels this time of year. I find that the bigger catfish seem to be in this area. If I don't have chicken livers and fresh shad, I usually don't fish. I haven't done well with any other types of baits in Buggs. Not sure where ya'll are going to be but if you are near Henderson off 85, take the Satterwhite point exit, turn right at the end of exit and follow that down till you see a store on the left. He almost always has fresh shad! Hope this helps and have fun!

[vatreefarmer]

Just checked with my father, staying at "County Line campground" I'm completely unfamiliar with the area

[Bingle]

+1 on the nutbush area! Livers and lots STANK!

[FireBassr]

Shrimp.

[Bingle]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FireBassr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Shrimp. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You aint gotta be callin' me names in public, Bro!

[FireBassr]

[Big Johnson]

I've always used the chicken livers. I use a trebble hook, slap the liver on it, then tie a coleman lantern mantle over it (un-burnt of course). The mantle keeps the liver on the hook and lets the fish really get it in their mouths to suck on. When you set the hook, the barbs come right through the mantle. Make sure and get the older style mantles with the drawstring....the new clip style won't work.

Don't know about Gaston but definately Nutbush and around the dam.

[newbob]

Sneak a pair of your wife's pantie hose in the boat. That works really well. Cut a piece off and stick liver in it and through on a treble hook.

[vatreefarmer]

Thanks guys, I never really thought about using mantles or hose to hold the bait together. Good ideas although I'm a little uncertain that the wife will buy my story when she finds someones pantyhose in my boat. Also, thanks Greg for the shrimp idea. I'll let y'all know how it goes

[FireBassr]

You won't have any problem with the shrimp coming off the hook like with livers. And do not put them on ice.