The first is to focus on areas with shallow flats (3 feet or less) that drop off into creek channels and main lake ledges. These areas are always a good standby for rod and reel action for catfish. I believe that catfish roam around a lot more than some anglers think and that an unobtrusive, quite angler floating a chunk of cut bait under a cork or drifting a ball of earthworms on a free-line can find fish that most anglers never contact.

Most of the time we think of fishing for catfish as being a stationary act. We sit on the bank and cast a rod, or anchor and drop one over. However, the advent of drifting for catfish should give you faith that wading and being mobile with bait can work in areas that drifting with a boat can be impractical.

I once waded for cats in a huge private lake where we were not allowed to bring in motor boats and at the time, I did not have one I could paddle. There was one spot that was too far to cast to but I knew would be killer for cats, so I waded towards it and scored on a 25-pound blue. The lake was loaded with cats that size, but still catching one in its element was truly exciting.

The first thing to keep in mind is that you're not going to get as many bites as you do over a chummed hole or a deep spot where the fish suspend in the river so don't expect it. The idea is to catch some of the bigger, more reclusive catfish that are prowling around. I would wade for 20 minutes and move. If you do not get a bite by then, hit another area.

I like to fish a chunk of cut shad or dead shrimp on a cork in breaks in the current. Since the currents are weaker in these breaks, which are typically caused by structure, you can fish a cork without much problem and draw the attention of the fish by popping it a lot. I use the Texas Rattlin' Rig, a unique popping cork system that has some neat attributes. Each package is rigged with quality popping cork, a very loud rattle system, including beads and a tube stuffed with rattling components and covered with a very effective reflective tape.

The reflective properties of this rig are reminiscent of many products used in the North for walleye. Catfish are not known as hugely visual feeders but there have been some studies to suggest they use their eyes more than once previously thought.

For those anglers just looking for a spot to catch pan-sized blues, the many bayou systems in the state are great places to begin, particularly after a good rain. Rain is well known to get channels feeding, but the blues get hungry, too.

A good spot to start on rainy days is a riffle, which is an area where a stump or some other object does not stop but slows down the tidal flow just a bit. These spots, which are usually found just downstream from brushpiles and in the bends of creeks, are great spots to find channel cats. Fish cut perch or shad in these spots.

Rainy-day catfish feeding is most productive on -- but not limited to -- small canals and creeks as it can be just as good on big reservoirs, particularly around large feeder creeks and mudflats adjacent to deep water along shorelines. In hilly areas, immediate run-off from forests can congregate catfish to certain spots, especially in the spring, when many bugs and other favorite catfish foods are washed downstream.

It is important to remember that catfish are both predators and scavengers, and are creatures of convenience. The areas with a large concentration of food that's easiest to get at will usually produce the most fish and in Louisiana, there are many such places.

Learning the subtleties of your favorite fishing holes will be what makes the difference between catching blues and having the blues.