Catfish up, crappie down in Midstate fishing report

Taking a look at the fishing activity throughout the Midstate, it appears catfishing is at its peak these days. Catfish are now up shallow, along rocky banks spawning, and catching them is much easier. You can bait your hook with chicken or turkey liver, night crawler worms, cut baits, stink baits and, I'm sure, other concoctions devised by anglers that are top secret.

All midstate waters at this time are producing catfish so load up and catch a bunch to toss in a pan of hot oil. Ain't nothing better than fresh fried catfish, a few hush puppies, some cold slaw and I definitely like a mess of white beans added to my plate.

As for crappie catches, it looks dim. Percy Priest crappie fishermen are saying the crappie fishing is through for this season. Only a few die- hard anglers are tight-lining minnows 15 to 20 feet deep to find bumps from a hungry crappie.

Bass fishing from Percy Priest is fair with catches averaging 12 to

13 inches. Top-water lures are good for bass early mornings and again in the late afternoons. Buzzbaits, Pop R's, and Rapalas are getting those catches. No rockfish or hybrid news. Bluegill fishing is good on crickets and worms.

Over on Barkley Lake, it