River Catfishing in South Al.

   I'm originally from Alabama from the north Baldwin Co. area. Me and my dad catfished mostly on the Tensas river during high water season.We usually ran limblines.While the river was on the rise, we would normally use the normal baits such as shiners etc.But we would always change our bait right after crest and would continue to use until the water fell below its banks and the current slowed. We would not use weights during the time it was falling. We caught more bluecat than anything else, but caught alot of them from two to over twenty pounds. This bait was IVORY SOAP. we used to use the big bars when I was growing up but I don't think they make the big ones anymore. My dad used to put the bar in the oven to get them just warm enough to slice up without breaking the slices. He would lay the bar flat,slice it up,about 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick and then lay those down and slice from the top corner to the bottom corner which made the bait look like an irregular pyramid.When you put them on a hook, you hook the shortest width end going far enough in to allow the bait to last longer before washing away. Let the long end dangle. Ivory will naturally float so with the hook and current and about 3' to 4' of extra line, the soap will submerge from 2" to 6" in depth and the soap will sway in the current. It worked for us for many years and I hope it will work for someone else.
Thanks,
  James Morris
  Stockton, AL