fishing with bobbers for channel cats

[cpmaple]

Hello to all I'm new to this site. I live in New York on the shore of Lake Champlain. Lake is 132 miles long and what if anyone would have an idea why i have more luck when i fish cut bait on bobber then on the bottom. The portion of the lake i fish is muddy most of the time. I have most of my luck in 4ft or less of water. Dont know if anyone on here heard of the LCI derby but last year i caught a 21.32 pound channel cat on bobber and all together we had out 8 rods 4 on bottom and 4 on bobbers most all fish that night came off bobber. Well thanks for any input i am thankful in advance to and help. chad

[catfished]

Hi cpmaple,

Welcome to the forums.

Most likely you're cathing more cats with bobbers because cats like to feed straight ahead rather than put their heads down to the bottom and feed like carp. Your bobber is suspending your bait just above the bottom, therefore putting it fairly close to straight ahead for the cats to grab. We use bobbers for shallow water catfishing here all the time.

[cpmaple]

Thanks for the input and where i fish is open along the shore and weedy about 20ft out  and i fish from a boat also theres a island about 100ft from shore and a little brook i have alot of luck there. My son loves it we get alot of bowfin also which he caught a 12lb one the other day.We have alot of luck during the day hours. thanks again for the input. Wish there was catfish tourn around here but the only one i can find is the LCI.