Looking to trying fishing catfish on the horseshoe chain. What lakes do ppl fish and what kind of structure to look for? From what ive read the lake can be iffy on ice depth? Any info would be great thanks.

The meth hole is probably the best spot to learn how to catch them. I wish I lived up there and had more time to explore to find them. I have fished Horse Shoe and Cedar Island, had better luck on Horse Shoe although Cedar Island seems to produce bigger ones. It's a long walk from the common parking spot on 22 to the hole, about 1.1 miles or so.

The fish can bite extremely light, I mean EXTREMELY light. Sometimes you can pick up your pole to jig it and there is a catfish on there. Spring bobbers or really light action rods could be key. Get some frozen chicken liver and something that glows.

The ice has always been fine for me, but do not drive a wheeler out in the meth hole area.

Look for 30-36' of water and don't fish until you mark a swarm of them.

I am by no means an expert, but I have caught my fair share of them in the last 5 years. Report back how you do!

I'm still new at catfishing the Horseshoe chain in the winter. The times I've gone I did best on the Meth hole. I still want to explore other areas to catch them. It's fun when you're on them.

Long, Cedar Island, East and Horseshoe are my favorites.

How about an ice thickness report for a few of the area lakes there?

You can use the same tackle you would use for walleye like buck shots. The cats will school in the middle of the water column and I fish just above them most of the time. Really need a depth finder to know right where to jig.

Thanks for the info. What kind of structure do they usually hold to?

They suspend over deeper water like crappies...I was always told find the deepest holes in the particular lake ur fishing and just start drilling till ya find a suspended school

There was just a show on across the ice belt, that fished out there for them not sure if it is on the internet yet to find

Is it safe to drive a ATV or sled out on the chain? Thinking about trying g this week?