Cast the rig to the shoreline and fish with the tide, allowing the bait to drift naturally. When a fish takes the bait, wait a few seconds and set the hook. It is important to keep the line fairly tight so that the amount of slack needed to be taken in is minimal. Once a few fish are caught in a particular stretch of water, be sure to run back uptide and fish the stretch again.

Some stretches are particularly effective during various tides. I find that a high tide is good along vegetation where the forage is hiding in the weeds, while a low tide is best fished near woody debris, rocks and steep banks. When the sun is high in the sky the fishing slows a bit, but shaded banks still produce fish with regularity.

The second type of floating rig is used more often in the main river channel or deeper waters for larger fish. The use of a slip-sinker or heavy split shot is employed to get the bait down into the faster moving water column. When using a slip sinker or egg weight, anglers can pinch a small shot on the line to keep the weight from smacking into the bait as it is fished. Put the boat upstream of the area that is to be fished and either play out line behind the anchored boat or drift along with a set amount of line out. Vary the depth the bait is drifting by adding or taking away weight as dictated by the speed of the moving water. Drifting cut bait, whole herring or jumbo minnows under a bank or along a barge wall in any of our tidal rivers is a sure way to hook into a monster fish. Smaller baits will take a number of fish.

Anglers who fish set baits use weights and anchor the boat near deep channels that are located next to adjacent shoreline structure. Anglers also set baits over submerged structure such as sunken boats or barges. Use a fish-finder to search for sudden dropoffs and structure in conjunction with bait.

A moving tide is essential to catching almost any species of fish, including catfish. The lull in the tide is a good time to get a snack, stretch or move to a different location. Some anglers with fast boats will run with the tide and fish their favorite tide most of the day or night. This technique can be effective, but requires precision, a fast boat, a wealth of knowledge of the river and several locations up and down the river to fish.

Catfish face into moving water and catch food as it drifts or moves towards them. They eat their prey headfirst. It is essential that anglers give the fish time to mouth the bait, especially larger baits, before setting the hook.

Good baits for catfish include any live bait such as herring, shad, minnows, crayfish or eels. Anglers using dead bait will find cut pieces of the bait listed above, perch, bluegills and shrimp are very effective. Pan-sized catfish will hit clam snouts, night crawlers and insects with a vengeance.

Tidal rivers are extremely productive places to fish for catfish. The moving water, abundance of forage and numbers of fish to be caught will make any outing on Virginia's tidal water well worth the effort. Summer is a great time to fill a cooler with a great tasting meal. Try the tidal water near you and see for yourself.

Good fishing!