At 121 1/2 pounds, this is the largest blue catfish ever taken on rod and reel at Lake Texoma. Cody Mullinex (left) caught the former world-record blue cat while fishing from shore. Josh and Jason Holbrook had to help pose the huge fish. Photo courtesy of Cody Mullinex.

The dog days of August roar into the Sooner State with a vengeance, driving most outdoorsmen indoors to the comforts of an air-conditioned room and a cool beverage. Temperatures are certain to reach triple digits this month, and shady areas are scarce. Unless you're in a swimming hole or getting a suntan, August is an oppressive month. If you enjoy fishing, you know that the action for most species slows, and is best early and late.

However, if you enjoy catfishing, the action is as hot as the mercury in the thermometer -- and for the whiskerfish angler, the time is now!

It's true: The warmer the weather, the hotter the catfishing seems to get. According to Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation fisheries expert Gene Gilliland, these fish actually prefer warm water. "Catfish in general are more tolerant of warmer temperatures, and their metabolisms speed up when water temperatures warm, making them more active feeders," he noted.

Our state is blessed to have a seemingly endless supply of waters teeming with catfish -- so regardless of where you live, a catfish hotspot near you is bound to be heating up right now. So dab on the sunscreen, grab your tackle and head to one of the following hotspots to catch a mess of whiskerfish.

ARCADIA LAKE
Arcadia Lake is one of the finest lakes in the state, and overlooked by way too many anglers, asserted Leon Mixer, who works with the City of Edmond overseeing the fishing and wildlife at the lake.

"Arcadia is a great lake for catfishing and the home of some real heavyweights," he said. "There have been several habitat enhancements, as well as the addition of an indoor fishing dock offering opportunities for all anglers as well as for the physically challenged."

Just north of Oklahoma City in Edmond, Arcadia Lake serves as a water supply for several communities. The lake features easy access for shore-anglers as well as indoor and outdoor fishing docks. In short, whether you prefer bank-fishing or boat angling, this lake is a good bet.

With an incredible shad population, this fertile impoundment is teeming with whiskerfish -- blues, channels, and flatheads. I've logged many August trips on Arcadia with Norman Miller, my catfishing mentor, and never failed to bring home enough filets to feed several families -- all within the legal limits, of course!

Though channel cats averaging 2 to 5 pounds are the primary catch, lately the blue catfish have made their mark on the fishery. The blues caught now are bigger on average than channels, weighing 3 to 8 pounds, and some real bruisers lurk beneath the sometimes turbid waters. Darren Robinson pulled a 67-pound blue cat from the lake last year. Four days later, ODWC personnel officially certified the huge blue. By then it weighed only 53 pounds after regurgitating much of its stomach contents while in a holding tank. Even at that reduced weight, it established a new lake record.

Carl Jones, who owns Brandon's Bait & Tackle -- (405) 359-9886, in Edmond -- weighed the gigantic catfish initially; he still gets a glimmer in his eye when he recalls the experience. "The fish was huge," he said, "one if the biggest blue cats I have ever seen!"

The lake catfish spawn when water temperatures reach 80 degrees. For that they prefer the shallow rocky areas, with the dam's riprap being a favored location. Some of the favorite fishing spots of anglers are the rocky riprap areas by the 15th Street boat ramp, the dam area, and for anglers with boat access across to drift-fish the deeper areas of the lake.

The ODWC has built and placed several brushpiles that are clearly marked with buoys. These serve as magnets for the lake's prolific shad population and good places for finding catfish.

The combined daily limit on blue and channel catfish is 15, while the limit on flatheads is 10, with a 20-inch minimum. The lake prohibits fishing with trotlines, juglines, limblines, and yo-yos.

GRAND LAKE O' THE CHEROKEES
One of the real gems in the northeast is Grand Lake, near Afton. This huge, clear, rocky lake was one of the first built in the state, and still serves Tulsa and the rest of the state as a premier outdoor destination. A favorite of many amateur and professional bass anglers, Grand is an outstanding catfish fishery.

An expert catfish angler himself, having won five national catfish tournaments, 15-year veteran guide Jeff Williams ( www.teamcatfish.com) believes that Grand's a great spot in August, offering action for both bank-fishermen and boat anglers.

"Generally, anglers can catch good numbers of catfish in Grand anytime," said Williams, "but in August I do exceptionally well. I've caught and released some monster blue cats in Grand, and the future looks excellent."