They may not be pretty, but hefty catfish put up a good fight and make great dinner guests! Photo by Bud Reiter.

It's not always easy being a freshwater angler during the midsummer heat. Sunshine bass, largemouths and stripers can get pretty finicky as waters warm. And while the various bream species are more reliable, they don't pack much weight. That's likely why many savvy anglers turn their attention to catfish during the summer's heat. And they have plenty of targets.

Two of the most common species are the yellow bullheads (often called buttercats) and the brown bullheads. Widely distributed in lakes, rivers and ponds, they seldom exceed 3 pounds, but are willing biters and excellent on the table.

Although not as common, the white catfish inhabits most of Florida's river systems north of Lake Okeechobee. Often mistaken for small channel cats, most fall into the 1- to 4-pound range, though the current world record is over 18 pounds.

One of the most available whisker fish is the channel cat. They occur naturally in just about every watershed in the state and are also easy to raise in hatcheries, making them a popular fish to stock in ponds. They can get pretty hefty: Fish in the 10- to 20-pound range are not uncommon, and 40-pound fish have been recorded in Florida. That's a handful on a rod and reel, but there are even larger cats available. The current world record is almost 60 pounds!

The flathead and the blue catfish were originally native to the Mississippi and Rio Grande river drainages, but they have found their way to the Panhandle area of Florida. It's debatable which of the two is the largest North American catfish -- the world record for both is in the 120-pound range -- but at that size, who cares? Either one, even at half that size, will give any angler a real workout. Fish of that size range have tangled with Sunshine State anglers!

That's a broad array of catfish. And regardless of where you live in Florida, one or more of these species is as close as your nearest pond, lake or river.

Gearing up for cats isn't complicated. Just match the tackle to the potential size of the critter you're targeting. Bullheads, small whites and channel cats can easily be handled on spin-cast, spinning or baitcasting gear with lines in the 10- to 12-pound range. Many anglers fishing bullheads in creeks don't even get that fancy and opt for a cane pole. Sproat-type hooks in the No. 2 to 1/0 size are adequate, though some anglers using commercially prepared catfish baits prefer treble hooks in the No. 4 size because they tend to hold the bait better. Add enough spilt-shot to keep the bait on the bottom and you're in business.

The big cats require heavier gear. If you're targeting the 20- to 60-pound fish, you need the same type of stout gear that veteran guides choose for chasing trophy bass with live shiners. Lines in the 25- to 40-pound range are advised. Hooks should be solid forged bait-holder styles in the 5/0 to 8/0 range. Most trophy cat experts favor a sliding sinker on the main line above a barrel swivel connecting to the leader, and use monofilament leaders in the 50- to 60-pound range to facilitate handling a big fish at boatside.