PANHANDLE REGION
Big rivers are ideal catfish habitat, and the Panhandle area has more than a few big rivers that boast big cats. Flathead and blue cats are well established, giving anglers a shot at some true heavyweights, while channel cats, white cats, and the ubiquitous bullheads are well represented. In terms of the numbers of catfish caught, the Panhandle equals the St. Johns river basin, and beats it in terms of the size of the cats. If you want a real summer brawl, this is the place to be. And here are four top spots to pick a fight.

Flowing from Lake Talquin, the Ochlocknee River is one of the most eastward Panhandle rivers that can produce big. Look for bullheads, channel cats, white cats, and flatheads. All are present throughout the river. One of the top places to fish is the tailrace area below Lake Talquin. While you're in that area, don't neglect Lake Talquin itself. Like Rodman Reservoir, this is a man-made reservoir with a major, flooded mid-lake channel and numerous intersecting creek channels. All can produce.

Anglers on the Apalachicola River find bullheads, channel cats, flatheads, and an occasional blue cat. A top spot is the tailrace below the Jim Woodruff Dam at Lake Seminole, but the lower reaches of the river produce plenty of fish for those anglers targeting deeper holes, or the mouths of tributary creeks.

Further to the west, the Choctawahatchee River provides channel cats, bullheads, and flatheads on a regular basis. Blue cats have also been reported. Standard river tactics are the best bet, and the most productive area has been from the Alabama line south to West Bay, as well as around the mouth of any significant tributary, with Holmes Creek being one of the better hotspots.

If you want to pick the biggest fight available, check out the Escambia River. Blue cats, flatheads, and channel cats are well established in this river. If one had to pick the best spot in Florida to beat the 50-pound mark on a whisker fish, this likely is it. The best section -- according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission creel surveys -- is from the Alabama line to the I-10 bridge. This is one area where you definitely want to have gear on the heavy side, since a flathead or blue cat better than 50 pounds is a distinct possibility!

While these are some of the best spots to really get your string stretched, don't overlook any bodies of fresh water that can be fished either by boat or from the bank. Summertime is catfish time, and while more glamorous game fish may get finicky in the hottest weather, Mr. Whiskers is ready to bite!