Spring break starts next week and my brother and I have tossed around the idea of running a trot line in an old river bed for a few days while the kids are out of school. I'm expecting the water temps to be in the mid 40's and hoping for upper 40's by the end of the week. We usually run a trot line in this same body of water over Memorial Day weekend with good success (by our low standards) on numbers of channels. We have always used nightcrawlers for bait. Should we do anything different in water that will be 30ish degrees cooler?

If it helps, this bed is around 50 acres in size and averages 4 feet deep or less. I don't think I've ever found water over 6 feet deep.

I'd be using creek chubs or sunfish.

Big live baits are great for summer cats, not so much lethargic winter cats. Not that they won’t eat them, but they’re less likely to expend the energy. I’d use cut bait but I’m sure crawlers would work too. I’m not familiar with what a river bed is.

Cut Gizzard shad would be my bait of choice for early cold water channel or blues. Dont be afraid to fish shallow , especially on those sunny days. The water warms first in the shallows and catfish come up in there.

Play the wind. Cats feed on winter kill and the downwind shore is where the dead fish end up.
just

Caught plenty of nice channel cat on rod and reel in mid/late February and early March using fresh cut fish, chicken liver, shad sides, and even worms. Most of which were caught in water less than 4 feet deep.

I guess the proper term would be an oxbow.

One of the best baits for cats anytime anywhere is squid, either whole or cut strip. don't forget the heads, cover bait with a good amount of salt can't use too much, and place a liquid catfish scent, paste scent or fish oil. stir well and place in fridg for 3 to 5 days if you make more than you need just freeze..

Don't forget to have fun, but be safe.

Kids aging from 5 to 13 may be present, so all the appropriate safety measures will be taken.

And since I am not setting my expecations too high, it should be fun even if we don't catch many fish.

Sounds good.

coldwater catfish I like shad. the stinky fermented kind you buy frozen at the bait store. around here its what they are feeding on. lots of them die in the winter and the catfish eat them. liver is real good too. muskrat, rabbit or chicken. just wrap a piece of thread around it so it stays on the hook good.

Dead minnows work great this time of year for us, a lot of bait stores have frozen bags of them for cheep or free. Chicken liver doesnt seem to hold up well on set lines for me. Beaver liver holds up better if you have access to it, Catfish here love it!
After we see the first nightcrawler holes in the ground we use them almost exclusively for a couple weeks, especially after a rain. They must get washed into the river and are what everything that swims eats for a while in the spring.

Good on you for getting the kids out there fishing. I love the look on a kids face when they see a bank line bouncing!!!

Here is a picture of my nephew and his haul from last May

I'm looking forward to spring fishing also. Still have ice here yet. As far as bait for catfish everything mentioned so far and everything bait you have heard of before all work for cat here. I have yet to find the best bait for them it seems just about anything works when they are actually want to bite. IMO