Newberger launches at Riverside Sports Center in Fayetteville. This stretch of the river above Lock and Dam No. 3 offers natural cover similar to that downstream of Lock and Dam No. 1. If two state-record catfish already came from the area, who can argue with the potential for future success above Lock and Dam No. 1?

Tackle for smaller catfish can consist of nothing more complicated than a baitcasting or spinning rod filled with the same 12- to 17-pound-test monofilament line river fishermen use for catching bass. But serious trophy catfish anglers use superbraid lines of 50-pound-test or greater and monofilament lines of 30-pound-test or greater spooled onto saltwater surf and trolling reels. They also use heavy-action rods. Stout rods are needed to boat large fish. Some anglers prefer long rods for poking them into overhanging cover, and others like short boat rods for better maneuverability when fighting a fish in the darkness.

Hang-ups are common and the heavy lines are necessary to allow the hook to be pulled free. Catfish are also known for heading for the heaviest cover at the hookset and the heavier lines allow them to be horsed away before they can carry the line beneath a submerged tree.

Anglers use float rigs or bottom rigs. Hook styles and sizes run the gamut. Meat-fish anglers use hooks that can be straightened when they get hung on cover, while big-game anglers use large 8/0 to 12/0 circle hooks for holding flatheads and blues.

Sinker styles also vary from 1-ounce egg sinkers to 5-ounce pyramid sinkers. The river flow is strong, so it takes a heavy weight to carry large baits to the bottom and hold them from sliding into heavy cover. Lighter weights are used for fishing the bars and slopes in areas that are fairly free of cover.

Between the locks, some anglers fish with a fleet of jugs or plastic foam blocks. Beneath the floats a hook baited with a piece of cut fish entices catfish.

Another practice allowed nowhere else in the state except between the locks and dams is electro-fishing with hand-crank telephone equipment. Fishermen in the "crank" boat idle along, turning the crank with electrodes dangling in the water. Fishermen in a "chase" boat try to catch stunned fish with a net. It is more difficult than it would seem and most big fish escape. The best part of a shocking trip is that you get to see how many catfish come to the surface, giving plenty of incentive to give it a try with conventional fishing gear.

Jug-fishing, electro-fishing and limbline fishing for catfish require participants to possess a special devices license. Consult a regulations digest or visit www.ncwildlife.org for details.