It seems like most catfish anglers I know had a friend, relative, or other fishing mentor that fueled their interest in catfish to the point where catfish became their primary sport fish. It's only natural when you consider how many anglers get their start fishing for bass, panfish, etc. Indeed, targeting. bass and panfish can be very fun and rewarding. Plus, it's important to keep those bait collection skills sharp! Anyways, I feel indebted to all of my fishing buddies over the years. Because they're the ones who showed me the ropes. Where to fish. Where not to fish. When to fish. And why.
In the last several years, I've spent a lot of time fishing alone in the boat. With a small vessel to fish from, flying solo does have advantages. It's a little easier moving from spot-to-spot. You get dibs on ALL the pick-ups. In fact, many of my most successful trips were jaunts where I headed out by myself with a bucket of baits. 
...And, it's fun to share a boat with a friend!
