Catfish Fishing Tips – Ultimate Tricks And Techniques
Catfish fishing is a fun and exciting way to spend a weekend. Considering how big catfish can grow, it’s easy to see why so many people can get caught up in the sport. However, catfish, especially larger ones, can be quite dangerous. Using a few tricks, tips, and techniques can keep you safe while having a good time. If you’ve never gone catfishing before, these tricks, tips, and techniques will assist you when you’re ready to go out on your own. These tips, tricks, and techniques have been proven to work. Following these will help you have a fun and exciting time out in the water. You will learn a few of the best catfish fishing tips through this article.
Where do Catfish Live
Catfish live in many different places. Finding the right area can help you snag a catfish. Some of the best places to find catfish are on outside river bends, wing dikes, river holes, tributary mouths, bottom channels, ripraps, inundated lakes, and ponds, log rafts, windswept shores, and deep holes in ponds. One thing these areas have in common are plenty of places for a catfish to hide, and the water isn’t the clearest.
You may have seen some pictures of giant catfish in murky water. This allows them to sneak up on their prey without detection. Knowing where to go will help you land the catfish of your dreams. If you can bring a fish finder with you, it will make it easier to find different fishing holes. You can also plot your favorite spots so you can find it again for a future adventure. Finding the areas where the catfish live is one of the best fishing tips you can utilize.
When’s the Best Time to Catch Catfish
Finding the best time of the year for catfishing can yield excellent results. While water temperature is the biggest factor in a successful catfishing trip, knowing the season’s when they’re most active will help you. Winter is ideal if you want to catch a trophy blue catfish or cormorant catfish. Spring is perfect because catfish start hunting and feeding again, driving them to take more chances with catching their prey. Summer is ideal for channel catfishing, and they will be spawning more now.
During the fall, trophy catfish are more likely to be caught. When it comes down to it, there isn’t a bad time to go catfishing, but you should consider what you’re trying to catch. You also want to make sure you go during low lighted periods because this is when they come out to hunt. They can see their prey easier, and when they can see their prey easier, it’s a better chance for them to see your line when it’s dangling around. Use this catfish fishing tip to your advantage.
The Best Catfish Bait
There are different species of catfish out there, and finding one bait won’t help you catch more catfish. When you’re looking for catfish, you want something that is prevalent in their environment and has a strong odor. Gizzards, herring, chicken, dip and punch baits, chicken and turkey livers, hot dogs, shrimp, and other types of meats can help you catch a catfish. Knowing the area you’re going to go catfishing, and what type of catfish you want to snag can make a difference.
There isn’t one specific type of bait you can use, and experimenting with different baits could provide surprising results. While some catfish may be more privy about what they eat, most of the time they will eat what they can find. This is helpful when you’re dangling a line out in the water, wondering if the bait will work. If it doesn’t work, you can always try out something different to lure them in. The bait is an old-school catfish fishing tip you should use.
Catfish Fishing Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
• Go into Deep Water Structures with Currents
You should look for deep water structures, such as logs, docks, and other debris in places where the current is present. If you’re not sure if your fishing area has the structures, you can use a portable fish finder to detect what’s underneath the surface. You can look for ledges, deep holes, and other hiding places where catfish may reside.
• Free and Controlled Drifts
Looking for free or controlled drifts allows you to fish more effectively. You can put more bait into the water, allowing them to see it more easily. Not only should you use the drifts to your advantage, but experimenting with different types of bait can help you find more catfish. Using bait that they’re accustomed to eating will help you have a better chance of catching a catfish.
• Bring a Carolina Rig
A Carolina Rig is ideal for catfishing. Not only does it prevent the line from getting snagged, but it also presents the bait in a more palatable and unrestricted manner. It is good for most anglers to use, and tying a few leader lines will help you speed up on the reties when you’re out in the water.
• Use a Circle Hook
A circle hook is ideal for catfishing because it doesn’t require you to set the hook, and when a catfish grabs it, they won’t be able to shake the hook off. It is an efficient way to teach younger kids how to fish, especially when they’re always catching something while out on a trip.
• Fish Near Cover
When you’re out fishing, finding a place that is well covered can yield excellent results. However, to maximize your production, you should keep your bait closer to stumps, rocks, and surrounding trees on or near the structure. Getting as close as you can to these areas allows the catfish to come out from their hiding spots, and generate a higher rate of catching them.
• Use One Rod at a Time
While it is tempting to use more than one rod to catch your catfish, you only want to start off with one rod. When you become more comfortable using one rod, you can up the ante. Once you’ve gained enough confidence, you can slowly start to add one rod at a time, until you’ve gotten enough experience using multiple rods.
• Believe You Will Catch Them
While it is a cliché to say that if you believe it to be true, it will be, catching a fish takes a lot of confidence. When you’re confident, you can stay focused, and know which areas produce the most catches. Fishing can become droll and boring after a while, and even if you haven’t caught anything all day, you should not let it deter you from catching them. Stay confident, focused, and good things will happen.
• Get Your Timing Down
Everyone knows the early bird catches the worm, and in this case, the early fisherman can catch more fish. Not only is going out early a good way to reel in more fish, going later when the sun starts to fall is a good way to catch them. During low light periods provides more opportunities to catch more catfish, since they can see their prey better, and they become more aggressive during these times.
• Find a Flat Sinker
A flat sinker is resistant to the current, allowing your bait to stay closer to the bottom of the water. If you’re on a boat, you can practice anchoring techniques to get it down. They say practice makes perfect, and if you can position your line in the precise location, you will be more successful. While you may not catch something every time, practicing will help you in the long run.
• Go on Current Breaks on Rivers
When you’re river fishing, current breaks offer a wonderful chance to catch a catfish. Since fish need to take a break from the current, a river break allows you to have a better chance of landing a catfish. Not only are they stopping along with the rest of the fish, but they also take the chance to hunt while they’re resting. Finding the break and casting your line out allows you to have a better chance of catching the catfish.
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What to Bring on Your Catfishing Trip
When you’re going catfish fishing, you want to take some essential items with you to ensure you have a successful fishing trip. When you go, you want to take with you:
• A 6-7-foot medium heavy spinning rod, with at least a 14-pound abrasion-resistant monofilament
Using a heavy monofilament prevents it from breaking when you’ve gotten a catfish hooked. If you can splurge for a heavier monofilament, it would be a good idea. Using the bare minimum doesn’t always guarantee success, but it should put you able to reel the fish in.
• Terminal tackle, including circle hooks
Going off what was said before about circle hooks, these are the best ones for reeling in your catfish. Since catfish can’t get off the circle hooks quick enough to disappear, there is a higher probability they’ll be caught. Ensure these are in your tackle box before heading out on your trip.
• Live or smelly bait
Using live bait, such as worms and minnows can trick the catfish to come towards your line. It’s helpful if there are other fish around, but if your line is deeper than the fish swimming, they’ll most likely opt for your line. Attracting their attention is the key to hooking them.
• Boat, if applicable, or a shore-style rod holder
Using a rod holder prevents your arms and hands from tiring out by holding the rod all day long. If you have a rod holder, it allows you to sit back, relax, and jump in when the action starts. It’s difficult to reel in a catfish when your arms are too tired to bring them in.
• Net for landing fish
When you catch a fish, you need to have a place to put them. Having a net makes it easier to catch, and can be put in the right position for bringing them in. The net acts as a second hand and can give you leverage when you’re tangling with a large catfish, and try to pull them out of the water.
• Long-nose pliers to remove the hooks
After reeling in your catch, you need something that will get the hook out of the mouth of the catfish. Using long nose needle pliers can help you pull out the hook without making a mess. Circle hooks are difficult to remove without tools, so having the proper tools makes the process easier for removal.
Conclusion
Catfish fishing is an adventure in and of itself. No matter what type of catfish you’re trying to find, you need to know where to look to put yourself in the right position. Places, where there are plenty of hiding spots, are where catfish are more likely to be, such as under rocks, under the docks, and within tree lines along the shore.
Finding the best fishing spot is the first step in reeling in the catfish of your dreams. Not only should you know where to go, but you also need to make sure you have the right equipment with you. Bringing along the right bait, tools, and other fishing equipment will help you have a successful fishing trip. When you have the proper tools with you, you’re more likely to bring home your catch.
While having the minimum equipment is ideal for catching most catfish, the bigger ones will require more tools. Bringing a fish finder GPS combo with you is a sure way to get a glimpse of the surrounding area, allowing you to plan your fishing route. If you’re not catching anything in one spot, you can always change your game plan. Don’t let a little bit of failure hold you back from exploring new fishing holes. When you put all this together, you can create your catfish fishing tips and tricks for your family.
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