Cold Weather Catfish Fishing

When it comes to hooks you first need to make sure they are good and sharp. Normally, the hooks that are designed with the bait holder made onto the shank will work the best. When cold weather catfish fishing it is recommended that you use stink bait and remember, the stronger the better. This is because the smell will not travel as far or as fast in the cold water as it does in warm water.

Location

The second biggest difference between warm and cold weather catfish fishing is the location. During the warm months the catfish move out further into the water where the bottom of the lake or river is deeper. Here it is much cooler for them than around the banks and so forth. You will have the most luck when you use a boat to go out in the middle of the body of water where it is the deepest.

In the winter you can find the catfish closer to the banks, which makes it easier for you to get to them. You can fish off banks, piers, bridges or anchor your boat in coves and so forth with great success. Due to the fact they are closer inland they are more accessible making it easier for anyone to fish for catfish whether you have access to a boat or not.

Patience is always a quality needed when catfish fishing but you will need even more when fishing in the cold weather. As mentioned before the catfish move a little slower in the cold than any other time. They will feed but they don’t have any desire to chase so keep this in mind and take your time. You will be rewarded for your patients. However, if you have been in the same location for more than half an hour and you are still not getting any bites, then it is time to move to a new spot.