5 Great Catfish Baits

Catching any kind of fish begins with putting baits where the fish are. That simple fact acknowledged, an angler’s offerings also must appeal to the fish. For many species of game fish, lure sizes, shapes, movements and colors, and types of presentations all figure prominently into the equation of making an offering appealing. For catfish, which feed mostly by smell and taste, it is all about using the right kind of bait.

Of course, different species and sizes of cats prefer different kinds of meals, and some offerings lend themselves better to specific styles of catfishing than do others. Also, catfish are just like other kinds of fish — and people for that matter — in the sense that their preferences vary from day to day. One day’s hot bait commonly may not yield much the next day, with no obvious change in conditions. With that in mind, you are wise to set the table with at least a couple of different kinds of baits and allow the cats to dictate their preferences.

Dozens of different bait types are commonly used for catfish, with popular picks ranging from hot dog slices to clams to smaller catfish. If one were to dig into occasional uses, the list of items that have never been used as catfish bait might be shorter than the list of those that have. Despite the never-ending list of options available to catfish anglers, certain baits do tend to outshine the rest. Here we will look at five of the very best.

SHAD
Big catfish like big meals, and few things do more to improve an angler’s odds of landing a true trophy cat than baiting up with a big chunk of cut shad or even a live shad. Adult flathead catfish feed almost exclusively on live fish, and shad often are an important part of the mix because they are around river channels, where flatheads spend the most time. Even channel catfish, which feed on a little bit of everything both dead and alive, turn heavily to fish diets once they get larger than 10 pounds or so.

Shad make great bait in most reservoirs and many rivers, because they are prevalent natural forage and often are readily available to fishermen. However, the same principles apply to various minnows and other baitfish species in waterways where shad are not the main attraction.

Generally speaking, shad should be cut into chunks or strips, with the size of the pieces and the type of cut determined by the size of cats being targeted and the size of the shad. Probably the most efficient way to cut up a shad is to slice off the head and tail and cut across the body to create strips. If those pieces seem too large, the strips can then be cut in half. However, some anglers prefer to fillet large shad and cut up the fillets or to fish with very small shad, either whole or cut in half.

You also should not overlook a large shad’s “guts.” The entrails produce a very strong smell and often attract strikes almost immediately. Shad guts do not tend to yield as many large fish as do chunks of fillets, but they get a rod tip dancing and definitely are worth putting out there for the cats to consider.

Cut shad can be fished several different ways for good success. The most popular technique is to use a Carolina rig with a large enough barrel weight to keep the rig on the bottom. Lines are spread around the boat or along the shore in a range of depths for lake fishing, or they are cast downstream, often from the head of hole, in rivers. This simple approach is tough to beat any time the cats are using known locations such as river-bend holes or the sides of humps. If the fish are more widespread or their locations are less certain, a good alternative is to drift, using either three-way rigs or bottom-bumping rigs.

For flathead catfish, shad need to be alive and at least palm-sized. Top-end predators, flatheads have minimal interest in cut bait. Baits should be presented on or near the bottom around good structure and thick cover. In rivers, the flatheads are around outside bends among tangles of tree branches near the bank. In reservoirs they typically are along bends in the old creek or river channel or near channel confluences.

CHICKEN LIVERS
Arguably, no bait is more closely associated with catfishing than a chicken liver. The reason is simple: livers produce catfish and lots of them. With their strong, meaty smell, chicken livers draw cats from broad areas. Once the cats find the bait, they have trouble resisting them.

Livers typically do not produce many huge catfish. However, for channel cats up to about 10 pounds, chicken livers are extremely productive. They also are inexpensive and available from any grocery store.

One major caveat of baiting up with chicken livers is that they initially can be difficult to keep on the hook. They toughen up once they have been in the water a few minutes. But if you are not careful, casting this bait much farther than your hook travels is common.

Among the best ways to keep livers hooked is to use treble hooks and relatively small pieces of bait, and wrap the liver onto the hook. That allows the bait to be hooked in a few different places, and the bends of the three hooks work together to keep the offering in place. Beyond that, you simply need to make lob casts instead of fast-action snapping casts.

Livers also tend to work best for the first 15 or 20 minutes they are on a hook. They lose a lot of their natural juices over time as well as much of their appeal. Anglers are wise, therefore, to re-bait rigs periodically and to always begin with a fresh piece of liver after moving to a new spot.

Chicken livers work well any where channel cats or smaller blues are the main attraction and where currents are not too overpowering. Extra strong current such as in tailraces of dams, for example, often tear livers off hooks before the cats get the opportunity to find the bait and eat it.

For ponds or other small-water settings, all you typically need to add to the line is a split shot or two. In bigger lakes or rivers, more weight typically is needed.

A couple of final considerations about livers are worth noting. First, when cats are active, livers go quickly. It is wise to bring two or three containers of bait for a day of catfishing. Also you should always bring a hand towel or two and be prepared to make a mess out of them. Chicken livers are incredibly sticky.

DIP BAITS
Some folks make their own dips from well-guarded secret recipes that have been passed from generation to generation. Others have favored commercially manufactured blends that they buy by the case. Whether
home brewed or store bought, dip baits are gooey concoctions that usually smell horrible, but catfish absolutely cannot resist them.

While all dip baits smell bad, a foul odor is not enough to make a tub of bait attractive to cats. A dip must have a cheese base or some kind of protein content. Dough balls, no matter how sour or smelly they are, do not offer much appeal to most cats.

A bait’s consistency also is critical. A good dip is soft enough that it breaks up gradually, but solid enough that it does not wash away quickly. In current, where dip baits are really at their best, that can be a delicate balance.

Dip baits work best when fished in the current, because the moving water carries bait particles downstream as the dip breaks up creating a chum line of sorts that leads directly to the hook. Dips often out-produce other baits in rivers or in sections of reservoirs that have plenty of current running through them. However, reservoir fisheries can turn on and off as if someone was flipping a light switch based on power-generation schedules.

Anglers should consider how cats are likely to relate to a river hole or other structure and set up with their baits on the up-current side of where they expect the cats to hold. It is also wise to make repeated casts to the same general area, because doing so strengthens the line of scent to the area where the bait settles.

Dips generally do not stay on hooks — even treble hooks — on their own. There is nothing solid to put a hook through. Instead, anglers buy “catfish worms,” most of which are tubes with holes in them or ringworm-style rubber worms. All are designed to hold the bait initially, but release it gradually. Most come pre-rigged with treble hooks on leaders, and sometimes a worm or two is included with a can of dip. An alternative is to string a piece of sponge onto the shank of the treble hook.

Dip baits are generally best kept in the shade during mid-summer days. Most get thinner in the heat, and keeping the bait on the hook can become challenging. Some manufacturers sell additives that help thicken dip baits that get too thin on toasty afternoons.

A final important accessory, similar to the liver fisherman’s hand towel, is some sort of a dipstick to push the worm or sponge down into the bait without actually touching the goop.

NIGHT CRAWLERS
Stringing a worm on a hook is the essence of fishing simplicity. In fact, it almost seems too simple. That said, night crawlers remain some of the finest baits available for coaxing catfish into biting. They smell natural, because they are natural, and they seem to taste mighty good to catfish.

Generally speaking, the rule for night crawlers and catfish is, the bigger the better. Even small cats like big, juicy worms. It is generally a good idea to wad two or three on a hook if you only can find small or medium-sized worms. Unlike other species, catfish typically do not care how night crawlers are strung on the hook. They feed mostly by smell and taste, not by sight, so the more worm that is wrapped around and sewn onto the hook, the better your chances are of hooking cats that bite.

One very effective and often overlooked method for catfishing with worms is to suspend a worm beneath a float, hanging the bait barely off the bottom. This works really well when cats are holding around stumps, the bases of flooded trees or beside downed trees along the edges of rivers. The float allows you to present a bait precisely and move it around easily to locate cats that are using cover.

Night crawlers also work great when fished on the bottom with Carolina rigs, bounced just off the bottoms of tailwaters or other swift rivers with three-way rigs, or dragged across points or flats at night when the cats move shallow to feed.

Because they do not have to be cut up and are not quite as messy as livers or dip bait, night crawlers also make a terrific bait choice for trips with youngsters. Children quickly learn how to string worms on hooks so the bait will not come off. Also, cats tend to slurp in night crawlers, so hook-up ratios tend to be good.

Another great thing about night crawlers and other worms as baits to use during family catfish outings is that the children can dig their own worms, often from their own backyards and sometimes from the lakeshore when there’s a break in the action. There is an indisputable extra pride that comes from catching a fish on a hand-dug worm — somewhat akin to the pride of a fly-fisherman catching a fish on a hand-tied fly.

CRAWFISH
If chicken livers are the best known of all catfish baits, crawfish may be the most overlooked. All major species of catfish feed on crawfish, although most flatheads caught on craws weigh 20 pounds or less.

Crawfish rank among the best baits of all for fishing in creeks and small rivers. You can either bounce live crawdads near the bottom in the current using split shot rigs or add a little heavier weight and fish crawfish tails right on the bottom. Dead crawfish produce mostly channel catfish. Live ones — especially big craws — also attract modest-sized flatheads. Anglers who specifically want flatheads should put baits close to the thickest cover they can find and be ready to pull with everything they have upon setting the hook.

Crawfish are not purely stream baits, though. They are important forage in many ponds, lakes and reservoirs and, therefore, make great catfish bait in waterways of all sizes. Fresh crawfish, whether dead or alive, work great for putting cats in the boat whether they are placed atop rocky points or humps on summer nights, or fished in the deeper open water along the edge of a grass bed.

A live crawfish can be hooked through the base of the tail from the bottom up. Some anglers like to remove the pincers, but the cats probably do not care either way. Anglers using dead craws often pinch off the head and string the body on the hook, inserting it under the tail and impaling as much of the crawfish as possible. This kind of rig can spin in the water if there is any current, so adding a swivel between the weight and the hook is a good idea.

Some bait stores do sell live crawfish. However, anglers who want to bait up with fresh craws generally have to catch their own. Simply turning rocks can accomplish that in some streams. In many rivers and most lakes, anglers have to put down some type of crawfish trap, which can be baited with chicken parts.

Catfish purists should consider one warning about using crawfish — especially live crawfish: Virtually everything that swims likes to eat crawfish, so expect to sort through a bunch of bluegills, bass and other “undesirables” between prized catfish bites.

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Transitional areas

Transitional areas are the most the visible, but probably most over looked type of structures available to anglers. Although transitional areas are not considered a go to spot for numbers of catfish they are considered a hot spot for large cats during the migration cycles.

Catfish will move in seasonal patterns throughout the year. From winter to spring they have reproduction on their minds as they begin to migrate to the spawning areas and will use transitional areas as staging points on their journey up river and again after the spawn on their way to where they will spend the summer. During the hot summer months, catfish will seek cooler waters in the deeper holes and does not have to feed as actively.

Fall brings cooler water temperatures and starts the migration to the shallower feeding areas as they prepare to go deep again for the winter months.
Catfish will often lurk in transition zones as they prepare for the next part of their seasonal journey. Most other anglers will avoid these types of areas because the action can be slow but taking advantage of these types of spots during the transitional periods can often pay off big.

Methods to fish the transitional areas include anchoring, and controlled suspend drifting.

Suspending a Carolina rig over the transitional area will keep the bait in the strike zone. Use three to six ounce sinkers to help control the bait and it allows you to adapt to any sudden changes in depth and adjustments can be made quickly.

Anchoring above a transitional area and casting onto the area with a traditional 3-way or Carolina rigs is another presentation that works well. In this presentation the sinker size should be determined by the amount of current that is present.

Fishing transition areas could seem like a waste of time to some anglers. Simply because they are not a good area for numbers of catfish, however If you are looking for quality and not quantity, the transitional areas are a great place to cut a trophy catfish off at the pass during the seasonal migration periods.Below is a small transition but will give you a good visual on what a transition looks like

For big blues

Baits will include your usual smorgasbord for catfish: shad, skip jack, fresh chicken, turkey, and rooster livers. The rule of thumb here is if you want to catch eating size fish use the smaller size of baits and you will catch an occasional big fish to boot. I’m a firm believer if you want to catch big fish use the big bait. How big, as big as your tackle can handle. Live or cut bait will work for these big blue cats.

rod holder

This is a rod holder guaranteed to work on the shore and in the boat. One of the better inexpensive rod holders on the market is the Atwood Rod Holder. You can find them at just about any Walmart fishing department for about $15. Take the side mount for the Atwood rod holder and mount it on a 5 gallon bucket. It works great when you are fishing from the shore because the bucket comes in handy for hauling bait, tackle and other equipment. If the bucket seems tippy when your heavy rods are in it just fill the bucket with water and it is immediately stable and will hold any size rod. The bucket also comes in handy when your rods are spread out along the shoreline, you can fill the bucket with water and keep a few bullheads in it for bait so that you don’t have to run up and down the shoreline carrying bait. Here is a picture of my bucket rod holder with two rod mounts on it:

Early Spring Catfishing

April is a month of activities. The Robins begin to show and the songbirds begin to sing signaling the coming of spring and the end of winter. For the hunter it means strutting gobblers. For the angler it means warming waters and the beginning of a great season of great fun and fresh fillets.

Most anglers I know begin to prepare their crappie poles and sharpen their jig heads for some deep brush jigging or spider rigging some tuffies along some creek channels leading to known spawning grounds or sunken stake beds. This is a great time for some cruising crappies but it can be just as good for channel cats as old man winter loses ground.

This time of year can be deceiving as the air temperature rises the catfish angler can't wait to get on the water. The problem is that the water takes a while to warm even with bright sunny days and warmer weather. The important thing with early spring cat fishing is water temp. Finding the warmer water on any lake will be the focus and just a few degrees can make all the difference.

Look for temp changes in shallow coves. The larger the area of shallow water the quicker it will warm providing great catfish action. Water 1 to 4 feet is a great place to look as the springtime sun is drawn to the dark bottom of the lake causing the water to warm quicker in these areas. I know it is tempting to fish deep when the water temps are so low but catfish do feed in these shallow areas as the water begins to warm. The warmer water definitely stimulates the cold blooded cats causing them to prowl but an even stronger motivator is the food found in these shallow coves in the spring.

In the winter there is a natural die off of fish that occurs and if your lake has shad, which most successful catfish lakes do, then the amount of food floating below the surface of the lake can be extraordinary. This die off provides catfish with a much needed food source to begin the spawn that is nearing with the warming of water. Instinct will prevail and the catfish know that these wind swept coves have trapped lots of dead fish from the winterkill and they do take advantage of the natural occurrence.

Wind to an angler can be a nuisance or a great ally. In the case of early spring cat fishing wind is your ally. Not only does wind help mix the water and help to warm these shallow coves but it also tends to push these dead fish into these coves. The important thing is to find the combination of large shallow cove and a wind that blows directly into this cove. If the wind is not blowing directly into the cove then try to at least locate a side wind and fish the bank being lapped with the wind blown water.

The choice of bait seems obvious. Cut shad is the way to go for this time of year and does work but I tend to mix it up a little. Most of the fish will focus on dead shad so you definitely want a rig with cut shad but I usually rig a pole or two with something different just in case it stimulates a fish that might be attracted to something a little different. I have to say that sometimes the different bait far outperforms the shad but always have cut shad in the boat, as it will work best most of the time. Some other bait I use is fresh chicken livers and where legal fresh bluegill fillets work great.

First scale the bluegill then fillet. The scales, I feel, trap the smell of the meat and needs to be removed. Some will argue that the smellier the bait the better for channel cats. I can only say that fresh bait has always worked well for me and seems to attract the larger fish as well. I may be wrong but I keep the stinky stuff out of my boat and stick to fresh or fresh frozen. I have caught fish on the rotten stuff but I seemed to waste a lot of time with fishless strikes and smaller fish. Since going strictly fresh the bite action has slowed but the hook-up action on bigger fish has increased as I waste little time worrying with fishless bites and more time fighting nice size channels to the boat. Usually thirty minutes in one spot is all I will wait before searching another cove. Keep moving but do not forget that first cove later in the day as the fish may move up while you search other parts of the lake.

Tackle for Channel Cats is simple but a couple of tricks can really help your success. You want to start with at least a medium or medium heavy rod. I use a heavy rod and the reason is since targeting these larger Channel Cats I have landed several over ten pounds. These big channels can put up a great fight and are many times in the middle of some snarled brush not to mention the twirling these fish do as they near the boat which can put plenty of strain on your gear. If you are like me you will start with your regular gear that you have used for years for those one to three pound fish but after hooking into and losing some of those giant channels that prowl the shallows early in the season you might decide, just as I did, that quality and sturdy gear is important to catching big Channels. Also there are giant Flathead monsters that tend to reside in the same type areas as big Channels and the last thing you want is to tangle with a forty-pound flatty in a brushpile with wimpy gear.

Another well-known trick is the slip sinker. These fish are very sensitive to pressure and if they feel any at all they will drop the bait. I have yet decided whether a free spool is better than tight lining. All my rigs free spool just in case I miss a bite he can keep running until I can get to the rod. If I see the bite I set the hook immediately. I tend not to tight line because I have seen too many dropped bites when they feel the rod without a hook set the hook, I believe, will slip right out when the fish spits the bait covered hook out of its mouth. So experiment and draw your own conclusion. Another lesson I have learned is that bait covered hook. I used to cover the hook with bait for fear the fish might feel the hook and spook. I now leave the hook point uncovered as best I can so that when the fish inhales the bait the point is exposed and even if the fish decides to spit it out there is a better chance the point will find its mouth on the way out.

Terminal tackle should consist of a solid hook and a heavy monofilament leader with swivel at the top. Above the leader should be a single bead and then a slider for your weight. These sliders are inexpensive and are slicker than just a slip sinker on your main line which tends to abrade your line causing premature breaks. You main line should be heavy mono or braided line. I choose mono for my leader to give some stretch at the hook and also withstand the abrasion effects of heavy brush a little better than braided line. This is another trick learned the hard way. Braided line is strong for its diameter and allows me to get much more on my reels while still using thirty to fifty pound test line. The braided lines will not hold their strength however with the slightest abrasion so check it often.

I use an octopus style hook in the 7/0 size range. I prefer to set the hook hard on these big cats so I choose the octopus over the circle as my choice in hooks. There are several hook makers out there that offer the octopus style hook. Mustad, owner and Gamakatsu are my favorite and provide excellent made hooks.

Early spring cat fishing may not be as popular as some of the other fish out there but with a little patients and trial and error lessons learned you might find a new and exciting early spring activity for yourself and family. You might even find yourself alone in your new endeavor and have all those shallow coves to yourself and enjoy some great fishing fun as well as some great fillets for the table. Good Luck!

So you want to catch a BIG catfish

So you want to catch a BIG catfish. That's very possible as there are numerous bodies of water where they can be found - they like to hole up in the deeper ponds or lakes and gently flowing rivers and streams. They're bottom feeders and will eat almost anything - and there are many different catfishing baits which appeal to catfish, both large and small.
The thing is this - are you using those baits in the correct manner to get the big one you're seeking? Let's take some time to establish where to look for him first - you can have the most delectable bait (to a catfish) possible - but if the big catfish you want isn't there, you'll simply waste it on fish you don't need. Your big catfish is not going to come looking for you, no matter which catfishing baits you're using on your hooks. And you can switch your bait as often as you like, but if he's not there, then he's not there, is he?
We need to take some time to study the waters where we know he's hiding. Catfish do not swim around in clear, open water; they lurk in murky, cloudy waters where they can hide near underwater rocks and logs. So if you're in an open area on the banks of a river without sufficient cover for the catfish, you won't find him. It's critical to understand your prey and his habits to spot exactly where you can find him. Are there some deeper areas in your body of water and can you see some old tree-trunks or piles of brush and debris? Move around and use your fishing gear in the likeliest places.
Perhaps there are water-eddies around a dead tree where you can drop your hooks - slowly moving water is where they hide, waiting for something delicious to appear, so let that something be one or two of your catfishing baits.
Try not to move your hooks around in the water, keep them down there and as motionless as possible. And if nothing has happened in fifteen or twenty minutes, move to another area which looks more promising. Your catfishing baits are not being ignored - it's clear that there are few catfish in that area just now and it's time to search elsewhere. We all know that fishing requires practice, patience and the right skills and techniques. Proper equipment and a variety of catfishing baits make a powerful combination for bringing in that big dude you're chasing.
Do you believe that the time of day makes a difference? Perhaps, but let's pay attention to the most experienced anglers who have found that early mornings and late evenings are the best times to go catfishing. During the day, catfish will avoid clear water and prefer to settle on the darker bottom of the lake or pond - but if it's overcast and raining, your catfish will be out there feeding, no matter what time of day it is.
A perfect time for catfishing is after heavy rains or spring thaw because the resulting floods will increase the water level in lakes and rivers. Flooding around newly submerged vegetation attracts all kinds of aquatic life and this brings out the catfish in hordes to gorge themselves and your big one may be among them. Put some fresh shad or bluegill on your hooks to lure him closer to your delicious catfishing baits. Try some perch, small frogs, chicken liver, night crawlers, worms - anything which smells wonderful to a catfish.
Before you go catfishing, consider going out the day before and arming yourself with some live shad - use a cast net to catch them. Keep them in an ice-filled cooler for your fishing trip and when baiting, use a hook through its tail or below the dorsal fin - you can even thread it on to your hook like you would a night-crawler. And of course, if you use live shad, you're in catfish heaven!
Now; we've got everything we need - perfect location, good catfishing rig, wide selection of catfishing baits and it's a rainy, overcast day. Let's go!
You already know that you have to search out those elusive catfish where they live and feed, so here's where you use all your techniques and knowhow; seek the places where you know they like to hang out. Attach your catfishing baits; drop the rig in the water and you will haul in a lot of catfish.
Look around - do you see seagulls congregating over a particular spot in your river or pond? If so, there's food there - and gulls will eat pretty much anything, just like catfish will. If there's food there, ten to one there are catfish around there too. Move downwind of the gulls and drop your hooks with fresh catfishing baits on them - you will certainly stand an excellent chance of finding that forty-pound catfish with your name on him. Get ready for a work-out; landing a big catfish is no easy thing to do - but when you do, it is so worth the hard work you put in.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6242322

Catfish Secrets

Buy a cake of "Cotton Seed" Break it into small pieces Place the pieces into a bag "Burlap bag" Soak the bag in water for three days Pick out a good fishing spot that you like Tie the bag to a tree limb so that it is about 2 feet under the water Pour the bucket of water into the same area (Water that cake soaked in) Wait about 1-2 weeks Come back prepaired to catch huge amounts of Catfish and bass If you can set a trotline out in the same area and check it often

joke of the day

Three blondes are sitting by the side of a river holding fishing poles with the lines in the water. A Game Warden comes up behind them, taps them on the shoulder and says, "Excuse me, ladies, I'd like to see your fishing licenses." 

"We don't have any." replied the first blonde. 

"Well, if your going to fish, you need fishing licenses." said the Game Warden. 

"But officer," replied the second blonde,"we aren't fishing. All we have are magnets at the end of our lines and we're collecting debris off the ottom of the river." 

The Game Warden lifted up all the lines and, sure enough, there were horseshoe magnets tied on the end of each line. "Well, I know of no law against it," said the Game Warden, "take all the debris you want." And with that, the Game Warden left. 

As soon as the Game Warden was out of sight, the three blondes started laughing hysterically. "What a dumb Fish Cop," the second blonde said to the other two, "doesn't he know that there are steelhead in this river?!"

Cold Weather Catfish Fishing Tips

If you're a true catfish fan then you don't want to let a little cold weather from Mother Nature prevent you from doing what you love. If you plan to fish in cold weather then you need to know about these cold weather catfish fishing tips. As you may already know, the fish can act differently according to the weather and the season. In addition, many fishermen respond differently or use different techniques in the cold weather than what they would use in warmer weather. So what can you do to reel in the catfish when it's cold outside?

What are some of the differences to cold water catfishing when compared to other times of the year?

This time of year, there is less competition from other fishermen for a great spot.
There is less noise and other distractions to scare your fish off.
You can find catfish closer to the banks and shore in colder weather.
You do not usually have to go as deep in the waters to find your catfish.
It is easier to fish on the edges of the water.
It is harder for the catfish to feed so they will be anxious to find your bait.
Catfish are often bigger this time of year.
There is more selection as fewer people are fishing in the cold weather. You have a chance at bigger fish!
The catfish move slower at this time of year.
They are often found just trolling the bottoms of the waters.

These are some of the advantages to cold weather catfish fishing. But if you're planning to try your hand at catching catfish in the colder months of the year, you need to know the proper techniques for achieving this.

Cold Weather of the waters and leave your bait stationary for a few moments before gently and slowly moving it.

Move slowly but from time to time, wiggle the bait around on the bottom to attract the attention of the fish again.
Use strong odor bait. Catfish respond strongly to their sense of smell, especially in colder weather.

Remember to remain patient and persistent. When fishing in cold weather, it may take some time to start getting bites.

Remember to pack snacks, beverages and more and be patient. Also remember your cold weather garb so you don't freeze before making catches.

To find the right technique that works for you in cold weather catfishing, you may need to try a few different tactics. Fishing from the banks or from a boat is preferred over wading which is not as practical or effective in cold weather.

You can even ice fish for catfish from a hole in the ice if you have proper equipment. Just go slow, be patient and try until you find the method that is working right for you on that given day.

More Cold Weather Catfish Fishing Tips

Since the catfish may be harder to find on the cold weather and if fishing in ice or cold, your visibility may be obscured, it can be helpful to enlist the aid of electronic fishing tools. Even inexpensive, simple tools can help you locate fish under the surface. These eyes beneath the water will make it easier for you to see the fish and where they are.

joke of the day

Jim had an awful day fishing on the lake, sitting in the blazing sun all day without catching a single one. On his way home, he stopped at the supermarket and ordered four catfish. He told the fish salesman, "Pick four large ones out and throw them at me, will you?"

"Why do you want me to throw them at you?"

"Because I want to tell my wife that I caught them."

"Okay, but I suggest that you take the orange roughy."

"But why?"

"Because your wife came in earlier today and said that if you came by, I
should tell you to take orange roughy. She prefers that for supper tonight."

Selecting the Right Bait for Winter Catfish Fishing

Selecting the right bait for winter catfish fishing is not as difficult as you might think. You will always have good luck with bait that imitates the natural food source of the water in which you are fishing but having a variety of different options available will ensure your success.

Below is a list of the bait that is among the most favorite of many anglers when fishing in the winter:

When choosing the best bait to use consider the average size of the catfish in the body of water you are fishing. Bait that is too small will be ignored by the larger catfish and bait that is to large will not be taken by the smaller ones. Using the wrong size bait can keep you from getting the most from your fishing trips and keep in mind that normally fishing near the bottom of the water will get you the best results when you are winter catfish fishing.

You also need to be aware that the catfish will move slower during the winter than they do during the spring and fall so you have to compensate for this by moving the bait at a slow even pace. Like most all species of fish the catfish will gather together in groups even in the wintertime, so your first job is to find where they are congregating together. Once you have located the catfish you are ready to present your bait and start reeling them in.