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Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets

There are no set specifications on what tackle you should use for big catfish in the over 20 lbs range, but if you have been a catfish angler for any length of time you understand that big fish like a 30lb blue catfish or a 25lb channel catfish will need some very powerful tackle. Our article today will focus on some suggested tackle.

When you are fishing big rivers and there is a strong current you need to go big on your tackle. A good surfcasting rod and reel combo spooled with 30 to 50 lb fire wire fishing line is a good start. The surf rod will get your catfish bait where it needs to be, and will help you when your fighting your big catfish. You will be able to cast your large baits into current areas and with the proper catfish fishing rig you will be able to keep you catfish bait on the bottom. When you fish strong current areas you will need a good supply of 4 to 5 oz pyramid sinkers the are the best bet to keep your bait from rolling. You will also need hook sizes from a 5/0 to 7/0 size range. A simple fishing rig would include the pyramid sinker tied on the end of the line and your 5/0 to 7/0 hook tied on about 3ft up the line with a loop knot. You could use gizzard shad or skipjack herring cut bait cut in large chunks.

If you are drift fishing for big catfish such as blue catfish and channel catfish you may want to use a 7 to 8ft medium power bating casting rod , or medium action open face reel rod with either a bait casting reel or a open face reel spooled with 30 to 50lb fire line. Make sure which ever reel you chose it matches your rod selection and is designed to use large pond test lines. The reason I suggest you get fire line is because the large test lines such as 30 to 50lb test have a diameter size about ½ of what monofilament line is. For you catfish bait fishing rig I suggest you use a what is called a three way swivel rig.

To Make a three way swivel fishing rig tie the three way swivel onto your line first. Next tie a 8 to 12 inch dropper leader with a 3 oz to 5 oz pyramid sinker. Next tie your 50lb test fire line leader 16 to 28 inches in length with a 5/0 to 7/0 hook. Just a note if the current is extremely strong you will need to go with a larger pyramid sinker, because you need to hold on the bottom to be successful.

For fishing large reservoirs a pontoon boat works great for fishing for large catfish such as blue catfish and channel catfish. But if you are fishing rivers they are not a good idea. If you plan on fishing large rivers with strong currents a good suggestion would be a 16 to 20 ft aluminum deep v designed hull boat. You want to have a larger boat so you have the room to maneuver when you are trying to land a large trophy blue catfish or channel catfish.

I have had a great time writing this article we hope you enjoyed our information about Trophy Channel Catfish. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip

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Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets

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Channel catfish are one of the few catfish species that have been studied but as a rule there are few studies that have been conducted for the catfish species. Most of the data that is available about channel catfish’s seasonal movement is based on just a few rivers, lakes and reservoirs that have been watched closely.

The length of daylight is the key factor that triggers the seasonal movements of catfish thoughout their habitat. Some species such as the channel catfish are effected more then other species such as the blue catfish and flat head catfish. Actually the length of day effects small organisms and all animals up the food chain to include game fish. The intensity and length of light effects drives the yearly migration and spawning and feeding patterns of channel catfish, blue catfish, and flat head catfish. If you can learn these patterns you will enjoy more productive channel catfish bait fishing trips on a regular basis.

The In-Fisherman has developed an excellent calander that you can analize and track the seasonal movements of channel catfish at any location within their habitat range. This calendar can be obtained by purchasing their book In – Fisherman Critical Concepts. Basically the calendar divides North America into the Southern range, The Midrange, and the Northern Range. The calendar has ten periods which include catfish pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn, pre-summer, summer peak, summer, post-summer, fall turnover, coldwater, winter. Each of these periods is posted on the calendar through all months of the yearin all ranges, so you can predict where catfish will be and what kind of catfish bait you can use in your local area. Or if you are planning a trip to catch a mess of catfish out of state you can use the calendar to pick the best time of year.

The winter period includes the coldwater and winter periods. This period is classified as long periods of time that the water temperature is below the normal range for catfish. Channel catfish will continue to feed during this period but they won’t be as active when compared to other times of the year. If you plan on going bait fishing to catch some channel catfish at this time of your look for deep water holes that is where they will be holding for the winter. Temperature ranges in the winter average from 32 degrees to 39 degrees in Manitoba to 40 degrees to 50 degrees in Florida.

In the south, the spring coldwater period is when the water temperature starts to rise. The spring coldwater period in the north starts right after ice out. Channel catfish will still be located in deep holes. Unlike walleyes, pike, and sauger, who move quickly into their spawning period, channel catfish, blue catfish, and flat head catfish do not spawn for tow three more months away when water temperatures rise to 75 degrees. When water temperatures rise above 50 degrees channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish will begin to move out of there deep holes looking for the years winter fish kill. This is an ideal time to use gizzard shad and skip jack herring as your catfish bait. All catfish species will be aggressively eating the deed fish kill, even the flat head catfish who normally feeds primarily on live bait fish, such as bluegill, perch, and other catfish and forage fish.

The pre-spawn period is when the channel catfish will start it’s migration to smaller rivers, and tributaries to look for food and to find good spawning areas. In lakes or reservoirs this migration may be to the mouth of any incoming creeks or rivers into the lake or reservoir. This time of you’re a good catfish bait would fresh mussels and large live creek chubs and large shiners. The main difference between the pre-spawn and early spring period is that the channel catfish’s metabolism is increasing and they are becoming more active so they are aggressively looking for catfish bait.

As the water temperatures rise to 75 degrees catfish such as the channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish enter the spawning period. Channel catfish will spawn for over a month so bait fishing efforts will not be effected. Channel catfish are extremely active and aggressive during the spawning period. A good catfish bait would be cut baits such as gizzard shad, soured mussels, or creek chubs.

The settling period includes the post spawn and the pre-summer periods when water temperatures rise to about 80 degrees and above. The channel catfish has the same activity level and feeding patterns during the summer as they do during the spawn period and your bait fishing methods and catfish bait can remain the same. As the water levels start to drop the channel catfish will start their move to deep water areas down stream or deeper areas on a lake or reservoir. They will still feed aggressively during the night hours in shallows but move deeper during the daylight hours.

The summer period which includes summer peak , summer and post summer periods occurs when the water temperatures rise to 80 degrees and above. The summer period includes much of July, August, and September. Summer is the prime time to fish for channel catfish because they are predicable and actively feeding. You can continue to catch channel catfish while bait fishing using cut bait for your catfish bait selection. Some common bait fish to use for cut bait are gizzard shad , skipjack herring, shiners and creek chubs.

As the cooling period starts channel catfish and blue catfish will head for deeper holes in rivers and lakes. And will be less active as the whole cycle of life starts over again.

We hope the information here has bin helpful about about Blue Catfish. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip

Check out Mark’s website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about Gizzard Shad

Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets

Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets

To move past the basics of fishing for channel catfish, and blue catfish you need to understand good catfish structure, and realize what edge effects are and what they do. You can be an expert at creating catfish baits but if you can’t find the channel catfish with any consistency you are just going to be hit and miss on whether you have a good catch of channel catfish. Understanding channel catfish, and blue catfish location is a key component of moving past the basics of fishing for catfish.

The definition of what is know as the “edge effect” is as follows: “The increased concentration of animals that sometimes appear when to habitats meet” Lets take this definition and relate it to fishing for channel catfish and blue catfish. Edges are very important to catfish fishing because both channel catfish, blue catfish will concentrate at certain edge lines within known catfish structure areas. If you can learn to read edge line you can save yourself a lot of time when you are on the water. Lets take for example you locate you are out fishing on a large reservoir and you locate a large school of gizzard shad but when you cast into the school you get nothing. Then you decide to move farther back from the school and just fish the edges. Wham! You get a hit and catch a 15lb blue catfish! Guess what you just used the edge effect!

The face of fishing structure for channel catfish , and blue catfish and flathead catfish has changed considerably in recent years. The this day and age you need more then just identifying where catfish structure is located. You need to understand where within that structure will the catfish be holding, and feeding. You still have to identify physical bottom changes, bottom debris locations and humps and depth changes but you also need to understand seasonal migrations and where and when channel catfish and blue catfish will be holding there. If you can get a good grasp of this concept you will be well on your way to being a very successful catfish angler.

We hope the information here has bin helpful about about Blue Catfish. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip

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Shallow lakes and reservoirs often have featureless basins and shallow shorelines. You can catch channel catfish by drift fishing the large basins using cut baits such as gizzard shad, creek chubs, and shiners as you catfish bait selection. A good bait fishing catfish rig for drift fishing would be a three way swivel rig. Use a sinker large enough to stay on the bottom and a 5/0 to 7/0 hook.

To fish shallow reservoirs and lakes at night head to the shallow shorelines because bait fish will concentrate at night there. If you are fishing in a boat locate edge lines where soft pan bottom turns into sand or rock. Drop anchor here and cast your catfish bait towards the shore line. You can also attract channel catfish to your area by dropping a underwater fishing light and chumming the area. You can catch channel catfish while your bait fishing with a simple slip bobber rig, or by fishing tight line.

Cover edges in shallow water are also excellent areas to catch channel catfish because the channel cats are attracted to abundant numbers of bait fish such as shad , minnows moving in and out of the cover. They are also attracted to shallow flat areas adjacent to cover that are sandy and have a good population of mussels. These areas are extremely good under winding conditions. Use bait fish such as gizzard shad cut into pieces for your catfish bait. Or if you find a adjacent flat that has a population of mussels use the mussels as bait. You can also use soiled mussels by extracting the mussel meat and let it soak in sour milk for about two day prior to your fishing trip. Just a note, channel catfish love mussels so do not overlook them as a catfish bait.

If you are going to target roaming channel catfish on large featureless flats, try to fish with a three way swivel rig fishing rig, while drift fishing because your catfish bait will be suspended slightly off the bottom. Use live bait such as creek chubs or shiners, or cut bait such as gizzard shad as your catfish bait selection. Make sure your sinker selection is large enough that it constantly bumps bottom as you are drifting. To locate a good drift fishing starting point on these flats look for a slight look for points that have a slight depth change.

We hope the information here has bin helpful about about Gizzard Shad Bait. Have a great day!

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There are 10’s of thousands of catfish anglers who seek catfish baits that will put them ahead of their competition. Well to find the best cat fish bait you need to understand how different species of catfish such as channel catfish and blue catfish make decisions on what they want to eat.

Catfish have over 175,000 taste buds all over their bodies. They also have multiple barbels around their mouths that ate used to taste and smell their food. Catfish also hear sounds at a much higher frequency then other game fish. Catfish and bait fish minnows hear better then even game fish like the mighty large mouth bass. The reason their hearing is so incredible is because they have  weberian ossicles, which are bony structures that connect the swim bladder to the inner ear. There is also research that suggests that catfish have what all fisherman refer to as the “sixth sense”. This sixth sense is found un very few animals. The six sense allows the catfish to detect weak electrical fields produced by living organisms, as well as some non living sources. This sense helps them detect prey in muddy or cloudy waters, and is why they can detect your catfish fish bait at night so easily. Catfish are extremely sensitive fish and if you can learn how to attract catfish with catfish bait that stirs there senses you will be amazed how much you can increase your catch of catfish.

If you really want to increase your chances of having multiple catfish attack your catfish bait then you need to learn  the art of chumming. Chumming for catfish can be delivered in a variety of methods, but the main reason it is used is to arouse the catfish’s sense of smell. Catfish like to roam for food so if you can get them to congregate around your chum location you will catch multiple catfish if you use the right catfish bait. There are a number of things you can use for chum but one of the best I have used with great success is all types of catfish guts and blood. When you are getting your cut bait together keep all the guts and blood and put it in plastic bags and tie them off. Next place them in a mesh bag and lower it to the bottom. Drop one catfish bait as close to the chumming bag as you can , and the other fishing rigs approximately 10ft away from the bag.

I have had a great time writing this article we hope you enjoyed our information about Cut Bait. Have a great day!

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