Proper Use Of The Catfishing Baits Is Important

After many years of angling for catfish I have come to believe that they, especially the Channel catfish, will eat anything. The Flathead and the Blue tend to be a little more choosey but if the bait is presented properly they also will eat most things. It always appears that any of the big three American catfish cannot refuse an easy meal.

Many hours can be spent agonizing over which of the catfishing baits will be the most effective in this particular water, at this time of the day and in this season. However, it is far more important to use that bait properly because if you make it easy for the catfish to catch the bait they will go for it and voila you have a catch. I do not deny that the bait can make a difference, but nothing like fishing in the wrong place and in the wrong manner will make.

The first decision that needs to be made when you approach a the water be it a lake, pond, river or creek is just where the catfish will be. During the day they will be 'holed up' somewhere and will not move far to take a bait. At night they will be on the move looking for bait fish to feed on.

It is never a good idea just to sit in one spot using different baits waiting for the catfish to find your bait. Catfish rely on stealth to catch their food and therefore they like to hide. Study the water and discover where the catfish prefer to hide. They sometimes lay in holes in the bank, so look for where the water has started to wear away the bank it may well contain holes this is particularly true on the outside of bends in rivers.

Fallen trees, log piles, rocks and boulders are all places that the catfish may hide during the day. Try casting a fresh shad head next to anything sticking out of the water. If you spot a back eddy close to the bend in a river it may be worth trying your luck. It does not take long to see if there are fish in your chosen spot. Twenty minutes without a bite is long enough to wait then move on.

Keep your bait still while waiting for a bite, do not bounce or move your bait unnecessarily. If you want to catch large numbers of bigger catfish you must use the correct techniques and skills together with the correct equipment and bait.

You can go catfishing any time of the day but the most productive times tend to be early in the morning and later in the evening. Rainy days and under cloud cover are also great times to go catfishing. Spring through to the fall tend to bring better catches of catfish particularly at times when the waters are rising. Catfish tend to be more active at these times and in these weather condition and are therefore easier to catch. A great opportunity for catfishing is after a lake has risen with flood waters as the catfish will feed heavily in freshly flooded vegetation.

At night the catfish will be on the move looking for food. Try the old channels, where streams and rivers have cut deeper sections, the catfish will swim down these to the shallows in search of bait fish.

Catfish are a great game fish, I believe the equal to both trout and salmon, and will give you a great workout when you reel them in. Eating them is just as good though not as popular why I do not know.

But always remember "You must find the catfish - they will not be looking for you".