How To Set Up A Fishing Pole For Catfish

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Catfish are some of the most underrated fish in the country. They grow huge, they taste dandy, and they put upward a heck of a fight. In this short guide, you lot'll learn how to catch Catfish, from catfishing basics like telling species apart to more advanced theories on where, when, and how to bring in a monster.

If this isn't a monster, nosotros don't know what is!

Types of Catfish:

The first thing you lot need to know about catching catfish is that there'south more than one kind. Yous wouldn't use the same tactics for a Steelhead every bit a Lake Trout, so knowing which Catfish you're targeting is key to success.

In that location are three primary species of Catfish that anglers target in the US: Bluish Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. They can show up in the aforementioned waters and may be hunting for the aforementioned prey, simply they're very different creatures. Here's a brief expect at each species to help you pick your target.

Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish are probably the toughest Cats to catch. They're alone, hard to observe, and put upwardly a serious fight once you hook them. Even experienced anglers are happy to catch one big fish per trip. Flatheads live throughout the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River basins. They can show up from N Dakota to Lake Erie and from the Florida Panhandle over into United mexican states.

Flatheads normally max out at around 100 pounds, simply monsters take tipped the scales at 120 pounds in the past. They're piece of cake to tell apart from other species, with a long torso and a square, flattened head (hence the name).

Blueish Catfish

Blue Catfish are the biggest and most prized of America's Catfish. They can grow to mammoth sizes, with the all-tackle tape weighing in at an incredible 143 pounds. The dandy thing virtually Blue Cats is that they're not as alone as Flatheads. Yous can state huge numbers of them besides as individual giants. This makes for a much more than action-packed angling trip.

Blue Cats live in the aforementioned range every bit Flatheads but they're usually limited to deeper waters in lakes and principal river sections. They similar to hang out around strong currents where they look to deadfall prey.

Channel Catfish

Channel Cats are a lot smaller than their blue and flat-headed cousins. About fish don't top 20 pounds and anglers are usually looking for numbers more than size when targeting them. You do go the occasional monster, though, with fish in the 50 lb range decorating record books and mantelpieces.

Channel Catfish may not be the biggest True cat on the block, only they practice get around. You lot can catch Channel Cats pretty much everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains and well into both Mexico and Canada.

How to Distinguish Blue and Channel Catfish

Blue and Aqueduct Cats can be hard to tell apart. In theory, Channel Catfish are brown with dark spots, while Blue Catfish are, well, blue. Catfish vary in color, though, and Channel Cats lose their spots once they're big enough to be confused with a Blue.

Is information technology a Channel Catfish or a Blue Catfish? Hint: count the rays.

The easiest way to tell the fish apart is by the tail. Dejection and Channels both have forked tails, merely Blueish Cats have much straighter, more pointed forks while Channel Cats accept more than rounded tails. Blue Cats also have more than rays on their anal fins – effectually 30–35, verses 25–28 on Aqueduct Cats.

Best Time to Take hold of Catfish

Another stereotype nigh Catfish is that you have to catch them at night. Most people practise go catfishing later dark simply that doesn't mean you can't land monsters during the twenty-four hour period. Information technology depends on where yous're fishing and what species you're afterwards.

Flatheads are the most nocturnal. At nighttime, they're happier to motion out of their cover or hiding hole. This is the best time to notice them, merely you tin likewise land Flatheads in the sunshine by working the embrace they tend to hide in.

Blue and Channel Cats seem to feed on their ain schedule, regardless of the time of twenty-four hours. I thing to bear in mind is that monster Blues will be more than active by day if at that place'southward a stiff current to hunt in. In slow-moving waters, they mainly chase at night.

Catfishing at Night

There are two practiced reasons that people go catfishing at dark – information technology's a lot libation and the fish show up in much shallower h2o. Why? Simply put, Catfish follow their stomachs and their stomachs follow the forage. The topwaters become likewise warm for allurement fish on a hot summertime'south day. They also feel safer in open up water under cover of darkness. Catfish are scent-based hunters, though, and have no problem tracking down forage in the dark.

Daytime Catfishing

Catching Catfish during the mean solar day is a lot easier from a boat considering y'all can get out to the deeper waters. Y'all can fish from shore, you just need to exist able to cast accurately to deep water. Kickoff by fishing points and humps in the deepest reaches of the river or lake, and so work your way to shallow water until you detect the right depth. It requires a deeper knowledge of the waters you're angling in but it tin be only equally rewarding.

All-time Season for Catfishing

Again, most people have a limited view of when to catch Catfish. You may remember that catfishing is simply a summer thing. Sure, summer is the best time to notice Catfish, but you can take hold of them all twelvemonth round. It's not uncommon to fifty-fifty catch Channel Cats through ice! Information technology varies based on the species just the general dominion of thumb is that they similar deep, slow-moving water in winter and shallower, faster water in the summer.

How to Build the Best Catfishing Rig

There's no secret science to building a Catfish rig. Find a sturdy rod, add a quality reel, and don't go inexpensive on your terminal tackle. Here are a few tips on picking out the right setup for your chosen species.

Catfish Rods

You're looking for a fast activeness rod with plenty of courage and enough curve in the tip to set the hook properly. For smaller Channel Cats, go with a 6' medium-power rod. For big Dejection and Flatheads, y'all want a 7' medium-heavy or even heavy-ability rod. If you're casting from shore, you lot may demand a picayune more length to accomplish deep water.

Catfish Reels

Getting the hang of casting is an essential function of learning how to catch Catfish.

Baitcasters are the style to go if you lot want to take on large Cats. They have much more reliable elevate and will let you bandage much farther – essential for shore fishing. If y'all really hate casting, you tin can get away with spinning reels if you're targeting smaller Channel Catfish. Whatever way y'all go for, relieve yourself a lot of frustration (and fifty-fifty money in the long run) past investing in a quality reel.

And Everything Else

Firstly, line. Catfish rarely show up in gin-articulate water, and then you don't demand to bother with braid. Monofilament is cheaper and easier to use. On top of that, it can be recycled, reducing the risk of ghost fishing . Use 20–xxx lb line for Flatheads and Blues, or 12–15 lb line for Channel Cats. Brightly-colored line and bobbers volition assistance y'all notice small knocks on your baits.

Treble hooks are pretty much synonymous with catfishing. They're specially good for dip or punch baits. Circumvolve hooks are likewise an choice, though. If anything, they work even ameliorate for monster Catfish. Whatever you utilise, make certain you keep them extra sharp to punch through the Catfish's tough jaw.

Yous're almost set. Just make sure yous catch a sturdy rod holder, a large, tough net, and some gloves to handle the fish while avoiding those nasty spines. Oh, and yous'll need some allurement.

What is the Best Catfish Bait?

There are all kinds of crazy theories on what bait works best for Catfish. French chips, craven livers – fifty-fifty soap and cigarette butts get thrown out at that place sometimes. Our advice? Steer clear of these "secret Catfish baits" – they may take worked for your buddy Mike's uncle's cousin that once, that doesn't mean they're ameliorate than the tried and true alternatives.

Every bit with all aspects of Catfishing, your bait choice should vary with the species you're going after. The stereotypical "stink bait" may work well for a small scavenger only information technology won't do much for an apex predator. With that in mind, here are some of the all-time baits for each species.

All-time Bait for Flathead Catfish

Communicable your bait on-site is the all-time way to match it to the fish.

Flathead Catfish mainly feed on live prey. That'due south not to say that dead baits won't work, too. Only Flathead hookups are few and far between as it is, so going for live baits volition maximize your chances.

Yous'll get the best results with fish the local Flathead are used to eating. That could be anything from Sunfish and Bluegill to other, smaller Catfish. Save money and increase your chances by catching your own bait from the body of h2o you're fishing in.

Best Allurement for Blue Catfish

Bluish Catfish are much less fussy than Flatheads when it comes to taking cutting allurement. They love oily fish and they like information technology fresh (frozen baits don't work as well), merely they don't seem to heed if it's dead.

Once again, matching your bait to the fish'south natural forage is the nigh important dominion. That could exist skipjack herring, threadfin shad, or annihilation else that yous find swimming around.

Best Bait for Channel Catfish

Dip and punch baits are like candy to Channel Cats.

This is where you can pause out the stink baits. Smaller Channel Catfish are mainly scavengers and will follow scent trails that would make most people gag. Dip baits are great because they provide all the stink with none of the mess. Punch baits accept a little more substance and are the bait of choice for many top Catfishers.

Once Channel Cats get big, they start hunting more and relying less on scraps. Because of this, you volition grab bigger fish with fresh dead baits than stink allurement. Simply remember to match the hatch every bit always.

How to Grab Catfish

Y'all tin can fish for Catfish in all kinds of surprising means, from trolling to fly fishing to Catfish noodling (if yous telephone call that angling). There are 2 archetype tactics that bring in the most fish, though: nevertheless fishing and migrate fishing.

All the same fishing is as simple as it is effective. Just nowadays your bait and wait for something to have information technology. Information technology's not the nigh refined fishing style, but it's perfect for a relaxing day by the water. If you're looking for more hookups and less waiting time, you lot can also migrate your baits nether a bobber. This is especially effective on lakes where there's less current to spread your odor trail. You'll demand a boat to exercise it, though.

"Is that all there is too it?" Non at all! The precise tactics vary with the fish and the body of water. Here are a few tips for each species.

How to Catch Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish like two things: electric current and cover. Their favorite hunting grounds are the exterior of river bends, where drowned trees and boulders pile up to create plenty of cover. Flatheads don't venture far off the bottom unless they have to, and then presenting your bait a plough or two off the river bed will give you the best risk of getting their attention.

How to Take hold of Blue Catfish

In lakes, Blue Catfish similar to hunt around a single piece of construction in the main trunk of the lake. Unlike Flatheads, Dejection are happy hunting in open h2o also as on the bottom, so play around with depths if you lot're coming up dry out.

In a river, bends and confluences are the best places to look for big Cats. Try line-fishing a few different spots, with your baits dropped just upstream of deep holes. This is where the fish lurk to escape the main current.

How to Catch Aqueduct Catfish

Channel Cats will fix themselves upwards anywhere they can escape the current but still leap out at fish floundering in fast-flowing waters. In small rivers, bank check the deep pools below rapids. Logs and boulders make these spots fifty-fifty more appealing to Aqueduct Cats. In larger rivers, Channel Catfish will agree to structure or cover that breaks up the main electric current. Rocks, logs, holes, old tires – they don't intendance what it is, as long as it makes their life easier.

More 1 Way to Skin a True cat

Catfish are often ignored by freshwater purists. People assume they're however, even though they vary just equally much as Trouts and Bass. They go lumped in with other "rough fish" and generally forgotten about. Catfish may never become the respect they deserve, but for those in the know, they're a game fish worthy of existence listed with the all-time of them.

What's your favorite Catfish species? Do you have any tips on how to catch Catfish? Let us know in the comments beneath, we would honey to hear from you!

Source: https://fishingbooker.com/blog/how-to-catch-catfish-complete-guide-to-catfishing/

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