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In most areas of the United States, the main species of catfish available are blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish, though you can also find white catfish and bullhead catfish in some areas.
Therefore, when seeking out catfish fishing techniques and other general information on the sport, these are the breeds on which you should focus.
Channel cats, being the smallest and least picky of these three varieties, require less specialized techniques in order to reel in a number of them during an afternoon excursion. This breed can be found in just about any freshwater source - lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, reservoirs, and any other formations - and is definitely categorized as an opportunistic feeder and scavenger, more so than even other catfish breeds.
You can use almost any type of bait, though less sizeable night crawlers and small bits of chicken liver tend to be quite attractive to these fish. Rigging options are a personal choice, with just about any type of rigging producing great results, though some anglers actually recommend a Carolina rig. Channel cats often gathered near dams, where they can find bits and pieces of fish disposed of by a drainage or a turbine at a factory.
They also prefer cover brush and other underwater cover, so one important catfish fishing technique to consider is to fish the shorelines with lots of shallow water and brush cover.
However, for a much different approach, consider the flathead catfish. Fishing techniques in this area should be well honed for best results, as flatheads can be elusive if you are not prepared. Few species of fish grow to be larger, with only the blue catfish, white sturgeon, and alligator gar being bigger. When you find your flathead catfish prize, it is quite likely to put up a hard fight.
For the best chance of catching a whopper in daylight hours, fish during warm months, targeting waters between May and October. Focus on large rivers or lakes with moving water that doesn't have an extremely strong current, and stick to areas with fast-breaking structure where flatheads like to find cover here.
The best flathead catfish fishing technique that actually allows you to avoid the necessity of fighting your fish to shore is to fish at night with the use of trotlines. Your catch will be hooked and held overnight, and you'll simply collect what you've caught in the wee hours of the morning.
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on catfish fishing techniques here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com
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Catching a monster catfish is on most anglers list of fishing goals. It seems like everyone wants to catch a monster catfish these days. And why not, they are one of the largest fresh water fish in North America. Both blue catfish and flathead catfish regularly exceed 40 pounds. The World Record Blue Catfish weighing 124 pounds was caught near where the Mississippi and Missouri rivers meet, close to Alton, Illinois.
The World Record Flathead Catfish weighed 123 pounds and was caught in the Elk City Reservoir. The World Record Channel Catfish caught at Lake Moultrie in South Carolina weighted 58 pounds. I consider any catfish over 40 pounds World Class Trophy material.
These monster catfish are found everywhere in the United States from Irvine Lake, Lower Otay Reservoir and San Vicente Reservoir in California, Lake Texoma in Texas, the Mighty Mississippi and Missouri River systems, the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the James River and the Santee Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina are some of the top big cat producers. Even with all these great fishing grounds, few anglers catch monster catfish on a consistent basis.
I hope the following tips will help you join the ranks of catfishermen who catch these giant catfish on a more regular basis.
Go Heavy on Your Gear!
1. A 40 pound catfish can snap your rod like a twig and burn up lightweight cheap reels quickly. An investment in heavy tackle is a must. You don't have to spend a fortune. Look for deals on EBay, iOffer, Craigslist and CatfishingProducts.
2. A 7 or 8 foot heavy action rod is a good start. Bait casting reels are the strongest and most dependable. Some good brands are Penn and Abu Garcia. I use Shimano and Ocean Master. Many anglers also like the spin casting reel. Whatever type of reel you decide to use, make sure you spool it with at least a 30, 50, 80 or even 100 pound braid. If you are going to be chasing monster cats in heavy cover, you might go even heavier. I've broken off 100 pound braid on big cats at Santee Cooper. I recommend PowerPro braid.
3. Use a 6/0 to 10/0 heavy circle hook. I like the 8/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hooks and sometimes I even use 10/0 if we have bigger baits. These bigger hooks leave plenty of gap to hook the fish. Circle hooks tend to catch the fish in the corner of the mouth making fish better candidates for CPR. Don't forget to get good heavy rated swivels because nothing bites more than to hook a great fish and part of your tackle breaks.
Best Baits.
4. Live bait is preferred for flatheads. They feed almost exclusively on live bait. I say "almost" because the largest flathead I've ever seen was caught by Tommy Fredrick on cut bait. Blue catfish can be caught on live bait and cut bait. Large baits will exclude smaller fish, but many a big blue has been caught on small cut bait. Other baits will work but not with the same consistency. Make sure you have plenty of gap no matter what size bait you have. Use baits that are indigenous to the waters you are fishing in if at all possible.
Check Your Line Often
5. A huge mistake that is very easy to make is not re-tying when you need to. You should check your line often for wear and abrasion. You should re-tie after a large fish or even after every few normal sized fish. If you have to pull really hard to come off a snag, it's time to retie. The line might not be bad, but it has been stressed. It only takes a few minutes to tie on a new knot. Monster catfish will test every bit of your gear, so make sure your hook is good and sharp. You've gotten all the gear, and traveled to a great place to fish, don't miss the monster because you are too lazy to check and re-tie your line.
What are you waiting for, get out there and get fishin! Good Luck!
Catfishing information and prducts they can use to make their catfishing experience better and easier. people who catfish or want to get into catfishing, peole looking for more catfishing information or a catfishing guide. Go To: www.catfishingproducts.com
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If catching a monster catfish is something you want to do, here are some tips to help you with that goal. Chasing one of the largest fresh water fish in North America can be very challenging. With both blue catfish and flathead catfish regularly exceeding 40 pounds they can be formidable opponents. The World Record Blue Catfish and the World Record Flathead Catfish both weighed over 120 pounds. The World Record Channel Catfish caught at Lake Moultrie in South Carolina weighed 58 pounds. I personally consider any catfish over 40 pounds World Class Trophy material. If you are going to try to catch these fish, you will need to fish a little differently than you do for 5-10 pound catfish.
These monster catfish are found all over the United States from California, Texas, the Mighty Mississippi and Missouri River systems, the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the James River to the Santee Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina. Even with the abundance of great fishing grounds, few catfishermen catch monster catfish on a regular basis.
I hope the following tips will help you join the ranks of catfishermen who catch these monster catfish on a more consistent basis.
1. Use A Good Knot.
Knots are often the weakest point of any fishing rig. Learn how to tie the Palomar knot. It is simple and efficient, providing almost 100 percent line strength.
1. Double about 5 inches of line, and pass through the eye.
2. Tie a simple Overhand Knot in the doubled line, letting the hook hang loose. Avoid twisting the lines.
3. Pull the end of loop down, passing it completely over the hook.
4. Pull both ends of the line to draw up the knot.
For a video of how to tie this knot go to CatfishingProducts and look at the knots link.
2. Keep Your Bait Fresh
A major part of catfishing involves presentation. Catfish have a very highly developed olfactory system. They can smell and taste better than any other freashwater fish. Catfish have over tens times more sensors than largemouth bass. Even in deep dark murky water, the catfish will find your bait. The fresher your bait, the faster and easier the catfish will find it. Putting on fresh bait often is a no-brainer. If your cut bait is over 15-30 minutes old, change it. If your live bait isn't lively, use him for cut bait. One of my favorites is yellow perch; those little guys are really hardy.
3. Hook Check.
Check your hook often. If you have to pull really hard to come off a snag, check your hook. If you have reeled in a nice fish, check your hook for damage. If it's bent, don't even try to bend it back. A weak hook could cost you your next monster catfish.
4. Keep Your Hook Point Clean.
Often when you are hooking live bait you will have a fish scale stick on the point of your hook. This may seem very insignificant, but that little scale could very easily cost you a fish. Check your point every time to make sure it's scale free.
5. Practice CPR
Practicing CPR means Catch, Photo and Release. This will mean there are more giant cats left out there for you and others to catch, but more importantly to breed and perpetuate the growth of large numbers of future big catfish food and giants catfish. The future of catfishing depends on more catch and release. Just because some states don't limit your catches doesn't mean we should waste our resources.
6. Where To Catch Monster Cats
Large river systems provide the most opportunity for big cats, but large lakes and reservoirs can also be very productive. Another very good place to try is the deep water below dams where fish that swim into the dam come out like cut bait and the big cats are waiting to eat them. Creeks and ponds are not usually big enough to support the growth of giant catfish. There are major World Class Catfishing hot spots with monster catfish everywhere. In the United States from Irvine Lake and San Vincente Reservoir in California, Lake Texoma in Texas, the Mighty Mississippi and Missouri River systems, the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the James River and the Santee Cooper Reservoir in South Carolina are some of the top big cat producers. Even with all these great fishing opportunities, very few anglers catch monster catfish as often as they would like to.
These are just some of the major catfishing hot spots; there are many others all over the country. So find the one nearest you and go Monster Catfishing.
7. Be Patient.
In all probability you are not going to catch a monster catfish every time you go out fishing. Even the biggest names in catfishing like Jim Moyer, Denny Halgren, Tim Pruitt, Cody Mullinnix and Keith Sutton have off days due to weather, moon phase and even good old fish lockjaw. This is very discouraging and tends to send the average angler packin for home, but if you want to catch the real giants, you will need to have patience and plenty of it. Often I use the ambush technique, anchoring up over a deep hole or river bed through a reservoir and waiting out the big cats. Patience is a must, but when they come you will know it. BOOM! A rod will go down, tip pulled straight down touching the water and as you free the rod from the holder, you will think you entered a tractor pull and forgot your tractor.
Believe me, once you hook one of these monsters it will all be worth it and you will be hooked too. Good Luck!
Catfishing information and prducts they can use to make their catfishing experience better and easier. people who catfish or want to get into catfishing, peole looking for more catfishing information or a catfishing guide. Go To: www.catfishingproducts.com
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We can successfully catch catfish by following some of the fundamental methods. It should be clear that each and every rule or method couldn’t be applied to water of all types. The reason is that, techniques and baiting mixtures vary from one target to the other.
List of simple yet effective methods:
Rigging – Loop the bait holder or the treble hook from the beginning of a line towards the end, to a distance of choice ideally between 18” to 24”. The choice of distance should be according to the bait that is being used. You must use a weight to keep the rig still because any movement of bait is not advisable. You can also use slipweight to keep the bait stable. The purpose of the weight is to just be able to slide in the line. This way the weight will not be felt by the fish and by the time it would sense that the bait is not real, it would be too late. Through multibait technique multiple catches can be made at the same time. Just place three- way swivel along the line, simple. The more it strikes the more are the chances of catching catfish in huge quantity.
Bait – Chicken livers or medium sized shrimps from the groceries are the ideal choice of experts. Body of the shrimp should be large enough to slide up in a no.6 hook. Its tail and skin should be taken off. Here it becomes easier, unlike in the case of chicken where use of pantyhose is essential. To the treble hook, a diameter of a quarter, wrapped in a piece of pantyhose with a tag end is attached. The following can also be considered good baits: blood worms, minnows, catfish paste, night crawlers, snails, living or dead small fish and dough baits. Natural baits are best.
Chumming – Through this method the fishermen are able to catch more catfish. Just throw in the fishing area, balls made up of a combination of natural recipes. In this way more and more catfish get lured. Remember to throw enough mixture so that the catfish can feed completely. The same recipe should be attached to the hook, which will be used for fishing. Use of a pleasant smelling flavor in the mixture will do wonders.
Tackling – Through this method a great amount of catfish get attracted. The tackle should have a spinning real and it should be about 6 feet long. Use of heavier lines mean longer time to catch the fish. Cost should not be the concern as experience drawn from both cheap and costly tackle is the same. Always try to remove the hooks with the pliers after the catch is over. Ensure that the grip is secure. Some fins are poisonous so completely get rid of them. Simply slide your hand up to the fish’s stomach from its tail. Place your fingers on one side and your thumb on the other. Then remove the catfish from the hook without hurting yourself. All the best for successful catfishing.
Areeb Khatib is involved with an online fishing project that informs and educates the fishing enthusiast through well-written articles. Discover how to get better at Fishing - Bass, Saltwater, Trout, Fly Fishing, & More...
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Catfish Angling for Channel Catfish
Author: Doug BurnsCatfish angling for Channel catfish is easy and fun. They are North America’s most numerous catfish species. They are among the three most common fish stocked in lakes and ponds along with bass and sunfish and can be found in every river and stream. They will eat just about anything and put up a great fight when hooked.
Channel catfish closely resemble blue catfish. Both have deeply forked tails. However, channels have a rounded anal fin with 24-29 rays and scattered black spots along their back and sides. They have a small, narrow head. The back is blue-gray with light blue to silvery-gray sides and a white belly. Larger channels lose the black spots and also take on a blue-black coloration on the back which shades to white on the belly. Males also become very dark during spawning season and develop a thickened pad on their head.
Channel catfish have a top-end size of approximately 40-50 pounds. The world record is 58 pounds, caught in the Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina, in 1964. Realistically, a channel catfish over 20 pounds is a spectacular specimen, and most catfish anglers view a 10 pound fish as a very admirable catch. Furthermore the average size channel catfish an angler could expect to find in most waterways would be between 2 and 4 pounds.
Channel catfish can be caught on a variety of natural and prepared baits. Catfish have even been known to take Ivory Soap as bait. Channel catfish possess very keen senses of smell and taste. At the pits of their nostrils are very sensitive odor sensing organs. In addition channel catfish have taste buds distributed over the surface of their entire body. These taste buds are especially concentrated on the channel catfish’s 4 pairs of barbels (whiskers) surrounding the mouth. This combination of exceptional senses of taste and smell allows the channel catfish to find food in dark, stained, or muddy water with relative ease.
Channel catfish can be caught at almost any time of day but the best times are from dusk to dawn. Because of there keen sense of smell they have no trouble finding their prey or your bait. I prefer to use cut baits because I have found that you are much more likely to catch the big one using them.
Cut bait is fish cut into chunks. Channel catfish just love cut baits. When you use cut baits the fluids from the bait seep into the water leaving a very enticing trail for the catfish. I am more concerned with the size of the catfish I catch than the size of the catch so I use a 4/0 hook with a good size piece of cut bait. If I am getting a lot of tugs at my bait but no bites I will gradually reduce the size of the hook and the bait. If I were going for a bigger catch of catfish I would start with a 1/0 hook and increase the size as my stringer filled up.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/catfish-angling-for-channel-catfish-515070.html
About the Author:Doug Burns is founder of CatfishAngling.com. A leading source for tips, tricks and information on catfish fishing. Doug has been an avid angler for 35 years and a steady contributor.
Have a Question? I will be happy to answer it. CatfishAngling.com
Advice for Catfish Fishers - 5 Simple Tips To A Successful Trip
Author: Abhishek AgarwalCatfish are one of the most diverse species of fish on the planet! They range in size at maturity from 1/2 inch to giants of 8 feet. They thrive all over the world, in both fresh and salt water. Most catfish live near the bottom of rivers and lakes, but some live in the open ocean. They are boney fish that tend to sink rather than float. Named for the thin, whisker-like tactile organ (barbel) near their mouths, the catfish's "whiskers" contain its tastebuds.
Catfish are a source of food for cultures all over the world, though people differ as to their taste and appeal. Because adult catfish do not have scales, they are not considered Kosher in Jewish culture. In the United States, the channel and blue catfish are a favorite food.
Catching catfish is different from catching many other species of fish. Effective methods differ depending on the type of waters fished, and different baits are used to catch different targets. Here are some simple, but proven, methods used to catch the humble catfish.
Rigging Your Line for Catfish
Depending on the bait, you should loop the bait holder or hook from your line at the preferred distance, from 18-24". Because you don't want your bait to move, you should use a weight to keep the bait still.
You can also use a slipweight to keep the bait still. For slipweight, the weight itself is not as important as long as it slides in the line. The catfish won't be able to feel the weight until they've been hooked.
The multi-bait technique will let you catch several catfish at the same time. To do this, attach a three-way swivel on your line. It will draw more strikes as you hook your catfish.
Best Bait for Catfish
Experience catfishers use chicken livers or medium dead shrimp. Remember that catfish are more attracted to bait that doesn't move. If you use shrimp, you should remove the tail and shell. The chicken liver is a bit more difficult because you have to use something to tie it to the like (one example is a piece of pantyhose). When using chicken liver, wrap a piece about the size of a quarter and wrap it in the piece of pantyhose. Leave a bit of the material at the end and attach it to the treble hook. Other good bait include dough bait, catfish paste, minnows or bloodworms, snails, and small fish. The best bait to use to catch catfish is natural. You won't have much luck with lures.
Chum for Shark - and Catfish!
Experienced catfishers have good results using chum. You'll find many different recipes for catfish chum on the internet. Basically, you prepare balls or bars of chum and then throw them into the area where you think you'll find the catfish. Use a hook to catch the fish, attaching the same chum mixture for bait. Remember to clean the water of the chum after you've finished.
Tackling with a Rod and Reel
This is the easiest way to catch catfish, but it still requires the same types of bait we've discussed. Use 6-foot long tackle with a spinning reel equipped with heavier line that will bear the weight and fight of the lively catfish. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your line. Just make sure it's heavy enough for catfish.
What Do You do With It when You Catch a Catfish
Once you've landed your catfish, make sure you grip it securely and remove the hook with pliers. Some catfish have poisonous fins that can cause a bit of damage. Grip it by sliding your hand from its tail to the belly, placing your fingers on one side and your thumb on the other. Be careful not to hurt yourself! The catfish will enjoy knowing it has caused some damage by its sacrifice!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/advice-for-catfish-fishers-5-simple-tips-to-a-successful-trip-776038.html
About the Author:Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Pages Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
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