Catfish is a freshwater fish that thrives in ponds, lakes and rivers of temperate climates. To be able to get one you need to know what he likes to eat, where he takes refuge and what techniques make him want to bite. Read on for catfish fishing tips to make sure you don't leave the boat with an empty basket.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Choose the Equipment and the Bait
Step 1. Buy a fishing rod and line
The size of the rod you need to buy depends on the size of the fish available in your region.
- For fish under 10kg, use a 180cm rod with a line tested for 5kg as a minimum.
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For fish over 10kg, use a 210cm rod with a line tested for 10kg as a minimum.
Longer rods are suitable if you are fishing from the shore, rather than from the boat, because they offer a long range
Step 2. Buy hooks, floats and all other gear
Most good quality sports stores sell a kit that includes a little bit of everything to get you started. When the time comes, all you really need is a good sharp hook, but other accessories can also be useful.
- Fluorescent floats can be useful for night fishing.
- Other types of floats are useful when fishing in still water.
- You will also need a bucket and insulated container to hold your bait and take home any catfish you catch.
Step 3. Try different types of lures
Some fish specialists swear by a specific bait, but the truth is that catfish eats everything. For your first fishing trips, take several baits so you can figure out what the fish in your area prefer. Try some of these:
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Try sliced baits. Cuttlefish, herring, carp and other oil-releasing fish attract catfish. Chunks of these fish are particularly effective for fishing for the spotted catfish, which is widespread in North America.
You can use live bait that hasn't been cut into pieces. This way they do not release oils but attract catfish a lot because they are alive. Try to figure out what works best
- Try the shrimp. Catfish from the southern regions eat shrimp, which are available in fishing shops.
- Try earthworms. You can always find them in fishing shops. These worms seem to attract many types of fish.
- If you don't feel like going to the store, you can use chicken liver or pieces of corn.
- Try a lure. There are dozens of catfish lures in sports and fishing stores, many of which have a magical ingredient that catfish goes crazy for. However, experienced anglers argue that it is always best to catch fish with live bait.
Step 4. Choose a bait of the right size for the fish you want to catch
If you know that there is a possibility of catching a 25 kg fish, you need big baits. Small baits like earthworms will be stolen from the hook.
Step 5. Keep baits cool
Catfish don't eat bad baits already, so you need to store them in a cooler during your fishing trip.
- Keep the earthworms in a container inside the refrigerator.
- Keep the fish steaks (as bait) on ice.
- Keep live bait in a bucket with cold water.
Method 2 of 3: Finding Catfish When They Are Active
Step 1. Start fishing in the spring
Catfish are less active when the waters are cold, so the best time to fish is when the water level rises and its temperature reaches 10 ° C. You can continue fishing until the next cold season.
- Experiment with the best time to fish for catfish in your region. In some places the season starts earlier, but in other places the water doesn't warm up until summer.
- The blue catfish, which lives in the Southern United States, is active all year round so there are no winter breaks for its catch in these areas.
Step 2. Go fishing early in the morning
Catfish are very active during these hours, so plan your hunt at dawn, or earlier. Catfish eat in the morning.
- Night fishing also brings great catches. If you like being on the water at night, try fishing around one or two o'clock.
- You can find catfish even late in the day if it's cloudy or raining, but if it's sunny they are less likely to be active.
Step 3. Look for protected areas
Catfish like to take shelter in areas where currents meet still waters, so they can rest without fighting against currents. "Protected" areas can be those where currents meet a large log or large rock, usually near the banks of rivers. Other areas may be dams and other human constructions.
- In small rivers and ponds, look for eddies created by rocks and logs that have fallen into the water.
- If you are fishing in a pond or reservoir, go to areas near creeks, very deep spots and near logs and boulders.
Step 4. Take a stand
Once you've chosen where to put yourself, drop anchor, pack your gear, rig your line and wait for a bite.
Method 3 of 3: Retrieve the Fish
Step 1. Wrap the line
When the catfish takes the bite, loosen the line a little and then quickly recover with the reel.
Step 2. Check the size of the fish
Make sure it falls within the parameters required by the laws of your state.
- If the fish is too small, you need to remove the hook and free it.
- If you plan on eating fish, put it in a bucket of water so you can clean and peel it later.
