Catfish fishing tips
Catfishing is often regarded as a lazy man's sport, and it usually does turn into a night on the river bank with some friends, a bonfire, and a cooler full of beer. In general, catfish aren't taken all that seriously, and they get a bad rap amongst avid anglers.However, there are two important things to remember: channel cats, which are probably the most sought after of the many types, get very big; and they are rather difficult to catch.
Trout and bass anglers may argue that catching their chosen species entails more effort than waiting on a bank, but catfishing requires a different set of skills, and often enough the tools of the trade for a bass fisherman simply will not get the job done.
Let's start with the right equipment. Like fly fishing and bass fishing, catfishing has an industry of its own. A good online source for catfishing equipment is www.catfishconnection.com.
A quick perusal of the rods and reels will show that the tools of the trade aren't as expensive as the sleeker bass and trout rods and reels. Why? The fisherman is going to make a cast every hour or so, and the usual twelve ball bearing reels that everybody wants for casting lures isn't a must. It's all about strength. A Zebco Platinum 733 or 808 will do the trick, and when matched with a heavy duty Shakespeare Ugly Stick either will make for the perfect combo.
In fact, look for a rod with a sensitive tip; it will make detecting bites far easier. Line your outfit with 20lb. monofilament, and you're halfway there.
After lining your rod, I would recommend using a #2 hook. After all, big fish require big bait. There are plenty of pre-fab stinkbaits on the market, and Berkeley makes one of the better ones. When coupled with the standard "blood" scents, most of these products will catch fish, at least to a certain extent.
One plus with packaged catfish baits is that they are about the size and texture of a piece of moist dog food. Thus, they are easy to put on the hook and will stay there through anything less than a nuclear meltdown. Tie the hook about 18" up from the end of the line and tie a sinker on the end; this allows the bait to dangle near the bottom of the water, rather than getting buried in the mud. Only one thing could be better...the bait!
Technology is all well and good, but nothing works better than chicken liver. Okay, it's very difficult to keep on the hook, but there is a trick that works very well. Wrap the liver in a section of old panty hose (3"x3" should do the trick), and be sure to run the hook through both the bait and the fabric.
The hose will serve as a covering that will keep the liver on when casting, and, more importantly, those sneaky catfish will have a harder time getting the bait off of the hook.
Yes, catfish are very light hitters, and that's where the skill comes in. After casting, allow the bait to settle, and then reel in the slack. There are a couple of ways to tell if you're getting a bite. In Europe, catfishermen often clip a bell on the end of the rod, and it will ring when the fish is biting. Also, there is a type of motion detector that can be laid on the line, and this handy little item will light up when you're getting a hit.
These run somewhere in the $5 range, and bells are under $2. If you find yourself catfishing without either of these, simply go a couple eyes down from the end of the rod and place a bobber on the line. Pull it down about a foot or so and let it damngle. If you get a bite, the bobber will move: if you're getting a HUGE bite, the bobber will often fly up and hit against the rod.
Okay, there is a fish playing with your liver or stinkbait. It's important not to give the rod a yank before the fish has taken the bait. Once you've noticed that there is a catfish interested, wait for a solid nod from the fishing pole or a significant leap in the bobber. Give a solid jerk...enough to hook the fish, not rip its lips off! Catfish may not make those pretty jumps, as other sport fish often do, but a large "cat" will put up a fight that is matched by very few freshwater fish.
Make sure the drag is set properly, or two things could happen: the fish will run away with the bait (too light), or the line will
snap (too heavy). Fishing is contagious, and hooking a huge cat will make any trout or bass fisherman want to hit the banks for some
late night catfishing. Trust me. You'll be hooked for life.
