How To Set Hook On Catfish

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Catfish are some of the about underrated fish in the country. They grow huge, they sense of taste swell, and they put upward a heck of a fight. In this brusque guide, you'll larn 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 need to know nearly catching catfish is that there's more than ane kind. You wouldn't use the same tactics for a Steelhead as a Lake Trout, so knowing which Catfish you're targeting is key to success.

In that location are three main species of Catfish that anglers target in the US: Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish. They tin show up in the same waters and may be hunting for the same prey, but they're very different creatures. Here'due south a brief look at each species to assist you pick your target.

Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish are probably the toughest Cats to catch. They're solitary, difficult to detect, and put up a serious fight one time yous hook them. Even experienced anglers are happy to catch ane big fish per trip. Flatheads live throughout the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River basins. They can bear witness upward from North Dakota to Lake Erie and from the Florida Panhandle over into Mexico.

Flatheads usually max out at around 100 pounds, but monsters have tipped the scales at 120 pounds in the past. They're easy to tell autonomously from other species, with a long body and a square, flattened head (hence the name).

Bluish Catfish

Blueish Catfish are the biggest and well-nigh prized of America'south Catfish. They tin can abound to mammoth sizes, with the all-tackle record weighing in at an incredible 143 pounds. The great thing most Bluish Cats is that they're not as lone equally Flatheads. You can land huge numbers of them besides every bit individual giants. This makes for a much more activity-packed line-fishing trip.

Blue Cats live in the aforementioned range every bit Flatheads simply they're usually limited to deeper waters in lakes and main river sections. They like to hang out around strong currents where they wait to ambush prey.

Channel Catfish

Channel Cats are a lot smaller than their blue and apartment-headed cousins. Most fish don't tiptop xx pounds and anglers are usually looking for numbers more than size when targeting them. You do get the occasional monster, though, with fish in the 50 lb range decorating tape books and mantelpieces.

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

How to Distinguish Bluish and Aqueduct Catfish

Bluish and Channel Cats can be hard to tell autonomously. In theory, Channel Catfish are brown with nighttime spots, while Blue Catfish are, well, bluish. Catfish vary in color, though, and Channel Cats lose their spots once they're large enough to be confused with a Blue.

Is it a Channel Catfish or a Blueish Catfish? Hint: count the rays.

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

Best Fourth dimension to Catch Catfish

Another stereotype about Catfish is that y'all have to catch them at night. Near people exercise get catfishing after dark but that doesn't mean you can't land monsters during the day. It depends on where you lot're fishing and what species you're after.

Flatheads are the well-nigh nocturnal. At night, they're happier to move out of their embrace or hiding hole. This is the best fourth dimension to find them, but you can besides land Flatheads in the sunshine past working the encompass they tend to hide in.

Blueish and Channel Cats seem to feed on their own schedule, regardless of the fourth dimension of day. I thing to bear in mind is that monster Blues will be more than active past day if there's a strong electric current to hunt in. In slow-moving waters, they mainly hunt at night.

Catfishing at Dark

There are two good reasons that people go catfishing at nighttime – information technology'due south a lot cooler and the fish testify up in much shallower h2o. Why? Just put, Catfish follow their stomachs and their stomachs follow the forage. The topwaters get as well warm for bait fish on a hot summer'due south day. They also feel safer in open h2o under cover of darkness. Catfish are odor-based hunters, though, and have no problem tracking down forage in the nighttime.

Daytime Catfishing

Catching Catfish during the twenty-four hour period is a lot easier from a gunkhole because you tin become out to the deeper waters. Y'all can fish from shore, you simply need to be able to cast accurately to deep water. Start by fishing points and humps in the deepest reaches of the river or lake, and then piece of work your fashion to shallow water until you find the right depth. It requires a deeper knowledge of the waters you're angling in simply it tin be simply as rewarding.

Best Season for Catfishing

Once more, most people have a limited view of when to catch Catfish. You may think that catfishing is just a summer affair. Sure, summer is the best time to find Catfish, but you can catch them all year round. It's not uncommon to fifty-fifty catch Aqueduct Cats through ice! It varies based on the species simply the general rule of thumb is that they similar deep, slow-moving water in wintertime and shallower, faster h2o in the summer.

How to Build the Best Catfishing Rig

There's no secret science to building a Catfish rig. Observe a sturdy rod, add a quality reel, and don't get cheap on your last tackle. Hither are a few tips on picking out the right setup for your chosen species.

Catfish Rods

You're looking for a fast action rod with plenty of courage and enough bend in the tip to set the hook properly. For smaller Channel Cats, go with a 6' medium-power rod. For big Blues and Flatheads, you want a 7' medium-heavy or even heavy-power rod. If you're casting from shore, you may need a little more than length to reach deep water.

Catfish Reels

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

Baitcasters are the way to go if you lot desire to take on large Cats. They have much more reliable drag and will allow yous cast 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 Aqueduct Catfish. Whatever style you go for, salve yourself a lot of frustration (and even money in the long run) by investing in a quality reel.

And Everything Else

Firstly, line. Catfish rarely show up in gin-clear h2o, and then you don't need to carp with complect. Monofilament is cheaper and easier to use. On acme of that, it tin exist recycled, reducing the risk of ghost line-fishing . Use 20–30 lb line for Flatheads and Dejection, or 12–xv lb line for Channel Cats. Brightly-colored line and bobbers will aid you notice small knocks on your baits.

Treble hooks are pretty much synonymous with catfishing. They're specially good for dip or punch baits. Circle hooks are as well an option, though. If anything, they piece of work even ameliorate for monster Catfish. Whatever you apply, make sure you go on them extra sharp to punch through the Catfish's tough jaw.

Y'all're almost ready. But brand sure you take hold of a sturdy rod holder, a big, tough net, and some gloves to handle the fish while avoiding those nasty spines. Oh, and you'll need some bait.

What is the Best Catfish Bait?

In that location are all kinds of crazy theories on what allurement works all-time for Catfish. French fries, chicken livers – even soap and cigarette butts get thrown out there sometimes. Our advice? Steer clear of these "secret Catfish baits" – they may have worked for your buddy Mike'southward uncle's cousin that 1 time, that doesn't mean they're amend than the tried and true alternatives.

Equally with all aspects of Catfishing, your bait choice should vary with the species you're going after. The stereotypical "stink bait" may piece of work well for a modest scavenger but it won't do much for an noon predator. With that in mind, hither are some of the best baits for each species.

Best Bait for Flathead Catfish

Communicable your allurement on-site is the best way to lucifer it to the fish.

Flathead Catfish mainly feed on alive casualty. That'south not to say that expressionless baits won't piece of work, too. But Flathead hookups are few and far betwixt equally it is, so going for live baits will maximize your chances.

You lot'll go 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 allurement from the body of h2o you're line-fishing in.

Best Bait for Blue Catfish

Blue Catfish are much less fussy than Flatheads when information technology comes to taking cutting bait. They love oily fish and they like it fresh (frozen baits don't work equally well), but they don't seem to listen if it'southward dead.

Again, matching your allurement to the fish's natural forage is the nigh important dominion. That could be skipjack herring, threadfin shad, or anything else that y'all detect swimming effectually.

Best Bait for Channel Catfish

Dip and dial baits are like candy to Channel Cats.

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

In one case Channel Cats get large, they start hunting more and relying less on scraps. Because of this, you volition catch bigger fish with fresh expressionless baits than stink bait. But remember to friction match the hatch equally e'er.

How to Catch Catfish

Y'all can fish for Catfish in all kinds of surprising ways, from trolling to fly fishing to Catfish noodling (if you call that fishing). In that location are two classic tactics that bring in the virtually fish, though: still fishing and drift fishing.

Nevertheless angling is every bit elementary every bit it is effective. But present your allurement and wait for something to take it. It's not the near refined fishing style, but information technology'due south perfect for a relaxing day by the water. If you're looking for more hookups and less waiting time, you can also drift your baits under a bobber. This is specially effective on lakes where in that location'southward less electric current to spread your scent trail. You'll need a boat to do it, though.

"Is that all there is too it?" Not at all! The precise tactics vary with the fish and the body of h2o. Hither are a few tips for each species.

How to Take hold of Flathead Catfish

Flathead Catfish similar two things: current and encompass. 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, so presenting your bait a turn or ii off the river bed will requite y'all the best gamble of getting their attention.

How to Take hold of Blue Catfish

In lakes, Blue Catfish like to hunt effectually a single piece of construction in the main body of the lake. Different Flatheads, Blues are happy hunting in open water as well as on the bottom, so play around with depths if y'all're coming upwards dry.

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

How to Catch Channel Catfish

Channel Cats volition set themselves upwards anywhere they can escape the current merely nonetheless bound out at fish floundering in fast-flowing waters. In modest rivers, check the deep pools beneath rapids. Logs and boulders make these spots even more appealing to Aqueduct Cats. In larger rivers, Channel Catfish will concord to construction or comprehend that breaks up the primary current. Rocks, logs, holes, old tires – they don't care what it is, as long as it makes their life easier.

More Than One Way to Skin a Cat

Catfish are oftentimes ignored past freshwater purists. People presume they're all the aforementioned, even though they vary just as much as Trouts and Bass. They get lumped in with other "rough fish" and mostly forgotten almost. Catfish may never go the respect they deserve, but for those in the know, they're a game fish worthy of existence listed with the best of them.

What's your favorite Catfish species? Practise y'all have whatsoever tips on how to catch Catfish? Let us know in the comments beneath, we would beloved to hear from you!

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

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