Fishing Information

A Guide to Non-Typical Catfish Fishing Techniques


Introduction

Many of the people about to take one of my guided trips don't believe that Catfish feed as aggressively as other game fish. People are used to throwing out their bait and letting it set while they wait. Some days this works and they don't have to wait very long, but some days we all know that the wait can be very long. This waiting is what encouraged me to try to catch Blue Cats using other methods. Some techniques are passed down from generation to generation and these tried and true methods have caught Catfish since people have fished for them. I have used these methods most of my life and it was the way I was taught to catch Catfish. On the opposite end of the Cat-fishing spectrum, however, are two newer methods that I have been using to consistently catch Catfish, as well.

Fishing for Catfish

Ah, the American Catfish! The big three: Blues, Channel Cats and Flatheads; aren't they a wonderful species of fish? Each one has its own outstanding features to thrill Catfishermen and women throughout the United States and even worldwide. Flatheads, with their big, wide heads and flat tails, have my vote as the hardest pulling fish pound-for-pound in fresh water. No Catfisherman can talk very long without telling their favorite Channel Cat story.

Channel Cats live almost anywhere in fresh water and eat an enormous variety of baits, from prepared stink baits to live baits. I believe these whisker fish are the most versatile and adaptive members of the Catfish family. The next Catfish member, the Blue Cat, also commonly called a White Cat, gets my pick for the best all around, year-round Catfish. This is also the fish I target with my non-typical Cat-fishing techniques. Although Channel Cats and Flatheads are caught using these techniques, Blue Cats remain the king in mass numbers. These dudes grow big and fast and will strike your bait with a vengeance. Plus, they pull hard in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

The Blue Catfish

The Blue Cat is truly an amazing fish. I have caught these fish as deep as 96 feet at the bottom of a river channel in cold water conditions. I have also seen them come right up to the top and smash a school of shad just as a Striper or White Bass would do in warm water conditions. As far as I can tell, these fish feed aggressive all year, which in my opinion sets them apart from Flatheads and Channel Cats. Reports of Blues falling for lead spoons, jigs, crank baits, and many other artificial lures are not uncommon any time of the year. The other Blue Cat bonus is their size, growing much larger than Channel Cats and a smidge larger than Flatheads. That makes your chances of catching a Blue Cat over 20 pounds a big time reality. Fish over 50 pounds are not that hard to find in reservoirs and rivers that have had time to produce that size of Catfish.

These fish grow to be over 100 pounds - it's the exception and not the rule, but it does happen. That's the beauty in setting up and fishing for Blue Cats: your next fish might be 1 pound, 51 pounds, or 101 pounds.

Make sure to read Part 2 and 3 of this article to learn about Capt. Jeff's non-typical techniques!

Copyright © 2002-2005 Jeff Williams

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include the author bylines immediately visible with the article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in the author bylines, both where the web address is listed as well as well as with the text "Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service"...

Jeff Williams runs a Truman Lake Hybrid Bass and Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service offering lodging and guided trips in Missouri. To book a trip, learn more tips, or find out how Capt. Jeff would fish your own local waters, call 1-866-HOOKSET or visit http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com today!


MORE RESOURCES:

AFP

Italy's illegal fishing threatens tuna species: WWF
Reuters - 16 hours ago
WWF said Italy was 700 tonnes over quota and has a fishing fleet capable of landing twice what it is legally allowed. "Italy's illegal activity in the ...
Italy's bluefin tuna fishing 'out of control': WWF AFP
WWF Charges Italy Of Overshooting Bluefin Tuna Fishing Quotas RTT News
WWF: Italy flouting bluefin tuna rules San Diego Union Tribune
all 12 news articles


From Syrian fishing port to naval power base: Russia moves into ...
guardian.co.uk, UK - 11 hours ago
The fishing boats of Tartous, Syria, may have to share the harbour with Russian warships. Photograph: Nicolas Randall/Alamy During balmy evenings in the ...


Fishing hot spot: Trinidad Reservoir
Rocky Mountain News, CO - 6 hours ago
The reservoir offers potentially good fishing for a mix of warm- and cold-water fish species, including walleyes, trout, bass, perch and catfish amid ...
Colorado rivers soon to be full of more rainbows 9NEWS.com
all 3 news articles


Kids are invited to test their fishing skills at PSL tourney
TCPalm, FL - 5 hours ago
The event includes a marine flea market; inshore, offshore and fly-fishing seminars with local charter boat captains; and industry and factory ...


Salmon fishing to close Oct.. 16 on Columbia River near Bridgeport
Omak Okanogan County Chronicle, WA - 12 hours ago
Salmon fishing on the mainstem Columbia River from the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster to the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport will close Oct. 16, ...


In the dark about fishing holes? Find a ‘guiding’ light: Part 1
Del Rio Live!, TX - 14 hours ago
By Ron Castle Ever feel like reading every fishing publication known to man, then spending countless hours in front of a television watching fishing shows ...
Dallas man earns recognition for largemouth bass catch Pegasus News
all 2 news articles


Press of Atlantic City

FISHING FOR ENERGY
WMGM, NJ - 13 hours ago
"A lot of these guys will leave nets that they have to dispose of after 3 or 5 years of fishing," says manager Wayne Reichle. "Normally we would take the ...
Energy program getting into gear Press of Atlantic City
all 2 news articles


BBC Sport

I'm hooked on fishing, says Cisse
BBC Sport, UK - 1 hour ago
Sunderland striker Djibril Cisse believes his favourite pastime of fishing will help him settle during his season-long loan from Marseille. ...


Protect your hunting and fishing rights
Durant Daily Democrat, OK - 17 hours ago
It allows the Wildlife Conservation Commission to approve methods and procedures for hunting, trapping, fishing and taking of game and fish. ...


Javno.hr

BFAR to lift fishing ban in Romblon waters on Oct. 12
Philippine Star, Philippines - 2 hours ago
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is expected to lift this weekend the fishing ban in the waters off Romblon, where the M/V Princess of ...
PCG may push for lifting of fishing ban in Sibuyan GMA news.tv
Endosulfan salvaged from 'Princess' Manila-bound ABS CBN News
Sibuyan waters safe - Sulpicio, Harbor Star GMA news.tv
GMA news.tv - ABS CBN News
all 51 news articles

Fishing - Google News

home | site map | Ocean Photography
© 2006