Catfish Fishing

[brandonjames]

I know that this is a bass fishing forum but I know there are people out that that go for other fish also. I am taking the little one camping at a state park and they have a very large pond with bass, bluegill and catfish. I would like to have him catch a catfish, so I was wondering what kind of rig should I do and if you all can explain it to me as I am just learning. Thanks for the help.

[mack]

i just take some chicken liver put it on a hook that looks good, cast out, let it sit, and hold on tight..works for me..i dont use any special rigs...

[flfireman]

Best I know get a weighted hook w/ stinkbait and chunk it out there. Cats will pretty much eat it. Also heard liver works real well.

[mack]

you can also probably get live minnows cause they work..might even catch some bass...or get the dead ones that the bait shop doesnt want..my friend kills them on dead minnows...

[Bassgrl81]

Blue gills work great...either whole or cut in half!!

Trista

21 pounds 10 oz

[flbassman]

Wow! Great fish trista!

[brandonjames]

Yeah that is no kidding, great fish. I think that would pull my son into the lake. I picked up a catfish rig at walmart last night for .99. Ill attach a hook to it and let it fly. Thanks.

[ILfishinman]

okay if you wanna catch some nice channels i make up some bait i fish with almost everynight here. but if you want bullheads use liver or a gob of nightcrawlers. of course liver will catch channels too but they dont produce on my lake. anyways here is the recipe.

1lb.-1.5lb. of ground beef (i get the cheapest stuff i can find)
i box of jiffy mix (bout 80 cents prolly)
vanilla extract.
minceed garlic (4-5 spoonfulls)
garlic powder (enough to coat on side of the ball a few times)
flour
parmasean cheese

pretty much you mix that all up together in a bucket adding more flour or vanilla extract to get the consistency of a big doughball. you can also throw in some bleu cheese to the mix or anything else you like. i change it up every once in a while.

[Bass_fishing_girl]

Very nice fish, Bassgrl!!!
We usually use shad or shrimp when we catfish.
San

[1/4 stick]

Nice catfish Bassgrl81

I usually use a split wieght 10 or 12 inches above the hook to get the bait to the bottom and still allow the bait to float a bit sway in the water in face of the fishes. I use chicken livers, bait fish, bloodbait, recipes as above, and have even caugt some on pork fat.

[Fishing4Soup]

chicken liver, dip baits, or nightcrawlers

[Fishing4Soup]

oh i would try to fish for them at night too....that's when my dad brings us cat-fishing

[ToPwAt'R GuY]

I like dip bait and chicken livers.

[bassnman30]

Livers tear up on the cast and if they don't tear up you might catch alot of small cats. Get some live shad or bream and cut them up into 1" chunks (throw the tail away). If you want to catch some big flat heads try a live bream.You may wish to try night crawlers (2-3) on a hook.
We have caught some big cats using these type baits in catfish tournaments.

[jefd44]

What is the best location for catfish, i know they're on the bottom but are they near shore or in deeper waters. Are they normally under cover or in shade like bass?

[ILfishinman]

um sometime there up shallow but usually there in deeper water. if there is a dam or spillway try there. also if you know of anyholes try those.

[bassking22]

I have a lake record for 10 cats in an hour over 1 pound each off a dam on magic bai,t chicken blood n chicken liver flavor.

[ILfishinman]

1 pound cats are small. i have caught 2 carp and 6 cats in 2 hrs once. that was my best cat night yet!! the carp were about 6-8 pounds and the cats ranging from 2-3

[bassking22]

For off the shore at 2 o clock (in the afternoon) at my lake thats actually really god buddy, and I said OVER 1 pound the smallest was1 lb 6 oz, the biggest 2 were just over 2 pounds and we had 3 break of that wouldas weighed in around three and one 4 lber slipped out of shawns hand..... that sure sucked!

[ILfishinman]

lol that did have to suck. i do all my catfishin at night because i bass fish during the day.

[bassking22]

Well that was the only time my mom could take us fishing,and I can't get to either one of my favorites bass ponds, so we just go there and bottom fish n let it sit there then bass fish w/ another pole.

[ILfishinman]

make sure if you let your pole sit unatended while catfishing you leave it in freespool or tie it down. i use 2 poles while catfishing. one night i lost my pole! one was in the water and i was baiting the other right next to it then eric said someing i looked over and mom yelled tim, your pole! as it flew into the water. so i jumped down under the dock onto the rocks and while looking around for it eric said he got a bite and as he pulled it in i yelled thats my pole! he hooked the last guide on my pole. and when i unhooked from his pole i still had a fish on. and i fought him in to find out its just a 20" carp. my average size carp. i was soo happy and luck i had got my pole back tho.

also about 10 mins. before that we all saw a shooting star! im guessing they are lucky

[bassking22]

There are almost no carp around here. In one lake they stocked 4 carp like 25 years ago and now there are 3 feet long. Iv'e been trying to catch one forever. Did you know some can live up to 50 years?

[ILfishinman]

well most lakes only stock a few carp as they are unwanted fish. they put them in there to eat the vegetation so it doesnt get out of control. also they usually stock sterile carp so they cant spawn

[bassking22]

Yep thats what they did and nobody can seem to catch one of these monsters.