Catfish Bait: A59 Amazing Information To Catch Reservoir Catfish And Info On Flathead Catfish Details Here!
February 5, 2010 by admin
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Blue Catfish in reservoirs is not a natural occurrence. Although bait fishing for catfish in reservoirs is booming today because of original stocking and migrations of native river catfish into the reservoirs. Reservoir building during the 1950’s, and 1960’s and still today, has opened up a vast water areas for catfisherman. The original habitat of channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, and white catfish have always been in the river systems of the United States and they still thrive there today.
Reservoirs are not a natural catfish fishery because they are created only when a natural stream or river is dammed. These new water impoundments vary in shape, size, depth, water color, productivity, and potentially many other characteristics. The flathead catfish populations as well as other species come from the migration of the species from tributary feeds, you can bait fish for catfish such as channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish in some reservoirs, but just about all the reservoirs in the USA hold very good populations of channel catfish.
To catch catfish in reservoirs takes some practice because natural habitat and structure is abundant in reservoirs. To catch catfish you need to understand the reservoir you intend to fish. It important you get your self a Topographical maps of the reservoir. They can normally be obtained from The army core of engineers. Many times local bait shops also have maps. Also paying attention to the catfishes food chain is important. For example reservoirs almost always hold large populations of shad. If you can find the shad schools you will locate some blue catfish, and channel catfish. Normally flathead catfish don’t follow the shad schools. One key indicator there are shad near is multiple birds flying around. This a good way to locate shad schools for bait fishing for catfish. If you are looking for trophy catfish then reservoirs are where you need to fish. Blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish grow extremely large in reservoirs. Catching a blue catfish over 30lbs is not uncommon.
Another key factor to catch catfish in reservoirs in understanding where the original series of channels were located. Catfish will remain a river fish instinctively even in reservoirs even in reservoirs. There will be good populations of channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish living in structure that is close to the original creek and river channels.
To catch flatheads locate areas near the original river channel or original creek channels. Flathead catfish are not a roaming catfish like the blue catfish. If you intend to go bait fishing for flathead catfish you will need to find there location. These fish will not move far.
To catch blue catfish in reservoirs head to areas that have current flow, and to where the shad schools are located. Blue catfish do not hold as tight to the original channels as do flathead catfish, but the will still be located in these areas. If you are going bait fishing for blue catfish you can use live catfish bait or dead cut bait, the blues like either. Their favorite food sources are oily schooling fish such as threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and skipjack herring. If you can locate the shad schools in reservoirs you could have a outstanding day of fishing.
To catch channel catfish in reservoirs you can fish anywhere in the reservoir where there is adequate catfish habitat. If there is a better spot for channel catfish on a reservoir it would be far up small tributaries adjacent to the main reservoir. They are like the blue catfish and they will feed on live baits such as shad and crayfish, mussels or cut bait. If you plan to bait fish for channel catfish through line just outside the current in structure areas channel catfish are like flathead catfish and do not prefer to stay in current.
We hope the information here has bin helpful about about Catfish Bait. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip
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Fishing Rigs: A61 Amazing Information To Pick The Right Catfish Tackle! And Info On Trophy Blue Catfish Click Here To Visit Our Website Today!
February 4, 2010 by admin
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Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets
There are no set specifications on what tackle you should use for big catfish in the over 20 lbs range, but if you have been a catfish angler for any length of time you understand that big fish like a 30lb blue catfish or a 25lb channel catfish will need some very powerful tackle. Our article today will focus on some suggested tackle.
When you are fishing big rivers and there is a strong current you need to go big on your tackle. A good surfcasting rod and reel combo spooled with 30 to 50 lb fire wire fishing line is a good start. The surf rod will get your catfish bait where it needs to be, and will help you when your fighting your big catfish. You will be able to cast your large baits into current areas and with the proper catfish fishing rig you will be able to keep you catfish bait on the bottom. When you fish strong current areas you will need a good supply of 4 to 5 oz pyramid sinkers the are the best bet to keep your bait from rolling. You will also need hook sizes from a 5/0 to 7/0 size range. A simple fishing rig would include the pyramid sinker tied on the end of the line and your 5/0 to 7/0 hook tied on about 3ft up the line with a loop knot. You could use gizzard shad or skipjack herring cut bait cut in large chunks.
If you are drift fishing for big catfish such as blue catfish and channel catfish you may want to use a 7 to 8ft medium power bating casting rod , or medium action open face reel rod with either a bait casting reel or a open face reel spooled with 30 to 50lb fire line. Make sure which ever reel you chose it matches your rod selection and is designed to use large pond test lines. The reason I suggest you get fire line is because the large test lines such as 30 to 50lb test have a diameter size about ½ of what monofilament line is. For you catfish bait fishing rig I suggest you use a what is called a three way swivel rig.
To Make a three way swivel fishing rig tie the three way swivel onto your line first. Next tie a 8 to 12 inch dropper leader with a 3 oz to 5 oz pyramid sinker. Next tie your 50lb test fire line leader 16 to 28 inches in length with a 5/0 to 7/0 hook. Just a note if the current is extremely strong you will need to go with a larger pyramid sinker, because you need to hold on the bottom to be successful.
For fishing large reservoirs a pontoon boat works great for fishing for large catfish such as blue catfish and channel catfish. But if you are fishing rivers they are not a good idea. If you plan on fishing large rivers with strong currents a good suggestion would be a 16 to 20 ft aluminum deep v designed hull boat. You want to have a larger boat so you have the room to maneuver when you are trying to land a large trophy blue catfish or channel catfish.
Well that concludes my article about Skipjack Herring Cut Bait. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip
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Catfish bait A37 Key Fishing Information On On Catching Catfish And Also Fishing Rigs Details Here!
January 7, 2010 by admin
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One of the best catfish baits that works consistently to catch blue catfish or channel catfish is a bait fish called chub minnows. There are some tips I recommend tat work very well for me when I use chub minnows for my catfish bait selection.
There are a couple of way to prepare chubs to be used to catch catfish. You can either fish chubs live, as a whole dead bait drifting or trolling or as a cut bait. I have used all three methods as catfish bait, with good success, but the most consistent method used in different water conditions has been using chubs as cutbait fished from a three way swivel fishing rig.
To make cut bait from chub minnows catch or purchase at leaste 2 dozen 3 inch to 6 inch chub minnows. Keep your chubs alive with cool aireated water until it is time to use them for catfish bait. In the next step I recommend you use a fillet knife. Take the three chub minnows from the bait bucket and cut them into 1″ wide chunks.
If you want to drift or troll with dead chub minnows hook them by pushing the 5/0 hook through the mouth and up through the back. To hook your chunks of chub minnow catfish bait, push the barb into the chunk up the shank of the 5/0 hook. Make sure the barb is exposed. To make a three way swivel catfish bait fishing rig is very simple.
Step #1 Tie a three way swivel to your fishing line using a Palomar knot.
Step #2 Tie a 8″ steel leader to the open eye oppisite the eye you tied your line too.
Step # 3 Clip a number 5/0 hook into the leader.
Step #4 Tie a Carolina catfish fishing rig to the open eye on the three way swivel that is pointing downward.
Well that concludes my article about Catfish Bait. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip
Check out Mark’s website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about Carolina Catfish Fishing Rig
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Bait Fishing: A36 Understanding Water temperatures Old Master Special Fishing Details On Understanding Water Temperatures And Smallmouth Bass Visit Our Website For Details!
December 10, 2009 by admin
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To be a better bait fishing angler it is very important to understand what the ideal temperature for gamefish such as flathead catfish, channel catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, muskellunge, brown trout, chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon, brook trout and lake trout. To go bait fishing for all of these game fish you need to know how water temperature effects each of these species of fish.
Typically if you are going to be bait fishing in warm water which would be a temperature range of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you could target game fish such as flathead catfish, channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and striped bass. For example the ideal temperature for crappie is 71 degrees Fahrenheit and if you are bait fishing for crappie and the water is at the crappie’s ideal temperature you can expect the crappie to be active if weather conditions are favorable. If you are a channel catfish angler you can expect the channel catfish to be feeding regularly at this temperature range so get all your bait fishing gear ready because these fish will be active. And if you bait fish at night your catch of channel catfish will be even better.
Now if you are going fishing on a regular basis when the water temperature ranges from 61 degrees Fahrenheit to 69 degrees Fahrenheit you could go bait fishing for fish species such as northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, and muskellunge. For example the bait fishing for walleye gets really hot when the water temperature reaches 69 degrees Fahrenheit. You most likely will find suspended walleye at the depth where the water temperature is in their ideal temperature of 69 degrees or at a temperature that is closest too it.
Now if you are targeting game fish such as brown trout, chinook salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, or lake trout you will need to find very cold water ranging in temperature from 50 degree Fahrenheit to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. For example if you are going to be bait fishing for brook trout with nightcrawlers with no weights find a nice cold mountain stream and let your your nightcrawler drift along in the current.
I want to thank you for reading my article about Brook Trout. Have a great day!
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