I thought catfish were bottom feeders. But I've read they like to eat smaller fish (which wouldn't necessarily mean lower levels of water), and I read in one post that somebody caught quite a few in a lake at only 5 feet deep. So is this a myth and misconception?
Like the fact they're "dirty". My sister told me not to go to Kaysville pond cuz it had "dirty catfish", and I asked her what made them worse than other ponds. She was like "Nothing, they're just dirty fish" *facepalm*
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I've read similar reports. I can tell you I have caught a cat on just about every form of bait and or lure with the exception of flies (mostly because i try not to fly fish unless I have to). My favorite way is crankbait along the dikes at willard, those little kitties fight quite fiercely when hooked in such a fashion.
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[cool][#0000ff]There are a lot of "notions" about catfish that are not always true. Some people say they feed only at night. Sometimes they do feed better after dark but I catch more during the daytime than most people do while night fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The idea that catfish are only bottom feeders comes mostly from the catfish anglers of areas where cats live in muddy lakes and rivers. When they can't see well enough to see and chase live prey, cats feed mostly by using their sensitive barbels and accute sense of smell to find food...and the smellier the better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In most of our western waters, there is enough clarity for the channel cats to make a living on live food...minnows, worms, crawdads and even insects. Most of us who have fished Willard a lot have stories of catching cats on fast moving lures or even on flies. And, we catch them not just on the bottom but all the way up and down the water column...including topwater when they are up chasing shad with the wipers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I would say that our Utah catfish probably have a better diet than some trout do. We catch a lot more cats on fresh dead minnows and cutbait than we do on the stinky stuff sold for catfish bait in the midwest and southern states. They love worms, crawdads and fresh fish. Most cats you fillet will have nothing but "natural" foods in them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As far as stinky...I have caught more than a few trout and even bass that came from stagnant or algae tainted weedy water that had developed an odor much like the stinky oozy mud you step in while wading in a swamp. I have eaten catfish from all over the country and it is rare that any of them have objectionable taste or smell.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, a lot of it is in the preparation too. Catfish have a dense flesh, and it is somewhat oily. There are methods you should in preparing and cooking catfish to make sure they are best for the table. The main thing is to cook them longer than most other fish. If they are not completely cooked, the texture and the flavor of the flesh will not be as good. But, when properly prepared, seasoned and cooked, there is no fish any better on the table. Well, maybe walleye and perch...and bass...and bluegill...and white bass and wiper. Hey, it's all good.[/#0000ff]
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Like has ben said cats will feed on what ever they want...
This is some of the ways I have caught them, Flies, top water lures, cranks, jigs, plastic worms, and lots of other baits...
There are "MYTH" of all types of fish and ways to catch them..
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