08-11-2012, 04:51 PM
I'm fishing at a local lagoon and I know there are blues and Chanel cats in the lagoon. Anybody know how to catch a few of these fish? Any help would be much apreciated. thanks! -Jack
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08-11-2012, 04:51 PM
08-12-2012, 01:58 AM
I have some of the collections in learning fishing my blog, wish it can hlep you.
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10-19-2012, 05:24 PM
Bait selection ranges from nightcrawlers, chicken blood, chicken liver, chicken or fish guts, crawdads, grasshoppers, water dogs, live and dead minnows, cut bait, and a multitude of prepared "stink" baits. The prepared baits most often have one thing in common ... cheese. All of these bait preparations and many others are excellent for catfish, and all will catch fish. Selection of a bait from this lengthy list may seem difficult but in actual experience selecting bait for catfish can be made into a rather simple process.
The most important points to consider when selecting catfish bait are to determine the size of fish sought and the water temperature of the lake or river that will be fished. The rule of thumb is to use cut-bait or dead minnows for the best luck in late winter and spring-time just after ice-out. This bait is composed of half-rotten fish and should be fished when the water temperature is less than 60 degrees F. Catfish actively feed on fish flesh and other animals that die during winter and sink to the bottom. The stronger the rotten odor of bait this time of the year, the better the success. Fish in deeper portions of the lake or stream prior to ice melt; then shift your efforts to shallow water afterwards. The shallow water warms faster and attracts catfish into the near-shore reaches. Catfish can be caught under ice conditions, but feeding begins in earnest after the water temperature reaches 40 degrees F.
The keen sense of smell possessed by channel catfish make it one of the few species of game fish that can be readily caught during high stream flows in the spring, summer, and early fall.
One of the most popular catfish baits that is easy to store is prepared bait. As water temperatures warm to 70 degrees F and above, many catfish anglers switch to one of the prepared baits. This bait is most effective for pan-sized catfish during mid-summer -- June, July and August.Tackle used to fish catfish is almost as varied as the baits. Lake anglers use relatively short rods, but stream anglers seem to have the best success when using longer rods from 6 to 8 feet in length.The advantage to the longer rods, when stream fishing, is the reach they afford for better placement of the bait. This allows the angler to fish many good holes without casting. Just drop the line near a likely spot with no more line out than the rod length. This provides excellent control of the bait for better placement and improves the chances of hooking a fish after a natural-like presentation. Ten-pound test line is recommended over lighter weight line because the bait is fished on the bottom and often near underwater snags. Catfish fishermen have been slow to abandon braided nylon line in favor of monofilament, but this transition is now nearly complete.
The type of reel used makes little difference, but it is essential that it be in good working condition. If you are fishing for large fish, be sure to match the reel to the fish. Light duty reels are made to catch small fish and heavy duty reels have the power to land lunkers. Light tackle will catch more smaller fish but may not handle one of record class size. The thing to remember is that catfish may be in snags or heavy cover in the river and after the strike the fish may need to be "horsed" a bit.
Terminal tackle is an important consideration when setting out after "old whiskers." The most important part of the terminal tackle is the sinker and hook. Catfisherman need not show concern about the sizes, shapes, and color of expensive lures, but hooks and sinkers, inexpensive as they are, are important. Always use the lightest weight necessary, and always use a slip sinker. The slip sinker rig allows a catfish to pick up the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. With any resistance on the line whatsoever, a respectable channel cat will leave the tasty bait morsel in search of another. Always use a sharp hook. Hooks with bait holders on the shank are preferred by most anglers. Use sponges or plastic worms when fishing with one of the soft, prepared cheese baits. No matter which hook and bait you select, present it to the fish in the most natural manner, which always requires the use of a minimum amount of sinker or weight.
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The most important points to consider when selecting catfish bait are to determine the size of fish sought and the water temperature of the lake or river that will be fished. The rule of thumb is to use cut-bait or dead minnows for the best luck in late winter and spring-time just after ice-out. This bait is composed of half-rotten fish and should be fished when the water temperature is less than 60 degrees F. Catfish actively feed on fish flesh and other animals that die during winter and sink to the bottom. The stronger the rotten odor of bait this time of the year, the better the success. Fish in deeper portions of the lake or stream prior to ice melt; then shift your efforts to shallow water afterwards. The shallow water warms faster and attracts catfish into the near-shore reaches. Catfish can be caught under ice conditions, but feeding begins in earnest after the water temperature reaches 40 degrees F.
The keen sense of smell possessed by channel catfish make it one of the few species of game fish that can be readily caught during high stream flows in the spring, summer, and early fall.
One of the most popular catfish baits that is easy to store is prepared bait. As water temperatures warm to 70 degrees F and above, many catfish anglers switch to one of the prepared baits. This bait is most effective for pan-sized catfish during mid-summer -- June, July and August.Tackle used to fish catfish is almost as varied as the baits. Lake anglers use relatively short rods, but stream anglers seem to have the best success when using longer rods from 6 to 8 feet in length.The advantage to the longer rods, when stream fishing, is the reach they afford for better placement of the bait. This allows the angler to fish many good holes without casting. Just drop the line near a likely spot with no more line out than the rod length. This provides excellent control of the bait for better placement and improves the chances of hooking a fish after a natural-like presentation. Ten-pound test line is recommended over lighter weight line because the bait is fished on the bottom and often near underwater snags. Catfish fishermen have been slow to abandon braided nylon line in favor of monofilament, but this transition is now nearly complete.
The type of reel used makes little difference, but it is essential that it be in good working condition. If you are fishing for large fish, be sure to match the reel to the fish. Light duty reels are made to catch small fish and heavy duty reels have the power to land lunkers. Light tackle will catch more smaller fish but may not handle one of record class size. The thing to remember is that catfish may be in snags or heavy cover in the river and after the strike the fish may need to be "horsed" a bit.
Terminal tackle is an important consideration when setting out after "old whiskers." The most important part of the terminal tackle is the sinker and hook. Catfisherman need not show concern about the sizes, shapes, and color of expensive lures, but hooks and sinkers, inexpensive as they are, are important. Always use the lightest weight necessary, and always use a slip sinker. The slip sinker rig allows a catfish to pick up the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. With any resistance on the line whatsoever, a respectable channel cat will leave the tasty bait morsel in search of another. Always use a sharp hook. Hooks with bait holders on the shank are preferred by most anglers. Use sponges or plastic worms when fishing with one of the soft, prepared cheese baits. No matter which hook and bait you select, present it to the fish in the most natural manner, which always requires the use of a minimum amount of sinker or weight.
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