There are some who might think it strange to write an article on Channel Catfishing but for those who know and have experienced catching and eating this fish it may not be so surprising. But for those not as familiar with catfish or fishing in general, reading about what is probably the most plentiful catfish on the North American continent can be a true learning experience that can be put to good use.
Let’s start with the basics. Channel catfish are, in fact, an extremely common variety of catfish that can be found in most parts of the United States. They are sometimes referred to as blue channel cats, river catfish, or spotted cats from time to time, as they do have spots, resemble a smaller version of the blue catfish, and often prefer rivers.
Although I have done most of my Channel Catfishing in rivers they are not limited to just rivers as they are not to picky about there homes. You can find channel cats in most types of freshwater, as long as the waters are warm enough (waters should warm to at least 70 degrees in the mid spring for spawning purposes).
How can you tell that channel catfish fishing will be good in a particular spot? Consider the habits of the channel cat. They often do prefer rivers, though unlike their larger cousins, they usually will be found wherever the current is slower, looking for a little shelter in natural pile ups, rock formations, and ridges in the river where food can get hung up.
In lakes, you’re most likely to find them in shallower water, perhaps near the shoreline, where they can find brush cover and overgrowth from trees and grass to shelter them. Don’t expect to find them hanging around locations with a very muddy bottom; they prefer the sand and rock bottom areas.
Another good place to find channel catfish is just below dams – these opportunistic feeders can find lots of flotsam and jetsam in the area to munch on.
What sort of equipment do you need for channel catfish fishing? Well, this depends on where you are fishing them. I have caught them as small as 3 0r 4 pounds but on average I usually catch them around 10 to 15 pounds but it is not uncommon to find them even bigger than this.
Therefore, you should have strong, solid equipment that is prepared for anything, including a struggle with a monster channel cat especially if you are fishing them in a fast river current.
In terms of bait, don’t even bother bringing artificial baits; channel catfish fishing won’t accomplish much with such a farce because catfish tend to find food based on their sense of smell rather than by sight.
Therefore, you need some sort of bait with an aroma that can permeate the waters and draw the fish to your line. This could be night crawlers, chicken livers, pieces of shad, or other fresh fish. My favorite bait to use is frogs because you can usually find them anywhere you are fishing so you don’t need to run to the bait store everytime you go catfishing, plus other smaller fish tend to leave your frog alone while waiting for a jumbo cat to bite.
By: Shane Brown
Posts Tagged ‘Shoreline’
Channel Catfish Fishing
April 16th, 2010Fishing From Shore
March 6th, 2010
I am continually asked the question “How am I suppose to go fishing if I don’t have a boat?” my response has always been “It’s funny, I have a couple boats but my favorite fishing spot is actually just off of a fairly busy road”.
My husband spent years fishing a lake with his best friend from a boat. They had caught a lot of great fish and he loved going yearly for his opening weekend fishing trip.
While we were down in the area we had noticed a couple of local guys casting into a small inlet as we were driving by them to go to our boat. On our way back we decided that we would stop there and see if there were any fish there. We actually ended up catching a couple fish each. It was a lot of fun and both of us commented on how we had spent hours on the lake and caught nothing, yet we spend a half hour at the side of a road and we caught more then our share for the day.
The following year we decided to drive over to that fishing hole and see what the morning bite would be like.
Well it was opening day May 2007 and I actually had my husband video tape my morning fishing. I caught pike, bass and trout all in that spot. I had one of my most incredible fishing days to date, and I caught it on video to have the bragging rights for the season.
It does not take any more knowledge to be able to fish from shore then it does by boat. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
I also have people ask questions about the equipment needed for shore fishing versus being in the boat. You can find portable fish finder etc to take with you to the shoreline I guess if you wanted to, however I remember a friend of mine that gave me some good advice a long time ago.
She said “Remember where fish go and eat. They head to the shallows to find their food. At some point in the day those fish are going to be coming into the shorelines. Also take into consideration that you are casting out and retrieving your lure back to the shorelines which will make the other fish think its baitfish going back to there safety.”
Ask yourself the question “How many times have you seen the guys in the boat casting towards the shoreline”? Think about it! That’s because fish are going to be found in those areas. You are just fishing for them from a different direction and the fish don’t really care.
My biggest pike was caught when I was standing on the road casting into the lake at the cottage. My biggest trout and bass were also caught within a short distance off the roadway. As far as these places having to be quiet, another debunk…. my favorite fishing hole is about 50 feet from a major road that is fairly busy and far from quiet, but now the fish are worth it so I will forgo the silence.
Remember there are so many different places that we can go fishing. Shorelines of lakes, rivers and creeks are what nature offers to us. However you will also find stocked ponds and actuaries that offer a great day out fishing for you and your family.
Fishing requires patients, whether your fishing from a boat or shore it can be frustrating at times when the fish aren’t biting. But remember it’s not always about catching the fish.
It’s about the experiences that you are going to have and the memories you are going to make.
Helpful Tip – One of my favorite places to visit is my local Tackle Store. They are a huge wealth of information. They hear what’s happening on local lakes and can guide you to those areas for free. Remember they are your BEST Source and can make some of your trips to the waterways far more successful. Remember to also use this source in every area that you plan on fishing. Each store will know what colors or tackle are working and know the regulations of the area.
By: Terri MacKinnon
Top Bass Fishing Tips – Part Three – Bass Fishing From Shore
December 30th, 2009
Welcome to the third article in the series Top Bass Fishing Tips. In today’s article we are going to look at bass fishing from shore. Before we do again if you have missed any of the previous articles in the series, do a quick search and I’m sure you find them as the goal behind this series is to you with top bass fishing tips so that you can catch more bass.
Bass fishing from shore is not a new concept. In fact I think for most of my life I would consider myself a shore fisherman. Bass fishing from shore is a great opportunity for a lot of learning and experience in learning how to catch more bass.
The key to shore fishing is, knowing where to be at the right time. Smallmouths are great for catching from shore as often their haunts will only be casts length from the shoreline. The trick in getting the key right with shore fishing is understanding structure. If you were fishing from shore in the middle of summer in a spot devoid of weeds the I could safely say that you’re wasting your time trying to catch more bass that way. Now if that same shoreline was full of weeds and stumps, then I would be all over it big time. Also what is the bank structure? Does it taper off gradually; does it have a fast slop into deeper water? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself as a shore fisherman before setting that pole in the water.
Also another great bass fishing tip from shore is for dock and pier fisherman. Bait and food tend to gather on the windward side of a pier or dock. This is the area where the wind is blowing and bringing in the food and baitfish. Fishing on the other side of the dock or pier might bring fish, but you’ll more luck fishing on the side where the wind is blowing in. Find the food and baitfish, and you can find Bass.
The next top bass fishing tips is in learning when to fish. Ask any great shore fisherman and he’ll tell you evenings and early mornings are the best time for success. The reason being, these low light conditions help to conceal the bass, making him feel less vulnerable plus it also gives a bass an advantage for his own ambushes on his food source. During the middle of the day is when most fish bass included hold even tighter to structure, and unless that structure is within casting range from shore, you can sure bet the bass have moved to deeper haunts till the evening comes.
There you have it a couple quick bass fishing tips, that are sure to help the shore fisherman. Tomorrow we will continue in our series of top bass fishing tips and I hope you continue to follow along in this series.
By: David Pentoch
