Those who spend time with rod and reel understand that landing a catfish is no easy feat. Yet, with some savvy techniques and insights, this can turn into a highly gratifying enterprise.
A significant component here to successful catfishing is understanding the catfish’s behavior. These bottom-dweller fishes are mainly active during nighttime, making evening and nighttime the ideal times for catfishing.
Picking out suitable bait is another key factor. Cheese, shad, night crawlers, and chicken livers are popular choices for catfish bait.
You'll also want to consider the tackle you use. Given that catfish can become quite large, a tough rod and a strong line would be advantageous.
Having knowledge about the correct placement of your line is key. Catfish often congregate in deeper, slow-moving waters. Prime catfishing spots are often near log jams, river bends, or fallen trees.
Of course, the cardinal virtue of every successful angler is patience. While catfish may take time to bite, when they do, there’s nothing quite like the rush of victory.
Regardless of your level of experience, these guidelines can help you become adept at the art of river catfishing.