Fishing Information allfree-contestsandsweepstakes.com    

A Guide to Non-Typical Catfish Fishing Techniques


Introduction

Many of the people about to take one of my guided trips don't believe that Catfish feed as aggressively as other game fish. People are used to throwing out their bait and letting it set while they wait. Some days this works and they don't have to wait very long, but some days we all know that the wait can be very long. This waiting is what encouraged me to try to catch Blue Cats using other methods. Some techniques are passed down from generation to generation and these tried and true methods have caught Catfish since people have fished for them. I have used these methods most of my life and it was the way I was taught to catch Catfish. On the opposite end of the Cat-fishing spectrum, however, are two newer methods that I have been using to consistently catch Catfish, as well.

Fishing for Catfish

Ah, the American Catfish! The big three: Blues, Channel Cats and Flatheads; aren't they a wonderful species of fish? Each one has its own outstanding features to thrill Catfishermen and women throughout the United States and even worldwide. Flatheads, with their big, wide heads and flat tails, have my vote as the hardest pulling fish pound-for-pound in fresh water. No Catfisherman can talk very long without telling their favorite Channel Cat story.

Channel Cats live almost anywhere in fresh water and eat an enormous variety of baits, from prepared stink baits to live baits. I believe these whisker fish are the most versatile and adaptive members of the Catfish family. The next Catfish member, the Blue Cat, also commonly called a White Cat, gets my pick for the best all around, year-round Catfish. This is also the fish I target with my non-typical Cat-fishing techniques. Although Channel Cats and Flatheads are caught using these techniques, Blue Cats remain the king in mass numbers. These dudes grow big and fast and will strike your bait with a vengeance. Plus, they pull hard in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

The Blue Catfish

The Blue Cat is truly an amazing fish. I have caught these fish as deep as 96 feet at the bottom of a river channel in cold water conditions. I have also seen them come right up to the top and smash a school of shad just as a Striper or White Bass would do in warm water conditions. As far as I can tell, these fish feed aggressive all year, which in my opinion sets them apart from Flatheads and Channel Cats. Reports of Blues falling for lead spoons, jigs, crank baits, and many other artificial lures are not uncommon any time of the year. The other Blue Cat bonus is their size, growing much larger than Channel Cats and a smidge larger than Flatheads. That makes your chances of catching a Blue Cat over 20 pounds a big time reality. Fish over 50 pounds are not that hard to find in reservoirs and rivers that have had time to produce that size of Catfish.

These fish grow to be over 100 pounds - it's the exception and not the rule, but it does happen. That's the beauty in setting up and fishing for Blue Cats: your next fish might be 1 pound, 51 pounds, or 101 pounds.

Make sure to read Part 2 and 3 of this article to learn about Capt. Jeff's non-typical techniques!

Copyright © 2002-2005 Jeff Williams

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include the author bylines immediately visible with the article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in the author bylines, both where the web address is listed as well as well as with the text "Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service"...

Jeff Williams runs a Truman Lake Hybrid Bass and Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service offering lodging and guided trips in Missouri. To book a trip, learn more tips, or find out how Capt. Jeff would fish your own local waters, call 1-866-HOOKSET or visit http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com today!


MORE RESOURCES:

TVNZ

Bush to Protect Three Areas in Pacific
Washington Post, United States - 1 hour ago
The protected areas "will allow for research, free passage, and recreation -- including the possibility of recreational fishing one day," Bush said while ...
Bush to create three marine monuments Los Angeles Times
President Bush makes final controversial environmental push on his ... ESPN
Bush to establish 3 marine monuments in Pacific The Associated Press
Asbury Park Press - Los Angeles Times
all 705 news articles


Ice fishing takes hold near Pelican Rapids
Fergus Falls Daily Journal, MN - 4 hours ago
By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal Travis Grahn of Park Region Cooperative’s sporting goods in Pelican Rapids has been selling lots of fishing ...


Boston Globe

Deaths are a sad reminder of risks that built a city
Boston Globe, United States - 9 hours ago
Peter Parisi (left) and Kevin Farless worked to untangle fishing nets yesterday at the docks in Gloucester. The deaths of Matteo Russo and John Orlando ...
Patriot 'mystery' Coast Guard: No sign of fire in vessel debris Gloucester Daily Times
Fishing boat missing off coast of Gloucester, 1 dead Boston Herald
Two killed in fishing boat accident off of Gloucester Boston Globe
Boston Globe - Gloucester Daily Times
all 208 news articles


Ice fishing taking off at area lakes
Grand Junction Free Press, CO - 14 hours ago
By Doug Miller Ice fishing has been excellent in all the lower reservoirs with safe ice to be had in the majority of each lake. Perch, crappie and bluegill ...
Extended Fishing Report for January 5 Santa Rosa Press Democrat
DNR: Ice conditions vary throught the state MLive.com
Weekly conservation officer report Grand Forks Herald
Norwalk Reflector - Oshkosh Northwestern
all 11 news articles


NOAA

New Economic Report Finds Commercial and Recreational Fishing ...
NOAA, DC - 7 hours ago
US commercial and recreational fishing generated more than $185 billion in sales and supported more than two million jobs in 2006, according to a new ...


Milford aims to turn fishing spot into a park
New Haven Register (subscription), CT - 10 hours ago
The Park, Beach and Recreation Commission is scheduled to vote this week on a proposal to make the popular fishing spot along the Housatonic River a city ...


Post Searchlight

Fishing has been good considering
Post Searchlight, GA - 2 hours ago
For the very first time in two years, I got to go fishen with my friend, Bill Allen. He took me to his best Jack Fish hole and gave me his best Jack Fish ...


Fishing Master World Tour 3 (Wii)
WorthPlaying.com, CA - 8 hours ago
Staying true to the first version's realistic controls, aspiring Fishing Masters use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as they battle to hook the fish on their ...
Fishing Master World Tour Now Available Gamers Hell
all 7 news articles


Fishing | Where they're biting, where they're not
Seattle Times, United States - 14 hours ago
Don Armeni ramp in West Seattle -- Friday: Three boats with five anglers caught no fish; Sunday: 12 boats with 26 anglers caught two chinook. ...


El Dorado Hills Telegraph

Go fish: Anglers dedicated to hobby
El Dorado Hills Telegraph, CA - 3 hours ago
By Don Chaddock, The Telegraph Neither rain, nor sleet nor dark of night shall keep the fishing enthusiasts from dipping a line in local rivers, ...

Fishing - Google News

home | site map
© 2006