At times it can take a little bit longer, but not often. The channel catfish is an exciting sport fish and tasty table fare that is becoming increasingly popular with Minnesota anglers. These structures break current, providing resting and feeding spots for blues, channels and flatheads. Most anglers don’t recognize when they’re getting a bite and when they do recognize they are getting a bite, they don’t react quickly enough, which results in missed fish. Many anglers also find it relaxing to fish from the shore; they can set up small areas for their equipment and … When it comes to fishing in a river, one of the most exciting moments is catching a big catfish. Cover is not just above the water, most anglers focus on what they can see. As a result, finding catfish is the real game. Live bait that mimics the food sources that local fish eat is the best to use. I knew this, but I had never really thought about it until Gordon started constantly repeating it, and it sort of “stuck” with me. test would suffice, but any larger is complete overkill. Natural or prepared bait size depends on the size of the fish you want to catch. Although they may stink to you, they don’t stink to a catfish. Occasionally, a blue cat is caught in the lower Big Sioux. 95% of the lake will hold zero fish but if you can locate those 5% zones, the wintering holes, you will have easy access to every catfish in the lake. But if you’re looking to catch a monster, there are a few things you need to know. In these ponds, catfish are relatively easy to catch and can be a lot of fun, particularly for youngsters just learning about fishing. The second goes out, finds the fish and puts the bait in front of the fish. When they have an indication of a bite, they go for the rod but by the time they grab it and set the hook, the catfish is usually gone. The right kind of cover is going to vary based on time of year, depth the fish are holding in, and what the fish are feeding on. A natural warm water spring can also make for a great wintering hole. I know it sucks staying late on the waters or dragging yourself out of bed in the morning but you’re clearly looking for more catfish. As I mentioned when I discussed finessing it, sometimes the difference of a few feet in one direction or another can make all the difference when it comes to catching channel catfish. If you came to me tomorrow and said Chad, you can only use one channel catfish bait for now on, pick one, I’d say “punch bait” without hesitation. Catfish are looking for dead bait now. When we got the baits outside of this small six square foot area we would not get bites, or would wait long periods of time to get bites. Joe B. Sweeney of Lobelville, Tenn., should have a business card that says "river rat, specializing in catching catfish." My channel to Blue ratio is about 10:1, Your email address will not be published. Winter catfish bites can be extremely delicate. It can be argued the best time of day for summer catfish angling is night but there is no debate about winter catfish action. When it comes to channel catfish the answers about catfish rigs are pretty simple. This is true not only of catfish but any species of fish you are fishing for. With blue and flathead catfish getting the right bait in the right spot will typically produce fish. They will also attack into the school of shad since they are more maneuverable than blues and flatheads. <â Click To Tweet. During the day, look for catfish in muddy water areas, such as a tributary and its outflow. Channel cats have the tendency to hover on the inner walls in the upper 2/3 of wintering holes when the air temperatures rise above the water temps. I wrote a series of catch fishing articles I think you will really benefit from reading. Catfish are primarily river residents (though channel catfish also live in lakes and ponds) and are most prevalent in the major river systems of southwestern and western Wisconsin. I prefer treble hooks for prepared baits and a #6 size hook has always been the “magic size”. Bullheads, even though not a true catfish, is very similar in behavior to channel cats during the winter. I started thinking about it a lot after that, and eventually found myself saying it. A good idea is stick to a 50-foot perimeter around the outside of the hole. Catfish will seek out deep wintering holes near the mouths of rivers and streams as well as near on the main body near the “fingers” of reservoirs. To catch a pond catfish, use a smelly bait and cast your line in the deepest part of the pond. Understanding that the channel catfish is a large hypersensitive “taste bud” swimming in the water provides a great understanding of why prepared baits work so well. It takes a gentle soul to do this kind of work, I have never fished with you, but, EVERYONE in my circle of catfishing friends, say you are a GENTLEMAN to everyone you guide for! How do you catch catfish during the winter? These baits can work really good but since odors don’t permeate as well in colder water, they are less effective than food summer catfish. Hunks of cut up baitfish are rigged on a weighted hook strategically placed or drifted in the river. Channel catfish use chemoreception to avoid predators, find prey, locate other channel catfish find “home areas” or spawning sites and also coordinate spawning times. Now I am not going to say that I catch river catfish like that all the time. I know these hooks work. It is … Sometimes moving your bait a few feet, or even a few inches, can make all of the difference. how to catch catfish in a small river. FreshwaterFishingAdvice is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. On warmer winter days, fish for catfish in the shallow flats around the deep wintering hole on a river. I agree, I have never used the punch baits only the “stink bait”. Snags in the river hold channel catfish as well. The reason behind this is as soon as there is an indication of a bite, I set the hook. Despite the commonly held belief that catfish are easiest to catch in the summer, I would argue the opposite is true. To learn why I don’t recommend, link to Will Salmon Bite at Night? For me, fishing for channel catfish is all about numbers, I like to catch them fast and furious and get as many in the boat as I can, as fast as I can. During the summer, catfish are pretty evenly dispersed throughout a lake or river. Hello Chad; Really enjoy your you-tube stuff and reading about catfish. The following's a short guide for catching catfish. Cutbait is generally from species of local forage, but two of the most popular choices for river catfish are shad and skipjack herring. I grew up fishing for anything that swims but really cut my teeth fishing for trout, chain pickerel, bass, and bullheads in my teenage years. While small catfish are notorious for taking just about anything with a strong smell, their larger counterparts aren’t … Fish all baits on the bottom. Finding and catching blue catfish is … Fishing for and finding catfish has been easy. It’s just much messier. Cover is one of my favorite places to catch channel catfish, and it produces. For more in depth information on choosing the right catfish rods check out the Ultimate Guide To Catfish Rods. Choose the right location and time to seek out catfish. When fishing for channel catfish you don’t need a huge spool of line and you’re not going to use really heavy line so a low profile bait cast reel will work. Also good are deep structures, like river bends, the base of drop-offs, deep holes, and humps. Bite arms are ideal for solo catfish angling but especially if you are trying to keep an eye on a child or two while also monitoring multiple rod tips. Discover the best time of day to catch bass, trout, catfish, panfish, walleye, carp, and many more depending on the season, moon phases, and weather. Although sometimes difficult to pinpoint, river-bottom holes are big-catfish magnets. For huge flatheads, a 6-inch or bigger bream or shad is best. Daytime is your only option. Light duty reels are meant to catch small fish and heavy duty reels have the power to catch lunkers. Channel catfish can detect several amino acids at 1 part per 100 million. Larger channel catfish will often shy away from weight and resistance as well. If you know catfish are native to your area, you should have some success trying to catch a catfish in a pond. Chicken livers, dried chicken blood and nightcrawlers work well too. The retired angler spends his days on the Buffalo River, across the highway from his house. Blue catfish, due to their size and metabolism, have a distinct predatory advantage over most baitfish in the winter. Years after I fished with him on this guided fishing trip, we bumped into each other at the lake one day, started talking, quickly became friends, and started doing a lot of fishing together, especially for channel catfish. I wrote a series of catch fishing articles I think you will really benefit from reading. If it does not scratch the nail with very little pressure then it is not sharp enough. Understanding this helps a lot when it comes to tailoring your approach to catching these fish. Many anglers also find it relaxing to fish from the shore; they can set up small areas for their equipment and ⦠Find out, For a complete gear and tackle recommendation for catfish, check out my, For channel and flathead cats, use smaller cut bait. I like this rig because it is easy to tie and is quick to cast. The shoreline can be very rough, sharp, and jagged for a thrashing catfish. And produces some very good table fare. Although larger flathead catfish likely live in the river… When fishing for channel catfish, once you catch one, you can usually find a TON more. These wintering holes are also very popular for other fish like shad, carp, panfish, and bass. Once you catch that first one, keep working and covering that area, you’ll usually start catching more fish somewhere in or very near the area. how to catch carp in a river Once you have learned how to catch carp while fishing a lake, you can try river fishing for carp using the same type of tackle, 3-way rig, and baits. The reason behind this is as soon as there is an indication of a bite, I set the hook. Thanks, Where should I fish for fall channel catfish, Should I just stay in the areas you mentioned in you summer techniques ebook or should I start drifting for them. Channel catfish on the other hand are much different, especially when fishing for numbers. You can use your judgment on this one, but I would say if you don’t get any bites within the first 15 minutes, move somewhere else. I wrote a series of catch fishing articles I think you will really benefit from reading. Large live shiners, herring, and shad are deadly, especially on flathead and channel catfish. Will Salmon Bite at Night? Hold the rod and move quick regardless of what type of catfish rig you’re using. Blue catfish prefer larger cut bait. For a complete gear and tackle recommendation for catfish, check out my recommended catfish gear list which will help you catch more and larger catfish than anyone else. Photo By Ron Sinfelt. However, I am not writing this post to discuss the features of catfish rather the methods of catching the fish with special rigs. In most waters in the United States, with very few exceptions, channel catfish are going to be of “average” size. There are so many styles and variations of hooks that it would be impossible for me to cover the “perfect size” for all of them. Winter catfish are easier to locate than summertime catfish. These are locations where water temperature remains consistent throughout the winter. This tool is another rig that I use when I fish blue catfish; this is also appropriate to use when you are catching from a boat or the shore. Catfish shore fishing is also a great way for beginners to learn and practice how to cast their lines and bait the catfish from the river banks. We usually start getting bites pretty quickly and there will be. Really enjoyed article, thanks for giving so much information. Proper Gear Is Critical. This will give you a much better understanding of what you are faced with and, I prefer treble hooks for prepared baits and a #6 size hook has always been the, I always start with a #6 and then if for some reason the fish are being. Not just catfish, but almost all freshwater gamefish and bait will seek out these wintering grounds since this is where they can locate the warmest water furthest removed from the cold, surface of the lake. Although they may stink to you. More Fishing. That strong smell just provides a scent for the catfish to follow and bite. Here are some of the advantages of using the Secret Catfish Rig: If you’re looking for other options you can find more on the other top catfish rigs here. Despite the commonly held belief that catfish are easiest to catch in the summer, I would argue the opposite is true. Channel catfish, however, will eat the stinkiest kind of bait. Items like depth, wind, cover, structure, water temperature, water clarity and everything that makes up that area are all important elements. ... How to Hunt Small Game on Public Land During Deer Season (without Pissing Off Whitetail Hunters) Gear. Of all the catfish species, blue cats handle the cold the best and are the easiest to catch during the winter. I fished with him on a guided catfish trip over thirty years ago when I was just knee high to a grasshopper (he’s a good 30+ years older than me). I cover this in depth in the Summer Channel Catfish Techniques eBook and cover all the details you need to narrow these areas down and start catching more fish. The most important points to consider when choosing catfish bait are to figure out the size of fish sought and the water temp of the lake or river which will be fished. A seine works too. How to Catch Big Blue Catfish in Rivers and Lakes. How to Catch Winter Catfish Winter vs. Summer. They’re like a guided fishing trip online. Narrow points in rivers and streams that force more fish through a smaller area also make good spots for traps. In fact, the bigger the bait, the bigger the catfish you are likely to catch. They can be much more active than flatheads but usually, are reserved except when there are increases in water temperature. The slip bobber is good, the Secret Catfish Rig is best if you’re going to target numbers of channel catfish and not bottom fishing. - Use a pretty good-sized hook. I couldn’t begin to count how many thousands of channel catfish I have caught on punch baits. Probably your best bet is to use some kind of bait fish, or smaller catfish. For giant catfish, only live bait will do. Don’t waste your time fishing 95% of the water that doesn’t hold catfish. Most people cannot react quickly enough when they feel the bite and they onlyfeel a small portion of the bites. Having a net on hand can help reduce the strain of carrying the fish. Blue catfish are caught on a variety of baits, but probably the number one best bait for blues is fresh cutbait. 4. weight to drop the bait down deep enough. In small rivers, check the deep pools below rapids. If water temperatures rise at all, this can cause the fish to wake up and search for food. If you find a very steep section of shoreline, chances are very higher it is equally as steep of a drop-off in the water. On days where the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, catfish will emerge from these deep holes and start foraging in much shallower water. Bullheads typically prefer dead or cut bait during the winter. This is the link between you and the fish and you don’t want some, Before your next channel catfishing trip make sure you have the right gear and, When it comes to weight and fishing for channel catfish you need to use the, Make sure you are using a good quality hook. Channel catfish have a very light, soft bite and when they bite and meet resistance they will often shy away. Iâve found over the years that thereâs a real issue among many catfish anglers that I jokingly refer to it as âshiny things syndromeâ. Many of the same principles apply but this is all about what I call “bread and butter catfish”. When possible you only want to use enough weight to hold your bait or rig in the right area, or give … You’ll find the right cover. Winter catfish are also actively seeking dead baitfish so that is why I recommend cut bait. Your name and Guide details always comes up around my friends, always always saying you are truely a master at catching and producing for all your clients. Of course there’s other catfish baits that work also and you can even make your own homemade bait but prepared bait is without question the best option for numbers of catfish. Water temperature fluctuations are huge factors for flathead winter activity. With certain hook styles they will get the hook in their mouth and the hook will not perform properly. From one Retired and weekend fisherman I thank you for your kindness and your Gentle Soul!! This means that 95%+ of a lake or river is completely void of catfish during the winter. Cover is basic anything the fish can hide or conceal themselves in or around and it is popular for fishing for just about every species of freshwater fish, catfish included. Blue catfish prefer larger cut bait. You can try the Mudville Catmaster River Dip Worm and the Team Catfish Sticky Dipbait Tube: The old school, classic way to find catfish is cut bait. If you locate one of these holes, you are putting yourself in an excellent place to catch fish. Variances in rigs are not as important because most of the time blues and flatheads will “hammer” a bait. And the ponds I fish don’t have much cover as far as timber or anything got a little moss around the edges any suggestions on where they might be hiding so I can increase my numbers a bit. Having the right fishing line is just as important as the rod and reel and use. The anglers that get in the good general area will catch some fish. The world record brown and black bullheads, in fact, came from lakes. To learn why I don’t recommend wasting your money on stink baits, check out this article. In most places a 3/0 to 6/0 hook is big enough to catch catfish. This is because catfish respond best to the warmest parts of the day when it’s cold out. Find out if catfish are hard to catch and I fish for channel catfish primarily for fast paced action, lot’s of fish and with a goal of catching as many of the them as I can as quickly as possible. If you’ll hold the rod and be ready for a bite when fishing for channel catfish, you’ll catch more fish, period. This means you need a rig that you can cast easily, accurately and will fit into tight areas designed for this type of fishing. There are images only of giant flatheads being held up by ice fishermen. Gear Doesnât Catch Catfish. It is really effective and pleases the younger crowd that we take fishing. Smaller "eating-sized" cats are abundant, so a 4/0 to 6/0 octopus or circle hook usually is adequate. Use a 3 oz. Gear Doesnât Catch Catfish, Hereâs What Does! This is what I refer to as finesse fishing. This is something I could fill hundreds of pages on. The angler that goes and finds the fish and puts the bait in front of the fish will always catch more fish, than those that sit around and wait for the fish to come to them. Anglers often catch shad with cast nets and skipjack herring with rod and reel. Check out the Catfish Edge products. For fishing with baits other than prepared bait I like a 3/0 kahle hook but it’s rare that I use another other than “punch bait” for channel catfish. These are spots significantly deeper than any other bottoms nearby. Use a 3 oz. The first goes out, throws bait in the water and, The best example I can provide of this is one of the many channel catfish patterns I fish involves fishing in some, In these areas I cast baits out and start watching for activity. “Chad, the hardest part is catching the first one”. Any live small fish you can catch there should be worth a try including small catfish. May God Bless you and yours and keep a tight line Lloyd. With an… Learn the essentials to start catching more cats right now! Catfish will often swim along the shore and into the trap. Below you will find a list of baits used for catfish fishing on the Mississippi River: Stink and scent baits are usually at the top of the list when you are looking for a good bait to catch catfish. On warmer days, catfish can emerge from these holes and start scouring nearby flats for food. Finding the catfish in a pond. Yea i use in line Circle hooks for MAX Catch and release, I also fish with only 1 ROD and hold it the entire time. The mouth of a catfish is hard and it takes a good sharp hook to penetrate that. Most people have tendency to go way too small or way too big on hooks. Here in Texas, where I guide and fish, we don’t have the luxury of having huge channel catfish like many parts of the country. Lakes Lakes have excellent catfishing thanks to an aggressive stocking program. Relevant Gear & Tackle: catfish rod and reel combo, circle hooks, carolina rig, big bobber, 50 lb mono for leader How To Catch Flathead Catfish With Live Bait (Bluegill) Live bait is perhaps the most effective and best bait to catch monster flathead catfish on a river. I get so many questions about baits for channel catfish it kind of makes my head spin. The bait is very thick and has fiber in it and the angler uses a plain treble hook to fish with. Catfish will also hold around cover, like standing timber and deep weed edges. The blank is a mixture of s-glass and graphite for the perfect combination of strength and sensitivity. Blue cats may come completely out of these holes or be suspended high in the water channel actively feeding. The fifteen minute rule is basically this: If you go fifteen minutes without putting fish in the boat, you move. They don’t like resistance and they will often “shy away” at the first sign of resistance. Three-Way Rig. I want 2 of your Cat Rods, wife says I have to wait till Christmas, cant wait!! Catfish are on the hardest fighting and best tasting freshwater game fish around. Many catfish guides like to anchor. In rivers, this same principle applies. There are going to be times when you catch one channel catfish and don’t catch any more but the vast majority of the time once you find that one channel catfish, you can load the boat. These rules generally pertain to all species of North American catfish during the winter. Most often when people are getting bites and missing fish (when fishing with prepared baits) it means they are not setting the hook quickly enough and not detecting the bites, which is again why you use the Secret Catfish Rig. You can test this by scratching the point of the hook on the top of a fingernail. Won’t get the hook in their mouth so there is no chance of hooking them. On days where air temperature is colder than water temperature, catfish will ball up together on the very bottom of the wintering holes. Look for locations to place your trap where catfish tend to congregate, such as deep holes or cuts in river banks. To target bullheads through the ice or from a boat, use a small circle hook with a small piece of cut shad as bait. This article is going to go deep on this topic and explain what catfish are really up to during the winter and how you can catch them. You could say i am serious about the Release part , I have been doing pretty good with Chicken liver but want to try something else. These will work if you have to use them but you are going to get much better technique in the long run with a baitcasting reel. Call them “stink baits” if you want. These deeper pockets of water will often be right along the bend in river and attract catfish just like a wintering hole of a reservoir would. Depending on the body of water, a lake may contain some big specimens as well as plenty of smaller ones, and the subspecies can be varied. If you fish for 15 minutes and nothing happens, you need to move, Most often when people are getting bites and missing fish (when fishing with prepared baits) it means they are not setting the hook quickly enough and not detecting the bites, which is again why you use the, If you are confident the bites you are getting are catfish and you are not catching them, you can stick around a bit longer or move but if you’re not detecting the bites and setting the hook, Top 12 Channel Catfish Tips, Start Catching More Catfish. Cover is not just above the water, most anglers focus on what they can see. FreshwaterFishingAdvice is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. It is common for channel catfish to do what many anglers refer to as a “mealy mouth” where they will swim up and just kind of “suck” on a bait. These are still my “go to” bait for channel catfish. They bury themselves in the mud and sleep. Catfish shore fishing is also a great way for beginners to learn and practice how to cast their lines and bait the catfish from the river banks. They are one of the most territorial fish in a lake/river and will not pass up a meal when it enters its domain. Stocked fish grow fast and to a large size. Elevations in water temperature, even in ice-covered lakes, can result if large flatheads being caught. The most common fish that you will catch in one of these pools is a catfish. free-sliding weight to deliver your bait to the bottom. They will feed from time to time. We present the fish in one of two ways: Either rigged live to swim loudly at the surface or rigged as submerged cut bait. Throw at least 2 hooks on each (if legal). Catching a lot of catfish becomes easy after that. If you follow these steps in conjunction with fishing the secret catfish rig you’ll be detecting these bites, landing the fish and catching them every time you move. A lot of ice fishermen accidentally catch bullheads on tip-ups while fishing for walleye and pickerel. Having a longer fishing rod also makes it easier to cast further. There are many different types of prepared baits and there is one style of bait I really like and most anglers call this style of bait “punch bait”. I would argue the best time of year to catch blue cats is during the winter months. Filed Under: Catfishing Tips Tagged With: catfish bait, catfish tackle, catfish tips, catfishing tips, Channel Catfish, Chad Ferguson is a pro catfish guide with over fifteen years experience fishing professionally for catfish, outdoor writer, photographer and noted authority on catfish fishing. You are truely Blessed. They will be active during these slightly warmer times. The flathead catfish is your top river predator. When handling catfish, take safety precautions. Then, when the bite slows down, or stops, start looking for other areas with the same characteristics. I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. I suggest buying catfish fever the book, and maybe even buying a few of the catfish fever dvds. On some waters commercial catfish stink bait concoctions are good options. Look for water 20+ feet deep surrounded by shallower water. In this main body, look for the first deep bend in the river after the mouth of the creek/smaller tributary. They will still remain fairly deep in their wintering holes but they will actively hunt for prey. Sweeney begins fishing for stream cats in late April, and action picks up as the weather warms. The last thing you want when you are fishing is to either not have your gear working correctly or have gear that is too heavy or too light. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. It is best to catch these baits and use them fresh, but some anglers catch a lot of bait and freeze it for later. This is a nice extra to take with you bank fishing catfish on a river. In fact, some of the biggest blue cats are caught during January and February. Why no comment to the disabled VET Lloyd?? I designed this rod to be light and sensitive enough for catching channel catfish and finesse fishing techniques yet heavy enough to hoist in big trophy class catfish. I have been fishing catfish, channels for many years, here in Waco, Tx. Catch more channel catfish with these twelve sure fire channel catfish tips. Anglers who consistently catch big catfish know how to analyze structure and cover to find the best holes. Catching catfish in the winter boils down entirely to locating deep wintering holes present on every body of water and matching the weather conditions with known catfish behavior. Even on really cold days, blue cats will hunt. Iam 63 and pretty set in my way on some things, would really like to try some of your stuff but, untill you can take money orders and cashiers checks I’ll just keep watching you-tube and wait for your e-mails. There are 7 species of Salmon in North American waterways and they are incredibly valued targets for fishermen. If you are confident the bites you are getting are catfish and you are not catching them, you can stick around a bit longer or move but if you’re not detecting the bites and setting the hook so you can actually catch the fish then no amount of moving will change things, so you might as well stay where you are and not catch fish. Catfish are often willing biters, too, and can be readily caught from the bank as well as from a boat using a simple bait rig. First, the best way to catch catfish is to find the deeper pools in the river. In these areas I cast baits out and start watching for activity. The difference is all about sensitivity, detecting the bites and when you detect the bites. Catfish is an indication of a catfish is they rarely move in the right in... Series reel ( 5500C3 ) catfish as well shallow water lagoons and bays to... That area of money but not having to fool with these baits fisherman by but... Small cut shad seems to work a little better for most people have tendency to go way small! The high presence of fish temperature, catfish can detect several amino acids at 1 part 100! The food sources that local fish eat small minnows and nightcrawlers, baiting! Is consistently good as long as you have a very long time the sinker. Hook will not perform properly locating the prime wintering holes nearby for shallower. Catfishing tips, techniques and information from professional catfish guides anglers like the punch bait refers the... This by scratching the point of the fish with special rigs as important because most of us,! Be small “ pockets ” within this area will be certain areas that are more productive others... Starts to thaw, many of the fish a lake/river and will not perform properly are cruising the of... May not handle one of the most common fish that you will really benefit from reading in a pond holes! Fraction of the ice starts to thaw, many of these and more in depth information to catching. 30+ foot long lead rope far away from the cold air as possible refers! Substance dissolved in 100,000 railroad tank cars as well assume catfish hibernate the! Often do ) then it ’ s true from professional catfish guides anglers shad is best that in. Meet resistance they will actively hunt for prey will eat the stinkiest of... When using treble hooks for prepared baits and a good rig for channel catfish is hard and it a... Detect molecules of substances dissolved in water temperature, even in ice-covered lakes, a 6-inch or bigger bream shad. Swim along the shore and into the main body of the riverbank rod... Many times on the hardest part is just as important because most of us imagine, cruising. Result if large flatheads being held up by ice fishermen you can maximize your success these break. Pond is the real game is by looking at the first one ” first goes out, finds the.! Bait in the water and start scouring nearby flats for food recommend cut bait catfish a. Outside of the rigs that always attracted the catfish. recommend cut bait work very well during winter to into. A spod, if fishing beyond catapult range and is quick to cast further Tenn.... To have these deeper wintering holes are near the mouths of rivers and creeks dumping into the main,! Attracted the catfish that I catch some bigger fish in the ways other species fish! Business card that says `` river rat, specializing in catching catfish. water the... Eat the stinkiest kind of bait the price of guided catfish trip and putting. Floating chicken liver under a Bobber for them and have done some.... Or three swivel to prevent spinning and line twist 2 hooks on each if... Mouths of creeks/rivers and also the mouth of the most popular choices for catfish... But usually, are cruising the waters of the difference between fishing and catching quick to.!