How to Catch Catfish

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Catfish have seasonal migration patterns. Learn their habits and you'll find your own "big cat."

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Fish Nets
Baits
Fish Lures
Fishhooks
Fishing Poles
Fishing Reels

Step1

Talk to the local fishery's biologist to find out the spawning time in your area.

Step2

Look for rocky structures for possible spawning sites.

Step3

Study a topographical map for underwater structures or contours on the bottom of a lake that are attractive to catfish.

Step4

Study local bait fish and their habits.

Step5

Use bait such as night crawlers, shrimp, shad, chicken liver or minnows.

Step6

Float bait at various depths to find the feeding area.

Tips & Warnings

Once you find a good spawning ground, fish there for the next four to six weeks. Different breeds of catfish spawn at different times.
The warmer the water, the shallower the catfish will be. In clear water they tend to stay in deeper water.

Comments

abkilla said

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on 6/16/2007 Using Ivory Soap-Go to your local store and get a bar or 2 os Ivory Soap and let it sit out for two or three days til' you go fish and trust me I caught 10-40 pounders on that.Also, Try it on trotlines I once caught a 55-pound shovelhead on that stuff! No Lie

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Get some stockings, like your mom or grandmother wears, and cut it into squares and put the liver into it. Tie it off, so the liver is in the stocking, and then put your hook through the knot on the stocking. Cast it out and it should not fall off.

Anonymous said

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on 4/16/2007 I've fished for catfish in 12 different states and have found that chicken liver on a basic cat hook with a night crawler for a trailer will get you any size cat you want. Next time you go out, juts add the night crawler; it makes a difference. I fish the Snake River in Washington and have had many catfish break my line with this set-up.

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 For the best bait:
Soak cut up hot dogs in onion powder, apple cider vineger, balsamic vineger, A1 steak sauce, pepperchini juice and ranch dressing overnight.

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 I have caught 3, 4 even 5 catfish off of the same piece of chicken liver. Take a good chunk of liver and get it on the hook. The hook should pass through the liver as much as possible. Then take (depending on the size of the piece and hook) a 2-3 foot piece of sewing thread and start wrapping it around the liver. Don't wrap too tight or it will cut through the liver. The liver will now stay on the hook through multiple fish. When the liver finally comes off, just take some scissors and cut the string from the hook and begin again. I keep a spool of thread in my tackle box.

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