How to Catch a Catfish From a River

This is an instructional article on the easiest method of catching a catfish that I am aware of.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fishing pole
• Stringer
• bait
• strong line
• patience

1. You need to find a spot on the river bank that is clear of large rocks, brush, etc that will snag on your line when you catch a fish and bring it to shore. You will then need to bait your hook. I prefer chicken livers, or night crawlers, but if you talk to a few local fishermen you can usually find out what the fish are biting on.

2. Cast your line out without a bobber. If you have sinkers, put a few on your line, if not, it isn't a huge issue. Let your line drift with the current, but the line should be tight. Hold your pole still and wait for a bite. It will probably take about 15 minutes or more before you might get a bite. When you get one, the tip of your pole will jerk violently downward.

3. When you get a bite, set the line (jerk your pole upward). Start reeling your line in, and try to avoid letting the fish swim into rocky areas on the bank. When you get the catfish to shore, unhook it, and either put it on a stringer and fry it up, or release it and catch it again another day.

Tips & Warnings

• For larger catfish, you may need a friend with a net to help bring the fish in.
• I would recommend going between 10pm and 2am for best results
• Whenever you go, set aside several hours
• In many places, a fishing license is required to fish in rivers, so check your local laws before going out.
• Be careful, large catfish can take a pole into the river, and in rare cases can even pull a small person in, so take care, and if you are in an area with extremely large catfish, bring a friend.