How to Catch Freshwater Catfish

At Wikihow

You can catch catfish easy. These fish pack on the pounds therefore they are meaty and strong. Many restaurants serve catfish because catfish are meaty and tasty. So why pay for a meal that you can catch yourself? Here you will learn how to catch catfish with ease.

Things You'll Need

• Fishing Rods
• Tackle Box
• Bug Spray
• Chicken Liver

Instructions

1. Timing is a big factor. Catfish feed mostly early in the morning or in the evening. You need to get prepared at least an hour before you fish. This will give you time to rig your poles. This will also give you time to scout the area for that perfect catch.

2. Catfish are bottom feeders. They are what we call scavengers. The best bait to use is chicken liver chunks. They can hardly resist! Put the liver chunk on the hook. Camouflage the hook with the liver.

3. Now you are ready to cast your pole. Beginners should practice casting to the edge of the current. That is where catfish feed. If there is no current and the water level is low cast in the places that look the deepest for the big catfish. More experienced casters want to cast as close to logs as possible. Fallen down trees are a great place to land a big catfish. Where there are big rocks is a great location.

4. Now that you landed your first big catfish. You must remove the hook from the catfish's mouth. This can be tricky. Catfish tend to swallow the hook. The best way to remove the hook is with a stick. Stick the stick in the catfish's mouth. Then twirl the catfish on the stick until the hook comes out. Sometimes you may need a pair of pliers. After hook is removed. Put the catfish on a stringer or in a bucket of water.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a strong rod and real and use at least 8 to 10 pound tess line.

• Bring plenty of bug spray.

• Do not leave your pole unattended if you need to put your pole down for some reason. Take a stick or branch then drive it in the ground. Lean your pole down the center of the vie of the branch. Be sure your pole is far enough back so that a fish cannot take off with your pole.

• You can lose your pole.

• Remember the spines...pretty much all catfish have some nasty spines near the top of their head and side fins; be careful where you grab the fish. Be extremely careful these spines can cause a great deal of pain. Not to mention give you a very bad infection.