How to Catch Catfish in a Lake

Catfish are nocturnal fish.

Many lakes throughout the north and southeast United States are chock full of catfish. Catfish are deep-dwelling fish that become more active during the night hours. They typically prefer the colder deep water found throughout the deep parts of lakes, particularly if there are flowing currents or channels. Catfish grow to between 5 and 100 pounds on average and are considered a fine fish for eating.

Things You'll Need

• Rod and baitcasting reel
• 10 to 12 pound fishing line
• 6/0 barbed hooks
• Bobber
• 1/2 to 1 ounce sinkers
• Catfish baits -- smelly baits or worms

Instructions

1. Rig your line with at least one sinker between 1/2 and 1 ounce. Keep the sinker approximately 12 inches above the hook. Use a 6/0 barbed hook. If you are fishing in water between 10 to 20 feet, try using a bobber for detecting the subtle strikes catfish make.

2. Go out fishing for catfish on a lake at dusk. Catfish prefer the darker cooler waters. Nighttime brings them out of the underwater logs or rocks. Fish one section of the lake for 15 to 30 minutes. If no strikes occur, move onto another area. When fishing the regions, go in a zigzag motion with the trolling boat.

3. Find a current in the lake and anchor upstream from the the movement. Use catfish smelly baits (found at outdoor fishing stores) and cast upstream to let the scents drift downstream, attracting the catfish.

4. Monitor your fish finder for schools of bait fish such as shad. Where you find large schools of shad, you find groups of catfish. Use chopped shad or large minnows when fishing near the bait fish schools.

5. Monitor the water temperature with the fish finder. As a general rule, the colder the water, the better the chances of catching larger catfish.

6. Fish with smelly baits along the lake banks after strong rains. It is not uncommon for the catfish to come in toward the shores after rains, sometimes in water 5 to 7 feet deep just off the banks.

References

• Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Fishing for Channel Cats; Donald L. Bonneau, Fisheries Research Supervisor, Iowa DNR
• Bobberstop.com: Catfish Fishing Tips

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish