How to catch catfish in fall
Summer is prime season for catfish fishing in many waters across the United States, but you can still catch big blue, flathead and channel cats in fall. You just have to alter your tactics a bit. Feeding patterns and locations change for catfish at this time of year, but these fish have to eat to get through the winter. If you can find catfish in fall, the odds on catching them are in your favor.
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Instructions
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Find the fish. Catfish in fall are moving away from their summer pattern of holing up during the day and feeding at night on shallow flats. Instead, look for them in mid-depth areas near deeper waters, at the mouths of feeder streams and in areas near flats that cool down at night. Rocky and rip-rap shorelines also attract fall catfish.
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Use natural bait. Catfish hunt by smell and taste, and will rarely strike an artificial lure. Live nightcrawlers and crayfish, chicken livers and dough baits can potentially catch catfish. Cats may also be actively hunting bait fish in fall, and you can use shad, bluegills and other small fish as bait. Use them live or cut them into strips or chunks (called "cut bait").
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Fish near bottom. Catfish usually stay close to the bottom, even when hunting. Rig up with a sinker at the end of your line and a hook 12 to 24 inches above. Dress the hook with the bait of your choice.
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Use the right gear. Choose a hook size between 5/0 and 10/0, depending on the size of your bait and the size of the catfish in your area. Sinkers over one ounce are frequently used in cat fishing, because they keep the bait near bottom even in current, and give you greater casting distance. Use a stout rod and at least 10-pound line.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to obtain a fishing license before you fish for catfish in the fall.
References
- Photo Credit autumn scene image by adrian fortune from Fotolia.com
