Planning a Great Catfish Fishing Trip

Seems like a no brainer, doesn't it? You just throw your bait and tackle in a bag, grab your interstate map, and hit the road. Actually, a good fishing trip depends more on planning than you might imagine. You can always just hit the road, find a stream somewhere, and stand a good chance of catching something. But, some good planning will make the trip go much smoother, and you'll enjoy your fishing vacation much more.

What to Take

First off, make a checklist. I would recommend starting your checklist well before you leave for your trip. Include fishing gear like rods, bait, lures; clothes including boots, gloves and bad weather gear like a poncho; tools for sharpening hooks and little things like that, and whatever else you need to keep yourself comfortable. When you pack, separate all these things in little bags within your big bag, like a small bag for tools, one for fishing gear, etc.

Now, there will always be some little thing you'll forget. Each time you go on a trip, you'll end up getting there and smacking yourself on the forehead, saying, "I can't believe I forgot THAT." It's no problem; packing perfectly takes some practice. I guarantee that you won't forget it next time, and after several catfishing outings, you'll have packing down to a science.

Before you pack, you'll also have to think about what fishing method you are going to use. For example, if you plan on wading into streams, you'll want to take the appropriate clothes and gear. If you're going to fish at night, don't forget lights. Whether your chumming, juglining or fly fishing, you'll need a whole different checklist of gear to take.

Where to Go

The next question is where to go. Catfish are found in rivers, lakes and ponds all over the United States and well up into Canada. Probably the best catfishing in the country is in the south and mid-west, from as far north as Missouri, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, and all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico and Texas. You can also find catfish out west and further up north, so it really doesn't matter where you go. Ask any angler, and they'll tell you that their neck of the woods is the best, but the fact is, you can catch catfish all over the country. This is one of the things that makes catfishing so great.

You might talk to some friends or folks down at the bait shop and see what they recommend. On the other hand, since catfish are found all over the country, why not just pick a pretty area you want to go anyway, and make that your catfishing trip? I would recommend heading down south, or fishing in the tributaries of major rivers like the Mississippi, Missouri, or Red River of Oklahoma and Arkansas.

What Do You Want To Catch?

Another thing to consider when deciding where to go, is whether you want to catch a bunch of little fish, or a couple of big ones. This might also influence what gear you take. Certain parts of the country are known for having lakes and streams full of tiny catfish that you can catch lots of. In other places, there are giant cats prowling the river bottoms, and you might get lucky and snag one of them to take home. Fishing gear, method and location will be different depending on what you want to catch, so keep this in mind.

Where to Stay

Next, think about where you are going to stay. Most of us head out on fishing trips, especially long ones, in order to get away from the city, stress, hassles and everyday life. If that's what you want, you might consider roughing it and camping out somewhere near the fishing spot. The only thing about that is it means taking camping gear too, which means more preparation. On the other hand, you can always stay in an RV or a lodge, sleep at night in some comfort and luxury, and head out to the remote areas to fish when you want to. I wouldn't say that any way is better; it's all up to the tastes of the angler. Just keep in mind that after all that time fishing, it might be nice to curl up in a nice warm bed!

Wherever you end up going, leave an itinerary with information giving your whereabouts with somebody. If you plan to explore, or you don't know exactly where you'll be, give them as detailed information as possible. Nowadays, we all have cell phones, and that helps keep you safe when you're out in the wilds. Be sure to take your charger. But one warning: Don't pick up the phone if it's a work-related call!

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on planning a catfish fishing trip here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com

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Texas Catfish Fishing - Good Spots and Tips for Catching Catfish in Texas

Texas catfish fishing can be one of the most rewarding types of fishing that you take on. Everyone has heard it said that things are bigger in Texas, and maybe it is true, because large numbers of huge catfish are pulled from hundreds of bodies of water in Texas each year. It is difficult to narrow down your options to just a few places to catch catfish in Texas, but the following listing should help you seek out some fishing holes known for producing anything from large numbers of pan sized cat to huge, record setting catches that you are sure to be talking about for years to come.

Lake Texahoma

Located on the Texas and Oklahoma border, this huge reservoir is known for its trophy-sized blue catfish. This lake fishes best in the winter when they cluster in the shad abundant areas and deeps of this lake. If you want good Texas catfish fishing, here's an ideal place.

Lake Livingston

Lake Livingston is located on the Trinity River, northeast of Houston, Texas by approximately seventy-five miles. Lake Livingston is over 82,500 acres, and provides year round abundance of flathead, channel, and blue catfish. In warm weather, look for shallow areas in which shad and other catfish food sources flourish.

Within the Trinity River area, such locations as: Hickman Lake, Horseshoe lake, Hall's Lake, and Hardison Slough are rich catfishing areas sure to produce a great catch. Visit any of these locations for quality fishing.

Lake Tawakoni

Lake Tawakoni is located twenty-eight miles east of Dallas, Texas. This lake is part of the Sabine River Authority, and provides ample opportunity to catch blue, channel, and flathead catfish. The flathead found in Tawakoni can become enormous. Most of the flathead fishing here is done by trotline, and fish in excess of 100 pounds have been pulled from the water here.

Lake LBJ

Lake LBJ, so named after famed Texan and former president, Lyndon B. Johnson, is part of the Colorado River's Highland Lakes. This huge lake spans over six thousand acres from Granite Shoals to Kingsland, Texas. The big three (flathead, blue, and channel) cat are abundant in this lake, and a day on the lake can easily net you a catch of forty plus fish in the 5 to 40 pound size range. Particularly good, is the spot where the Llano and Colorado rivers converge. This location is especially good during the winter months. This area provides great opportunities for those who prefer fishing the bank.

Choke Canyon Reservoir

The Choke Canyon Reservoir is located on Highway 72, about eighty miles south of San Antonio, Texas, near Three Rivers, Texas. This lake is considered to be one of the very best places to fish in South Texas, if not the entire state. The only time fishing lags in this lake is during the hottest summer months.

Bessie Heights Marsh

Bessie Heights Marsh, is located near Bridge City, Texas. This marsh is at the mouth of the Neches River and flows into the bay of Lake Sabine. Fishing for blue cat begins to pick up substantially in December, and early in the summer. In warmer weather, look to the shallows, because most of the cat caught in milder weather are found in shallow water, fishing is good there, in the marshes during the mild months of the year. In hot or cold weather, fish the deeper holes in the canal areas near the marshes. Be sure to fish when the tide is moving, because these fish rarely take the bait when the water is still.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on Texas catfish fishing here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com

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Catfishing in Southern California at the Lower Otay Reservoir

The Lower Otay Resivoir is a short half hour drive from downtown San Diego and offers some of the best fishing in Southern California. Fishing here is good for blue gill and bass, but is most noted for the large blue catfishing. The Lower Otay Resivoir has a daily limit of five catfish per day. If you haven't tried much catfishing, then the tips below may be of use to you.

Rigging method of catfishing

To fish for catfish using this method,loop the hook or bait holder from a line about 18 inches to 24 inches in length and weight it so that it will remain still. The weight should slide on the line. You can add a three way swivel onto the line so you can add more bait and catch multiple catfish at the same time.

The best bait for catfishing

A lot of experienced fishermen will advise you to use chicken liver or store bought shrimp to use as bait. If you use shrimp for bait the tail and skin should be removed and the shrimp needs to be large enough to slide onto a number six sized hook. If you use the raw chicken livers, you will need to take a portion about the size of a quarter and wrap it in a piece of pantyhose and tie it off then attach it to your hook. The best bait to use are natural ones and include minnows, blood worms, snails, small fish, night crawlers, dough bait, and catfish paste.

Chumming for catfish

Chumming is a pretty good trick for catching catfish and it involves throwing food into the fishing area. Experienced fisherman have secret recipes for chum, but the idea is to use a natural food that catfish love and has a strong scent to attract them. Throw the food onto the water to work the catfish up into a feeding frenzy and then use the same food on a hook as bait.

The right tackles for catfishing

The best tackle to use for it should be around six feet long and have a spinning reel and heavy line to allow for an aggressive fish to fight back. The tackle itself does not need to be expensive as the most important element is actually the bait used on it.

How to handle a catfish

Be sure to use a secure grip so the fish can't slip and get you with his fins. Use pliers to remove the hook. Run your hand up his belly and grasp the mouth area between your fingers and thumbs. Take care to avoid the fins of a catfish as they can cause injury and infection.

When you are ready to try your luck at catfishing, you can visit The Lower Otay Resivoir on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from sun up to sun down.

Warren has fished for the big ones in Hawaii. He now resides in Southern California. Upon searching out the hot fishing spots, he has decided to share his findings with other fishermen. More fishin: Gone Fishing In SoCal Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Warren_Peters

catfish fishing secrets

Fishing for Catfish Under The Ice

Whenever we think about fishing for catfish, most of us get these mental images of warm, sunny weather, bare feet, cane poles, and a generally summery outlook on things. So, when we start talking about icefishing, no one ever mentions catfish as a possible quarry.

However, factually, lots of catfish are taken through the ice each year, and some species, especially Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish, are actually fairly eager biters in the cold water. So, the issue, really is one of first deciding to get yourself outside, and do some icefishing, and then, of setting up your rig to do the job.

There appear to be two "schools" of icefishing thought (pardon the pun), where cats are concerned. The original, old-school, lazy one, is that of finding a nice, comfy-looking spot that at least appears to be a likely hookup point for a decent fish, drilling a hole in the ice, and sitting next to your fire tub, or in your "fish house" (tent on the ice), and enjoying the outing, as much as the catching of any fish that might happen by. The second way of seeing things, is that each outing is a competition for a record volume catch, and as such, the fish must be militarily tracked down, cornered and exposed, and then taken by the bucketload.

For sure, a scientific and tactically-planned approach to your outing will probably yield the most fish. However, this viewpoint also requires the most equipment, as its proponents work among perhaps two dozen holes in the ice, and track the fish from spot to spot with sonar fish finders, while racing to the next hole on snowmobiles, and attempting to "head off" the fish at each hole as they move.

While the top producers in this "sport" can bag over forty fish an hour, there is still something to be said for skill and patience, in selecting your spot, baiting up, and playing on a level field, without a pile of electronics and machines to remove all hope for the catfish. After all, the sport of fishing includes both finding the fish, and the actual fight, once you set your hook. It just takes more nerve and determination, on the ice.

Regardless of your approach, you'll need the usual sturdy gear for cats - a strong rod with a decent spinning or star-drag reel, good braided or monofilament line, proper terminal rigging, and some nice, stinky bait. If you want to use a more conventional icefishing rig, a flag float or tip-rig will work OK, but remember the size of the fish you are after - these kitties are going to be a tough fight, and handling them without a rod is even tougher.

As far as bait goes, smell is even more important in cold water, than in the warm months, as the scent doesn't spread as fast, or present as strongly in the water, so the more potent the bait, the better. Small dead fish are still an excellent choice, especially for Blue cats. Puncturing the bait, or dipping it in some stinky adjunct, may be another possible improvement, to really get the scent going. Some anglers feel that the color of the bait is of importance in icefishing for cats, due to the reduced spread of scent in the cold, but in deep water, it's quite dark, and catfish are known to have weak eyesight, so the importance of this factor is open for discussion.

In nature, cats eat fairly dull-colored, smelly food, so, give 'em what they want. With smelly, natural bait, the only other issue is where to fish it, assuming the fish will take it, if they find it.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on icefishing for catfish here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com

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You've Gotta Be Nuts To Noodle For Catfish!

The first time I experienced the fear and excitement of watching someone noodle for catfish, it scared the heck out of me. Noodling, or grabblin as it's called in some circles, is fishing for large catfish with nothing but your hands and maybe a pint of Jack Daniels. It's a dangerous sport!

That day I was fishing on the Tennessee River for anything that would bite. About a hundred yards downstream from where I sat, there were two men looking up and down the bank searching for something. As I watched, one of them waded into the water with his clothes on, and began slowly walking down the bank, feeling for something on the bottom of the river. His head started gradually disappearing under the now muddy water.

In less than a minute the man shot to the surface in an explosion of water, his arm stuck in the mouth of an enormous catfish which was squirming and flopping around, fully intent on escape. From my vantage point I couldn't tell who was winning the battle, the fisherman or the fish! The fisherman was trying to stand in water that was up to his neck, holding the fish close to his body, while trying to move to the bank.

If drowning the man who was clutching the fish's gills through the fish's mouth, was part of his escape plan, the catfish appeared to be winning the fight. The man went back under once again, clutching his struggling prize.

Once again they exploded to the surface with water spraying everywhere as the man and fish each battled for their life. I was sure the fish was going to win because the man kept slipping on wet rocks and falling back into the water, but hanging onto the fish for dear life. The man in the water kept yelling for his partner to help him! Finally the other fisherman carefully waded into the water and tried to help his buddy who by this time was completely worn out.

When the second fisherman finally figured out where to grab hold of the catfish with out pulling it out of his buddy's hands, they both were able to bring the fish in and dump him on the bank far enough from the water for him to roll back in and get away.

Raising his right arm, which was scratched and bleeding from being gnawed on by the fish, the conquering fisherman let out a screeching rebel yell. "Oooooowahhoooo!" I later learned that this was a semi-official yell of every red blooded southern noodler.
I ran over to the two guys and the catfish and voiced my congratulations! This was one humongous fish! Grinning from ear to ear, they told me that this was a little one, only about 45 pounds! It may have been small by their standards, but to me it was monstrous!

I've been a fisherman most of my life, but I will have to admit that despite not having lived a completely clean and virtuous life, I still have most of my brain cells. I'll even acknowledge that I've never had the desire to stick my hand in a dark and spooky hole under the water where there could be a catfish. There could also be a snake or snapping turtle, not happy with an uninvited guest sticking their hands where they don't belong!

In late spring and early summer, catfish spawn. The females find a suitable site in water 3 -20 feet deep where she can lay her eggs undisturbed. Sometimes an old tree, a brush pile or a hole under submerged rocks near the shore, can hold enough cover for the mother to be to lay her eggs. After they're deposited in the bed, the big male fish come in and protect the eggs until they're hatched. This is the time of year noodlers find big fish!

The sport, if you can call it that, has attracted quite a few participants in the last several years. There is even a video out that has a catchy title, "Girls Gone Grabblin". There are actually women who go out and wrestle these gigantic fish from their nests, obviously not caring if they lose an arm or even a finger to these monsters.

I've even heard rumors about noodlin becoming a Olympic event. If that ever happens, I have a word of advice for anyone crazy enough to even get in the water. The advice is this: You don't get any points for dragging a water moccasin out of his hole!

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at: http://www.bluemarlinbob.com http://www.redfishbob.com

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Secrets Of The Monster Catfish Master

Most people who fish for catfish are pleased with pan-sized specimens. They enjoy a good tussle from a bigger fish now and then. But a stringer of one- to three-pound whisker fish is just fine, thank you.

In fact, during over two decades of writing about the outdoors and outdoorsmen I’ve only met a hand full of catfishermen who pursue only the biggest bruisers.
Bob Lewis was the most memorable of this elite bunch. When I first met Bob well over a decade ago, he already had been fishing exclusively for catfish of over 20 pounds for over 20 years, and jars of bait that bore his name were becoming popular.

To master this esoteric mission, Bob not only made his own bait, he molded his own weights and altered his hooks.
He of course used big tackle: salt-water stuff with heavy line that had little stretch. But it was the terminal tackle that Bob thought most important to the termination of canny, lunker catfish.
The bottom line of his approach was the weight. Depending upon how far he needed to cast and the strength of the current, Bob used slip sinkers of two to three ounces–heavy enough to kill a person if they got in the way of a cast.

“Big catfish are finicky and fickle,” Bob said. “They seldom just swallow a bait like the little fellas. And if they feel the weight or the hardness of the hook, they’ll drop it. So I altered a mold to make heavy weights that the line would slip through when the fish picked up the hooks, and to cut down on the chance that they’d detect the hooks, I cut off one of the treble hooks to create a flatter double hook,” he told me.

Bob doesn’t fish with a tight line or attach bells to his rod. He leaves the line limp and watches it closely. If it begins to twitch or tighten, he feeds line to let the big cat move off and mouth the bait a bit without feeling any resistance. In fact, he often waits until the line stops and often doesn’t set the hook until the brute moves a second time.

“How they act–and where they’re found–depends a lot upon the species,” he explained. “Big Channel Cats like a little current. They often scoop up the bait and take off. Blue Cats are a little less aggressive. And big Flathead Catfish are downright lazy. They like slow water, take their time with their meals and they move of slowly.”
Bob spends most of his time fishing big flows like the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Here he looks for eddies and current breaks created by large logs, pier pilings, wing-dams, big boulders and floating brush piles.

Floating bush piles are his favorite. These are collections of floating timber and twigs that collect in eddies along the banks. Big catfish lay in the slow water just under or behind this overhead structure where they can feed at their leisure on things gently washed their way.
“The best hours,” he said, “are early in the day (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) and late (just after dark until one or two in the morning.)
“You’ve got to be dedicated and patient to catch big Flathead Catfish,” Bob said. “Sometimes they will grab it and run, but more often they’ll let it sit for up to a half-an-hour after the first sampling.”

Then he shared with me his recipe for catfish bait.
You’ve got to be dedicated to put this concoction together, too.
The main ingredient is cattails, the natural aquatic plants with heads that look like corn dogs. They’re usually found in the shallow ends of ponds. They are not that difficult to find and collect, but Bob said they must be picked during the fall, just before they go to seed.
I’ve tried using cotton and a few other things,” Bob said. “But the natural fuzz of cattails is best.”
All you do is fold this fuzz into one-half-pound of hamburger and about four ounces of Limburger cheese. Keep adding and working the fuzz into the mixture until it becomes stiff, yet pliable–much like bread dough.

About the only way to mix it is with your hands, squeezing it through your open fingers to mix it evenly; then kneading it like bread dough–which is why, I suppose, it’s called “dough bait.”
If you’ve ever smelled Limburger cheese, you understand why I say “you’ve got to be dedicated.”
I suppose you could use your wife’s bread machine to make big batches of Bob’s bait. But from then on, you’d have to be dedicated to bachelorhood.

Ron Kruger has been an outdoor writer/photographer/editor for over 30 years.

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How To Catch Catfish - 4 Key Points

It's that time of year: catfish season. Catfish fishermen amateur and pro will inevitably ask themselves what they can do to catch more catfish. The answer really is quite simple. By observing mother nature, you'll learn how to catch catfish better than 99% of the other fisherman. If you're ready to spend more time catching catfish than you spend looking for them, you've come to the right place. Below I summarize three key points that less than one percent of catfish fishermen know, and most of that one percent ain't talking. Consider this your lucky day.

1. In the fishing world, nature's food chain consists of 5 things: Phytoplankton, zooplankton, bait fish (like shad, minnows, bluegill, etc), and Game Fish (like Catfish). The key to locating “fishing hot spots” containing a frenzy of feeding bait and game is to locate the bottom 2 links on this food chain:The “phytoplankton and “zooplankton”. You do this by locating the huge “patches” of plankton.

2. Chlorophyl and phytoplankton go hand and hand. Typically, where there is an abundance of chlorophyl, you'll find an abundance of phytoplankton. Keep an eye open for dark green or even black "stains" on the water. When you find one, rest assured, you have found a fishing hotspot.

3. Another way to locate these fishing hot spots is to keep your eyes open for floating masses of zooplankton. Resembling snowflakes, these masses can be difficult to see. Many fishermen use underwater cameras to locate them, but, if the lighting is right, they can be seen with the naked eye. So, keep your eyes open. When you locate one of these floating masses of zooplankton, you will be in catfish fishing heaven.

In conclusion, if you actively practice the techniques I have outlined above, you will attract swarms of shad, minnows, bluegill, catfish, and whatever else swims in your fishing spot – I can guarantee your fishing will improve dramatically.

Mother Nature has her secrets. But, if you pay attention to what she's doing, she'll often tell you all you need to know about how to catch catfish.

If you would like learn how to catch catfish by attracting swarms of phytoplankton and zooplankton to you instead of wasting valuable time searching for them, visit Catfish Magnet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cecil_Carraway

Catfish Tips

Understanding Catfish

All the different catfish species can be found in an order that contains no less than 37 different families. The 37th catfish family was actually added to the order very recently - June 2005. Almost all the different catfish species are freshwater dwellers. Catfish have adapted to a wide range of different ecological niches you can find small catfish species as well as huge ones like the Wells Catfish that can grow up to 5 meters (16 feet) long and the Giant Mekong Catfish that can weigh almost 300kg (661lbs). These two big catfish species are naturally not very suitable as aquarium fish, but there is a vast array of other species that you can keep even in a moderately sized aquarium. Catfish are very popular in aquariums and many species can be kept even by inexperienced aquarium keepers. Two of the most popular Catfish among novice aquarium keepers are the Sucker mouth Catfish and the Bristle nose Catfish .

One of the most distinguishing anatomical characteristics of the catfishes is the prominent barbells found near the mouth. A barbell is a long, tactile organ that is very useful for fishes that live in murky waters where the visibility is limited. The catfish will use its barbells when hunting and maneuvering in dark environments, just like a cat will uses its whiskers. The barbells of a catfish do however have taste buds and the catfish can therefore "taste" its environment. You can find barbells on many other fishes in addition to the catfishes, including goat fish, a few carps and some sharks.

In addition to barbells, the various catfish species share another notable anatomical feature - they are scale less. Catfish from all families but one are also equipped with a hollow leading ray that can excrete a powerful protein to scare off or injure potential threats. Some species can even harm humans and must be handled very carefully. There is one catfish family where the species have no hollow leading ray. These species can not produce any stinging protein, and will instead protect themselves by sending out a very powerful electric shock. Due to this capability, the species are called Electric catfishes.

Another example of a fascinating catfish species is the "Vampire fish of Brazil". This catfish is popularly referred to as the "Vampire Fish of Brazil" since it will attach itself to the gills of other fishes and drink their blood. This fish is not very popular in Southern America since it sometimes tries to attach itself to swimming humans, when attracted to blood or urine excretion. The body of this catfish is almost transparent, which makes the fish quite hard to spot in the water. The fish is also quite small, only 2.5-6 centimeters (1.0-2.4 inches) in length.

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catfish tips

Catfish Bait

A great catfish bait article - make your own!

How to Make Your Own Homemade Catfish Bait

Have you ever been fishing and witnessed someone catching all the fish? I have many times. When I see someone hauling in stringers full of fish I get very curious. On occasion, I have asked about their secret techniques pertaining to equipment and bait.

A lot of times I will get the polite smile and response such as “just lucky today” or “you know…same ol’ stuff.” I’ll ask what type of bait and that is usually when I will get the silent treatment. The typical response, “sorry, secret family recipe” or “if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.”

Through the years, I have collected some very useful information concerning fishing baits. The most important realization was that the people who were catching the most fish were not using store bought baits. It seems that they made their own baits.

Some anglers in the past divulged some secrets pertaining to their baits. I thank them for it. I have developed my own formulas but this is not the time or place to reveal them. However, I have compiled the main ingredients found in the most potent catfish bait formulas.

I want to encourage you to develop your own formulas based on these ingredients found below. You will notice that these ingredients are easy to find. You can find the majority of the supplies at a well stocked grocer.

When developing your own formulas, do not use all the ingredients listed. Just take three or four items and see what happens. You are not bound to the items listed below. Feel free to test others.

I have found the most important aspect of making your own bait is testing. You will need to test your homemade bait several times because maybe a certain day, the fish aren’t biting, or there are no fish, or some other variable that has nothing to do with the potency of the bait. Bring several batches of your baits on your fishing outing and test several to increase your chances of success.

Another tip is to write everything down. You don’t want to develop bait and find that it is successful only to realize that you forgot how to make it. Also, you can make batches of bait for literally pennies a pound. You may store the batches in zipper plastic bags in the freezer.

Since these ingredients are for developing catfish bait, I will warn you ahead of time to do your experimenting in the garage or outdoors because some of the ingredients have a pungent smell and some create a mess.

1) Uncooked oatmeal – popular as a base (keeps all the ingredients together in a doughy mixture)

2) Baking flour – another popular base

3) Corn and wheat flakes or similar types of cereals – base to keep bait on hook

4) Water – required in most cases to help make the mixture workable

5) Garlic salt – found in most store bought baits (probably a good idea if you used it also)

6) Garlic powder – similar to salt but may alter the fish attractant properties

7) Can of tuna – found in many homemade bait recipes. Maybe the old timers know something.

8) Anise oil extract – almost a requirement for all types of fishing bait

9) meats from the meat counter (raw livers, brains, fish parts) – the more blood, the better

10) canned or packaged meats such as cat food, dog food, spam, sandwich meats, hot dogs – an alternative to the raw meats

11) cheeses – smellier the better – think limburger or rotten cheddar

12) miscellaneous – fish food pellets, cattle feed pellets, molasses, gelatin mixes, can of corn, strawberry soda, bbq sauce

13) Zipper storage bags – great for mixing your ingredients, storage, and taking to fishing hole.

Remember, if it smells, is bloody, or rotted, it might be a great addition to your catfish bait formula. I hope this will information will get you started in developing your own secret catfish bait.

The most important tip of all is to remember to have fun. Share the experience with your family and friends. Have contests on who catches the most fish with his or her bait. I guarantee you will remember the fishing stories for the rest of your life.

Darren Takenaga is an outdoor enthusiast, and avid angler. Visit http://www.CatfishBaitAndTips.com to discover secret fish bait recipes to fill your stringer full of fish. Email: darren.takenaga@gmail.com You may also join my Free Ezine called Fish Bait & Lure. It is a monthly publication delivered via email and contains a fish bait recipe and anything else of interest to fishing enthusiasts. http://www.MakeYourOwnFishBait.com/subscribe.htm

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Raising and Catching Catfish

The channel catfish,one of the best tasting and sport friendly fish made for the rod angler. I believe that this fish reigns supreme in it's habitat. A fish made for fishing by kids of all ages. you can have a good time catching and eating this fish. Watch out for it's fins and have a pair of pliers or skin pullers at the ready and you will be prepared for a great experience. Chicken liver reigns supreme as bait to catch him. There are also many baits ready made by manufacturers to get him on your hook . Since the channel grows to such large proportions,a large hook and tough terminal gear should be used. I have kids and grandchildren who love to fish. Bass need bigger areas of water in which to live and grow large. Sun fish and bream are okay but they do not grow to large sizes. Kids love to catch the smaller fish but are especially delighted to have a change of pace and have a chance to hook into Mr. whiskers.

I wanted an area where my children could have fun in a clean environment. I had a stock tank built on my property for a reasonable cost. I started to build a fishing pier by myself.The rains came and the pond began to fill up with water. Any ideas that I had in my head about putting post supports in the ground for the pier were dashed. I obtained 55 gallon non metal drums at a reasonable cost and began to work. I built the floating pier next to the waters' edge without the use of any electricity. I used drills that worked off of batteries and hammer and nails, I used treated wood and spiral nails that would not rust in the elements. I used my 6 year old as a pilot to test the stability of my project. After several dunks in the water I added structure onto the pier until it was very stable. I added a box structure on the end of the pier to hold one of my deer feeders. I cut a hole in the bottom and bolted the feeder down. Since I was one person and trying to find the most simple and most efficient means for building, I installed ropes on both sides in two locations. The ropes were secured to trees on the shoreline. The ropes could be secured so that they would not interfere with your fishing. This setup also aids levity in the natural rise and fall of water levels.

I went on a shopping trip to one of the local fish hatcheries, I came away with several hundred channel catfish in plastic bags, The fingerlings averaged from 4-6 inches long. I had already procured cat fish chow from one of the local feed stores. Dog food will do just as well. I put the pellets into the feeder and set the timer to discharge feed early in the morning and about 1 hour before sunset. Monitoring the quantity of pellets released can give you a good idea of how much the fish are actually eating and how much is waste. I changed the batteries in the feeder occasionally and watched as the fish came up to feed on the floating pellets. Catfish do not eat as much in winter months, so adjust the feed output accordingly. I waited until the fish reached a certain length before fishing was allowed.

After 2 1/2 years wait the kids and family were catching catfish that weighed 8 pounds. We had many fish fries where many families were fed. My kids and family looked forward to going fishing at the stock tank and many good times were enjoyed by us all. Outdoor activities like fishing are good ways for kids and adults to spend their leisure time. In this instance we were bringing a lot of food home to the larder. MY son developed an affinity for the outdoors and now my grandchildren are beginning to reap the rewards of my efforts so many years ago.

Stephen Graham-Avid outdoors man has spent his life in Texas fishing and hunting.

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Catfishing In The California Delta

I never understood the appeal of fishing. My father would rise before the roosters, pack his gear and go out to sit idly on a rock, drink beer and coffee, trade stories with my Uncle Roosevelt and if he were lucky—come home with enough to feed the family. There were eleven of us and most times, he did just that.

My father had been an avid fisherman all of his life, so it came as no surprise when my siblings took up this activity. Still, I did not understand the joy of this hobby. But then a funny thing happened. While on vacation and going through a divorce, I was looking for a new hobby to occupy my time. I decided on fishing and I wouldn’t have to seek out a teacher because my brothers lived a few doors down from me.

That was 14 years ago and now I have become a more than capable angler. My favorite fishing spot is the California Delta, which offers a plethora of hard fighting whiskerfish. This 1100-mile region is a conjunction of three rivers—The Sacramento, San Joaquin and Mokelumne and numerous sloughs and lakes. There are a number of piers, levees, islands and crags that one can bank fish from and plenty of area for boat fishing. I know this area extensively and offer these five tips for bank fishing.

1. Get up early—preferably around three a.m. giving yourself room for last minute hold-ups—usually that sleepy headed buddy who isn’t ready when you arrive. The catfish bite is usually strongest around dawn and dusk. I also like night fishing.

2. Prepare your bait the night before, particularly stinkbait mixtures. Catfish rely on smell so if you fish with shrimp or grubs you might be wise to let it sit in the sun for several hours, then placing the bait in a jar for safekeeping. You can also soak shrimp in vanilla. But even if you buy pre-packaged bait, it is best to do so in advance. My choices of bait are clams, chicken liver, mackerel, nightcrawlers, blood worms and sometimes meal worms dipped in vanilla. (I’ll use the latter when I know that there are crappie and perch in the vicinity as well). Other fishermen suggest using whole kernel corn. Let it sit in the sun for a day or two, then add black pepper.

3. If you miss a catfish bite, be patient. These creatures are greedy. Theyw ill strike again, usually within seconds after the initial bite. They are also known to “hook themselves”. Once you snag one, be prepared for a tough and fun fight. Even the smaller ones are tenacious!

4. I tend to cast into the middle of the water, but when the bite slows, try fishing along shaded areas and amongst the tulles. Fish among the pilings and other debris if possible. In either case, be wary of getting hung up.

5. My five favorite sites: Hogback Slough (near Isleton), Frank's Tract, Lindsey Slough (near Rio Vista), Eight mile slough (near Stockton) and Jersey Island.

Now all you have to do is prepare, be on the bank before the sun rises, cast out and relax.

Timothy N. Stelly is a writer for several e-zines and is the author of two novels, "The Malice of Cain" and "Tempest In The Stone". He is an avid camper and fisherman.

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A Guide to Non-Typical Catfish Fishing Techniques - Part II

Method 1

Equipment

I fish baits at all depths, not just the bottom, in wide-open water. I always set up and fish deep lake structures. Besides an understanding of the contours on the bottom of the lake, being mobile and being able to read your fish locator are the keys. The tools I use are 8-foot heavy action rods, circle hooks, cut and live shad, balloons and the all-important fish locator. I use 30-pound line, large capacity reels, 8-foot heavy action rods, 2 oz. Egg sinkers, barrel swivels and #7/0 circle hooks.

Basically a Carolina Rig, I have a hook with an 18-inch leader tied to your barrel swivel, which is connected to your main line, which is where your egg sinker is attached. My boat is equipped with steel rod holders, a hand-controlled trolling motor, two fish locators, a big dip net and marker buoys. My equipment is not the most expensive but it is practical. The main thing to remember is to keep whatever equipment you use in good condition. Many know all too well about the disasters that can be caused by old line and improperly maintained fishing equipment and big Blues will test everything from your knots to your rod holders. If there is a weak link, they will expose it.

Find the Big Fish

You need to know how to tell the difference between larger fish and bait fish while using your fish locator.

There are two main structures that I catch Blue Cats on: ledges and humps. Blue Cats are creatures of edges and they seem to congregate on the brake lines of ledges and humps. The one-two punch comes when you find these structures with both bait fish and big fish mixed together on your locator. There are very few spots that I will stop and fish where I don’t see either big fish or bait fish on my locator. The ledges that I primarily fish are old river channels edges. The fish can be scattered up and down the edge but the best fishing occurs when they are on the top.

Catching Them

Typically, when I set up to fish these ledges, I run my boat over them and throw out my marker buoy where I see the fish. A little trick to using your marker buoys is to throw your marker upwind of where you are going to fish. If you drop the marker right on top of the fish, you will be bumping it and will eventually move it while the wind is pushing you around. If you throw it upwind of the fish, you can run your trolling motor right up to it without the wind pushing you over it.

Next I bait my rods, staggering them at the depth I see the fish. If the fish are up high, above 10 feet, I use a balloon and live shad on two rods. The other four rods will have half live and half cut shad, which I will suspend over the fish, continuously moving around the marker until the first strike occurs. In the warmer months the bite will usually occur on live shad. The colder the water, the better that cut bait seems to work.

Keep moving the depth of your baits up and down according to what your locator is telling you. An easy way to determine the depth of your bait is to measure the distance between the first guide and your rod’s reel. My rods are two feet from reel to the first guide so when I pull out twenty sections of line between my reel and the first guide, my bait will be approximately 40 feet deep. Stagger the depth of your bait so that you know how deep each is. When you get your first strike, move your other rods to that depth. If no strikes occur within 30 minutes move to another structure. I have set on the same ledge for many hours and caught fish, but I will usually have to move after catching 5 to 10 active fish. If you do not have a trolling motor you can use anchors, but it requires many sessions of heaving up heavy anchors and can soon kill the fun of ledge fishing. When water is at its coldest, the anchor method will work better due to the inactivity of the fish below.

In other words, the warmer the water the faster the fish will spook out from under your boat. The colder the water the less chance the fish will want to move away due to their comfort zone in the water column.

Make sure to read Part 3 of this article to learn about Capt. Jeff's second non-typical technique!

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include the author bylines immediately visible with the article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in the author bylines, both where the web address is listed as well as well as with the text “Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service”...

Jeff Williams runs a Truman Lake Hybrid Bass and Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service offering lodging and guided trips in Missouri. To book a trip, learn more tips, or find out how Capt. Jeff would fish your own local waters, call 1-866-HOOKSET or visit http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com today!

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catfish fishing guide

A Guide to Non-Typical Catfish Fishing Techniques

Introduction

Many of the people about to take one of my guided trips don’t believe that Catfish feed as aggressively as other game fish. People are used to throwing out their bait and letting it set while they wait. Some days this works and they don’t have to wait very long, but some days we all know that the wait can be very long. This waiting is what encouraged me to try to catch Blue Cats using other methods. Some techniques are passed down from generation to generation and these tried and true methods have caught Catfish since people have fished for them. I have used these methods most of my life and it was the way I was taught to catch Catfish. On the opposite end of the Cat-fishing spectrum, however, are two newer methods that I have been using to consistently catch Catfish, as well.

Fishing for Catfish

Ah, the American Catfish! The big three: Blues, Channel Cats and Flatheads; aren’t they a wonderful species of fish? Each one has its own outstanding features to thrill Catfishermen and women throughout the United States and even worldwide. Flatheads, with their big, wide heads and flat tails, have my vote as the hardest pulling fish pound-for-pound in fresh water. No Catfisherman can talk very long without telling their favorite Channel Cat story.

Channel Cats live almost anywhere in fresh water and eat an enormous variety of baits, from prepared stink baits to live baits. I believe these whisker fish are the most versatile and adaptive members of the Catfish family. The next Catfish member, the Blue Cat, also commonly called a White Cat, gets my pick for the best all around, year-round Catfish. This is also the fish I target with my non-typical Cat-fishing techniques. Although Channel Cats and Flatheads are caught using these techniques, Blue Cats remain the king in mass numbers. These dudes grow big and fast and will strike your bait with a vengeance. Plus, they pull hard in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

The Blue Catfish

The Blue Cat is truly an amazing fish. I have caught these fish as deep as 96 feet at the bottom of a river channel in cold water
conditions. I have also seen them come right up to the top and smash a school of shad just as a Striper or White Bass would do in warm water conditions. As far as I can tell, these fish feed aggressive all year, which in my opinion sets them apart from Flatheads and Channel Cats. Reports of Blues falling for lead spoons, jigs, crank baits, and many other artificial lures are not uncommon any time of the year. The other Blue Cat bonus is their size, growing much larger than Channel Cats and a smidge larger than Flatheads. That makes your chances of catching a Blue Cat over 20 pounds a big time reality. Fish over 50 pounds are not that hard to find in reservoirs and rivers that have had time to produce that size of Catfish.

These fish grow to be over 100 pounds - it’s the exception and not the rule, but it does happen. That’s the beauty in setting up and fishing for Blue Cats: your next fish might be 1 pound, 51 pounds, or 101 pounds.

Make sure to read Part 2 and 3 of this article to learn about Capt. Jeff's non-typical techniques!

Copyright © 2002-2005 Jeff Williams

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include the author bylines immediately visible with the article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in the author bylines, both where the web address is listed as well as well as with the text “Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service”...

Jeff Williams runs a Truman Lake Hybrid Bass and Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service offering lodging and guided trips in Missouri. To book a trip, learn more tips, or find out how Capt. Jeff would fish your own local waters, call 1-866-HOOKSET or visit http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Williams

fishing for catfish secrets