Catfish Fishing

Revealed: Nature’s Little-Known “Scientific Secret” Small Groups Of Elite Fishermen Around The World Use To Easily Bring In At Least 10 Times More Catfish (And Other Game Fish) Than Anybody Else...

Special Fishing Report Sponsored By: The Catfish Fishing Secret Weapon

www.catfishfishingweapon.com There is a little-known secret to finding swarms of hungry Catfish – and catching them at will. It is one of the most powerful fishing discoveries I have ever witnessed, and it works time and time again with a consistency unmatched by any method I have ever tried. The best part is that you don’t need to buy a damn thing. All you need is your eyes (and sometimes your ears) to exploit it for all it’s worth.This amazing secret is based on an organism that holds so much “power”, if it didn’t exist there wouldn’t be a single fish on the planet – and hundreds of thousands of humans would have died from starvation.It has nothing to do with “chumming” or any other method like this. In fact, you don’t have to “do” anything to fire up your Catfish catches to unbelievable levels. Nature takes care of it for you – if you let her. It’s something that 99% of fishermen don’t even realize exists, yet it’s right under their noses every single time they go out fishing… and if you are one of the lucky ones to discover it, you’ll be sitting on your boat (or on shore) with a grin from ear to ear after having caught more Catfish (or whatever other game fish you go for) than ever before – faster than you ever thought possible. “So What The Heck Are You Talking About, What’s The Big Secret?”

Ok, I’ll save you from any more hype, and I’ll get to the point. The “scientific secret” nature is hiding from fishermen has two parts to it. They are called “Phytoplankton” and “Zooplankton”. Now, don’t let the fancy names scare you – it will all make perfect sense in a second – I promise. Let me start off by telling you exactly what “Phytoplankton” and “Zooplankton” are, and then I’ll tell you how you can “use” them to pull up massive amounts of fish faster than you can image. Put it this way, the only thing better would be to have the Catfish jump right in the boat! What Is Phytoplankton – And Why It Is Crucial To Finding Fishing “Super Spots”? Phytoplankton is at the absolute bottom of the food chain. Basically they are the “plant form” of Plankton. Phytoplankton is made up of “diatoms”, golden algae, green algae, and “cyanobacteria”. But none of those scientific words mean anything to you – all you need to know is – without Phytoplankton, there wouldn't be a fish on the planet - anywhere. The “Zooplankton Animal” – What It Is, What It Does, And Why It’s A Fisherman’s Best Friend Zooplankton is the “animal form” of Plankton. They feed on the “Phytoplankton” and basically follow it around everywhere. They are found at various depths in every of water. (lakes, ponds, oceans, rivers, you name it) They are like “candy” to bait fish like minnows, shad, smelt, and any other small fish in your area. In fact, they are the main source of food for these smaller fish. There are a bunch more “scientific names” that make up Zooplankton, but I won’t bore you with those details here. The bottom line is, where there is a lot of Zooplankton, there are a lot of fish – swarms of fish! You’ll see why and how in a second… How These Base “Blocks” Of Nature’s Food Chain Can Easily Put You In The Best Position To Catch Loads Of Catfish Anytime You Want To The first 2 “links” in the food chain are the Phytoplankton and the Zooplankton… As I mentioned, it all starts with the Phytoplankton at the very bottom of the food chain (the little microscopic green algae, and other stuff). They are the only source of food for Zooplankton, which feed on them constantly. In fact, wherever the Phytoplankton go, the Zooplankton follow. (and the “Phytos” are absolutely everywhere!) It gets really good for any fisherman when you find a massive “plankton cloud” (also known as a “patch”) filled with millions upon millions of these tasty organisms. Next, bring on the bait fish! (like minnows, shad, and anything else in your area) The 3rd step in our food chain are the small fish which happen to be the main source of food for Catfish and other game fish! I’m talking about minnows, shad, smelt, and any other smaller fish in your area. These little guys don’t just casually cruise into one of these huge plankton clouds…they attack relentlessly in a swarm – a literal feeding frenzy! Imagine you and about a dozen of your buddies in a room with $100 bills falling from the ceiling…well, that’s exactly what the Zooplankton are to these fish – and the small fish go absolutely crazy! Now, if this food chain were to stop at this stage, you’d probably still be pretty happy. You see, when you know how to find these massive clouds of plankton, the surface of the water will be thick with swarms of bait fish – and you can dip in your bait net to get as many as you want for FREE.But this all gets much better for you, because there are actually two more levels to this food chain of feeding. They are the Catfish, and YOU! You can imagine the sound generated by the massive amounts of feeding activity… It almost sounds like a bunch of kids splashing in the water – and it generates strong vibrations throughout the spot. And these vibrations scream out “dinner time!” to the Catfish. You can probably guess what happens next…The Catfish “hone in” on these vibrations because they know that there is a helluva lot of food going nuts, all in one spot. They move in and hang out on the outskirts of all of this activity, feeding on the small bait fish one by one……and that’s where you come in as the fifth and final link in nature’s food chain. (of course I encourage you to practice good “catch and release”, especially for any trophy fish you catch) But if you were to keep and eat the fish you catch, that would make you the fifth link on the food chain. When it gets to this point, you are in for the fishing experience of your life – I don’t care how long you’ve been fishing. Catfish feed from underneath, so what you’ll do is bait up and drop your line in off the perimeter of the feeding, or right underneath. You want your bait to be a little separate from the swarms of bait fish. You do this right, and you’ll have the biggest string of Catfish in your entire life – faster than you’ve ever caught ‘em before. To help you see the big picture – here is mother nature’s sacred food chain:

Obviously, the “key” to all of this is knowing how to find the first levels of the food chain. The “Phyto” and the “Zooplankton”. “Ok, This Is All Great, But How The Heck Do I Find These Zooplankton Rich Fishing Hot Spots?”

…and that, my friend, is the question that – when answered – will plunge you into a new world of fishing success that will blow your fishing buddies away. (And I wouldn’t recommend sharing this with everyone… only your closest friends – after all, it’s fun to keep your fishing success a “mystery” to the other guys…) Ok, so how to we find all this Plankton and hit it big in the fishing hot zones? Biologists who study life in the water use advanced equipment to locate patches of Zooplankton, including a special type of sonar… but since most fishermen don’t have this state-of-the-art equipment, you’ll be using some other special techniques to find these massive patches of Plankton (and the swarms of fish that will be feeding on them). There are basically 2 things you’ll be looking for. The first thing is called “Chlorophyll” which is the base that indicates large patches of “Phyto” and Zooplankton. Chlorophyll and “Phytoplankton” go hand-in-hand – you’ll never find one without the other. Don’t let the “scientific” word fool you… “Chlorophyll” can be easy to find when you know where to look. Chlorophyll is attracted to sunlight and will gather in huge patches near the surface – usually in places with direct sunlight. When you find one of these patches, you’ll know. The Chlorophyll is a dark green color – and when you have enough Chlorophyll in one area the water will appear dark green or even black. We’ll call this “stained” water from now on.So, be on the lookout for “stained” water during the daylight fishing hours. “Fishing by the stain” is so incredible that if you are in a body of water where you can find these stains easily – it doesn’t make sense to ever fish in a spot where the isn’t a stain. The “Landmark” Of Amazing Fishing Hotspots Here is another way to find the Chlorophyll, Phyto, and Zooplankton… The “landmark” I am talking about is green algae – and anytime you find some, grab your rod and get ready for a wild ride! Even if you don’t see a water stain on the surface around the green algae, you can be sure there is a large cluster of Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, bait fish, and Catfish right in that spot. Hunt for algae close to the shore or any other underwater structure, and don’t hesitate to hit the fish hard without hesitation when you find it… Another clue that there is a large bloom of Zooplankton under the surface is if you see lush vegetation on the shore where there is some water run off. The water going into your body of water will bring Plankton into the water with it (from the vegetation) and create a large patch of Plankton – sometimes much larger than normal. These are primeareas for catching a huge amount of Catfish fast. The Second Thing To Look Out For, “Dancing Snowflakes” I know many fishermen who use underwater cameras to locate Zooplankton – but you can also see this happening from the surface. This powerful fishing phenomenon onlyoccurs in severe hotspots – and it’s much more rare than finding the stained water I talkedabout earlier. Using an underwater camera (or looking in from the top of the water in well lightedconditions) you will see millions of Zooplankton which looking like “dancingsnowflakes”. They are clearish-white in appearance – and when they are there, you can’tmiss them. When you find them, be surprised if there aren’t already hundreds of minnows and otherbait fish sucking them up like they are going out of style… if there isn’t yet a swarm offeeding fish, there soon will be. Bait up and get that line in the water, because they’ll bethere fast.Finding the “Dancing Snowflake” phenomenon is much more unpredictable than findingthe “stained” water. It can occur in open water (which is why Catfish sometimes prefer theopen waters), and it can also occur near structure. It’s hard to go out hunting for it,because it can happen anywhere. Always be on the lookout for it though as you searchfor the stained water. Now, Imagine If There Was A Way To “Create” Patches Of Zooplankton Nearly 10Times The Size You’d Find Naturally – In Almost ANY Fishing Spot? You have enough information about Zooplankton to go out and find it for yourself, and pull up more Catfish than ever before. However, recently it was brought to my attentionthat there exists a way for any fisherman to “create” massive patches of Zooplankton (andby doing so, swarms of Minnows and Catfish) at any time, and in almost any spot. Almost nobody knows about it (you can imagine why – fishermen “in the know” rarelylet their best secrets out), and I have to admit I got pretty darn lucky when I found out about it. I actually saw it working with my own two eyes… and of course, I’ve been using it ever since. In fact, I wouldn’t dare go fishing without it. It’s just too powerful. At first, I didn’t tell my buddies about it – and they were all dumbfounded when I’d comeback from a fishing trip maxed to the limit. (and what they didn’t know was I wouldcatch my limit within 30 minutes almost every time… and catch and release at least 3 times that amount afterwards…) Finally, under pressure, I cracked and told them about the amazing device that almost instantly creates swarms of fish – taking the “science” behind nature’s food chain to another level. Now, my friends are all using it too – along with some of the bestfishermen in the country. If you are interested in reading more about the amazing device that put me ahead of all ofmy fisherman friends, you can read an article about it here…www.CatfishFishingWeapon.com…and it’s jam packed with revolutionary fishing information that will shock you. It won’t be up on the website forever, so if you liked what you read, get over there right away. What You Learned About Mother Nature’s “Scientific” Fishing Secret I am going to summarize the 4 key points you absolutely must know after reading this article, to make sure you got everything… 1. Nature’s food chain basically consists of 5 things: Phytoplankton, Zooplankton,Bait Fish (like Minnows), and Game Fish (like Catfish). The secret of finding“fishing hot spots” containing a ravenous feeding frenzy of bait and game is to locate the bottom 2 links on this food chain. The “Phytoplankton and“Zooplankton”. You’ll do this by locating the huge “patches” of plankton. 2. The first way to find it is to search the waters for “stains”. Remember,“Chlorophyll” are the dark green organisms that go hand in hand with the Phytoplankton. When there is enough Chlorophyll to create a fishing hot spot, the water will be a dark green, or even black. Search areas of direct sunlight close to the shore or underwater structure – especially around green algae. If you find green algae you can be sure you’ve just stumbled on a hot bed of minnow, Catfish,and other game fish. Also, remember to look for lush vegetation on the shore with some water runoff… this will create a very large bloom of Plankton – far beyond the normal patches you’ll find. These are excellent places to find fishing hot spots… 3. The second way to find these fishing hot spots is to keep an eye out for millions of “Dancing Snowflakes” in the water. These are enormous floating masses of Zooplankton. A lot of fishermen use underwater cameras to find them, but you can also see them from above the water if the lighting conditions are right. Theydrift through the waters almost at random – and can show up anywhere! This makes it hard to actively seek them out, but as you are searching for stained water, keep an eye out for these “Dancing Snowflakes” – the results of fishing these amazing spots will be some of the best fishing of your life guaranteed. 4. Finally, there is an amazing device that can quickly “create” patches of Zooplankton that are nearly 10 times the size you’ll find naturally… until now,only the best fishermen in the country have been using it, so the available information on it won’t be available forever. If you want to read more about this revolutionary technique, read the special article here: www.CatfishFishingWeapon.com In conclusion, if you actively practice the techniques for locating patches of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton which will attract swarms of Minnows, Catfish, and whatever else lives close to your fishing spot – I can guarantee your fishing will be onanother level completely. Nature has her secrets, and when you are able to find a way to use what she’s telling us to find the fish – you’ll be amazed at the number of fish you pull up, almost at will…Remember to check out the details about a little-known secret “weapon” some lucky Catfish fishermen are using to double their catches of Catfish. Click here to check it out: www.CatfishFishingWeapon.com

Thursday, 31 December 2009

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.


Old School Catfish Fishing



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.


Old School Catfish Fishing


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

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

How to Choose the Right Catfish Fishing Guide

Do you want to catch that 200 pound cat you've always dreamed of? The right catfish fishing guide might have the knowledge and experience to help you do that. You can learn a lot from a good guide, and come home with a trophy-winner! It's just a matter of finding one that really knows his stuff.

Who Needs a Fishing Guide?

Why would anybody need a fishing guide? You just drop that line in the water and wait for them to come along, right? Wrong! There's a lot more to it than that, and unless you've spent some time out there with no bites, you have no idea how much help a guide can be. Plus, you can learn from their expertise and knowledge.


Old School Catfish Fishing



Catfish guides are experts at what they do, and that is why they are guides. They are usually trophy winners themselves, and they have turned catfishing into an art form. They can also help out, taking some of the trouble of organizing your trip, getting gear and getting set up.

Licenses

First off, make sure that the guide you pick is officially licensed and insured. Sure, you might get lucky with so-and-so's uncle whose been fishing this lake for years, and offers to be your "guide" for a 12-pack of cheap beer. But, if you don't want to take chances, go with the pros.

The main thing is that you want to make sure these guys do everything by the book. There are tricky laws in different states and different areas, and they should fish legit.

Knowledge

Now, probably the biggest advantage to getting a guide is that every place is different. Catfish lurk at the bottom of almost every body of water on this continent, so you want somebody who knows the cats in that particular neck of the woods. Cats are everywhere, but they aren't the same everywhere you go, so you need that expertise to find out when and where they are. It really takes a local to know those spots inside and out. Everything differs by area; when to fish, what gear to use, how to cast your line. These guys should definitely know their stuff.

Another factor here is how long they've been in business. It's nice to help out a small guide service just getting started, but generally the longer a service has been in the area, the better they'll know their turf. Those companies that have an established presence in a particular area are the ones you want to pick.

Also, companies that have full-time guides are generally better. These guys are experienced. They spend as much of their lives as possible catching cats, and this experience can help you land the cat of your dreams. That's not to say that all part-time guides are bad, but they are more likely to be hit-or-miss. Guys who spend all day at it are generally going to be more experienced and knowledgeable.

You can also check out their track record. Be nosy and ask. How many fish do they catch in a day? How big are they? What trophies and awards have they earned. You know how fishermen are, they'll be more than happy to show you their walls of photos and trophies. Bragging is second nature with us!

Gear

See what kinds of things they'll furnish for you. This depends on your own needs, of course. Guide services will provide for you, at the very least, a boat. Check out what kind of boat they can line up for you and see if it suits you. Some services offer to provide you with all the gear you'll need for your fishing trip, so you won't have to bring anything at all.

If they provide the gear, check it out and see how the quality is. Usually, these guys know that the gear is what keeps some of their customers coming back, and they keep the best stuff possible on hand.

On the other hand, you might prefer a guide that lets you use all your own gear. This will depend on your preference. Catfish guides are a great resource for gear recommendations. Using a guide's gear also gives you a chance to try out something you might not otherwise try. Always check to see what they offer in the way of furnishings.

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

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

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

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.


Old School Catfish Fishing

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

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

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Catfish Fishing Tips

I have done much catfish fishing and it's a way of life for a lot of fishermen. For me fishing is very relaxing and an exciting day away from it all.
First of all, I have found that during midday catfish fishing is terrible because it’s to hot for me. So I don’t go fishing during midday anymore. The best time for catching small to medium size catfish during the summer months in most Southern California lakes is about 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, using shrimp and cut mackerel are excellent choices, but if you don’t get a bite here and there, you should change your bait about every five minutes are so.

For morning catfish fishing, I like to start at 6:00 am to 10:00 am; this seems to be a very active time for catfish. I start off with this rig I use a size 6 hook with night crawlers. Catfish fishing from the shore line is always good to fish in spots close to rocks and reeds. So before you get started check out the area for those spots.

Once you’ve found your fishing spot, and have your rig in place, its time to get started. Cast from the shore line about 20 to 40 feet this is about the average anyway, and slowly reel in your line. Movement is the key here, night crawlers will move on their on to help you get the catfishes attention. I call this dragging, make sure you have a bobber on your line to keep your rig off the lake bottom; this will help prevent your rig from getting caught on rocks or some other form of debris.


Old School Catfish Fishing


If you don’t get any bites after your first half hour of fishing, it’s time to try a different area. Sometime people get to comfortable and just stay in one spot, that’s not very good if you’re planning on catching some catfish. You have to be active and move around just like the fish you are trying to catch.

Catfish fishing in the spring time is the best time for catching the big catfish. You will need heavy tackle, because these fish can grow very large 50 pound or more and they will put up a very good fight. So 30 pound line, 7ft. rod heavy and a spinner reel is what you should be using. Use large hooks and large pieces of cut bait.

Start fishing off the points of the lake. A point is a strip of land that sticks out into the lake. A point will usually have a steep drop off that is wear the lake bottom gets deep. Big catfish will always be in deeper water than small or medium size catfish. Try using heavy chum like dough balls seasoned with garlic for scent. Dough will sink to the bottom very fast which will attract the big catfish to the area you are fishing. Now sit back and wait, but be ready because when the big catfish strike the baited hook, make sure you have a firm grip on your rod, are you will loose it. Your fishing success will depend on your ability to find concentrations of fish. So good luck, and enjoy your self!

Kim Carson has fished in Southern California lakes for 20 years.
For more fishing tips visit:
http://www.carsonaffiliatemarketing.com

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



catfish fishing tips

Monday, 28 December 2009

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.


Old School Catfish Fishing



“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.

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

Sunday, 27 December 2009

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.


Old School Catfish Fishing

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