Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets

Catfish are an amazing and adaptive game fish that are also excellent table fare. They can thrive in small pounds as well as the strong tail waters of some large river systems. They can eat day and night either animal mater or vegetable mater and you can you can learn to use either as a catfish bait. Catfish can live in water temperatures approaching 100 degrees or live comfortably under the ice, and continue feeding in either habitat condition. You are probably wondering how they can do that? Well we are going to discuss a few of the reasons in our article today.

In order for catfish to survive and adapt to such extreme habitat conditions they need to have a special anatomy. The catfish has a highly sensitive nervous system that includes a elaborate taste system. Many pro catfish anglers know and understand this fact about catfish and prepare their catfish bait that will stimulate the big and smaller catfish’s tasting senses. Catfish also have good sight and great hearing. The catfish needs their sensitive nervous system to be able to adapt to so many different habitats.

Scientists have given the extremely sensitive senses a special name that combines all of their acute senses together. This unique name is called chemoreception, and includes a combination of the catfishes smell,taste,feel,vision, and hearing. The chemoreception of catfish is critical to the catfish if they are to survive by ,avoiding predators, locating fish the species as them, and reproduction at spawning time.

The catfish’s sense of taste is incredible. For example the channel catfish can actually taste your catfish bait from 15 feet away! Catfish have openings on both sides of there nose and they are called “nares” These nares lead to small channels inside the catfish called folds. Catfish have more then 140 folds which enable them to taste foods from such long distances. Many catfish anglers use this to their advantage when they are concocting their special secret catfish baits. Also chumming is a very successful way to attract catfish to your area because of the catfishes exception taste buds.

The catfish is built for taste. On their head they have 7 taste buds per square millimeter. On their barbells (whiskers) they have 25 taste buds per square millimeter, On their lips they have 10 taste buds per square millimeter. On their mouth the catfish has 5 to 25 taste buds per square millimeter. On their gills they have 7 taste buds per square millimeter with some areas as high as 50 taste buds per square millimeter. Over all the catfish has 20,000 internal taste buds, and externally they have 175,000 taste buds. The bottom line this fish species is flat built for taste!

Well that concludes my article about catfish spawning time. Have a great day!

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Old School Catfish Fishing Family Secrets

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There are many anglers who would jump at the chance to catch a trophy catfish but do not have the know how or resources to do so. Pay lakes can solve that issue. Many time these anglers do not have boats or the fishing savvy to hunt for the big catfish in the wild. But many of these anglers never catch a trophy cat because they don’t position themselves correctly to catch these large catfish at these pay lake pounds.

To catch trophy blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish at pay lakes there’s a few tips and techniques you need to know to be successful. Many times if a pay to fish area has multiple ponds, the pond with the trophy catfish will be separate from the other ponds. Also if there are multiple ponds. chances are one will be stocked with channel catfish in the 1 ½ to 3 lb range specifically for table fare or for the novice fisherman.

Just like in the wild blue catfish , channel catfish , and flathead catfish will relate to structure that is located in the pond. If any where in the pond there is are known submerged debris or tree trunks the big catfish will be close by. Also, if you do not want to compete with other fisherman fish your local pay lakes at night. Get to your local pay lake before dark so you can pick the right spot to catch your trophy catfish. If you can find a submerged stump close to shore that is great because big flathead catfish, channel catfish, and blue catfish cruise the shore lines at night.

There are questions you need to ask the pay lake proprietor before spending your money. First ask to see a list of the types of fish and their weights that are stocked in the ponds. Next if there are multiple ponds get specifics on which pond or ponds hold the trophy catfish. Next ask how deep the ponds are Just a note, the deeper the pond the better. If the pond has a deep hole ask specifically where it is located. Also ask where known submerged structure is located.

The ideal spot to set up for your bait fishing catfish trip in a paylake is 6 to 8ft deep flats near to the deep water. Also find areas with submerged rock and wood cover that are adjacent to the shallower flats and ledges.. Normally the big catfish in pay lakes will be close to lots of cover and the deep water.

The best catfish baits for pay lakes are natural bait fish such as goldfish, creek chubs, and shiners. The ideal size for these baits are 3 to 4 inches in length. If you are targeting large catfish such as blue catfish , channel catfish or flathead catfish in pay lakes you need to have heavy tackle too match your prey. A surf rod 7 to 8ft in length , medium power and either a bait casting or open face reel designed to be spooled with 25lb to 50lb test line. My preference in line type is a fireline.

A catfish fishing rig for a pay lake is a good hardy large slip bobber rig. To make a slip bobber rig slide the bobber stop up the line firs. Next slide your 6” to 8” long slip bobber up the line first. If you are night fishing I recommend you get one with a small battery powered led light on top. This will help see your bobber at night. Next tie on a two way ball bearing swivel to the line. And last tie a 6 to 8” leader with a 6/0 to 7/0 hook. The large hooks are important . Next either fish your catfish bait live by hooking right through or just behind the dorsal fin. Or if you are fishing dead cut bait, cut your bait fish into large chunks and put them on your hook . Make sure the barb of the hook is exposed.

I have had a great time writing this article we hope you enjoyed our information about Flathead Catfish. Have a great day!

Check out Mark’s website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about Catfish In Pay Lakes

Click Here To See Old School Catfish Fishing Secrets From 12 Backcountry Catfishing Masters!

Click Here To See Old School Catfish Fishing Secrets From 12 Backcountry Catfishing Masters!

Much like in rivers, the hole will hold the channel catfish for bait fishing action in ponds. Catfish will winter in the deepest holes in a pond and they will roam structure like points and flats that are close to their hole during spring, summer and fall before the ice is on. In barren ponds look for channel catfish along banks that drop off fast into  deeper water. You can find them around docks and weed beds.

Getting the bigger channel catfish in a pond to bite is sometimes very challenging, but not impossible. One of the best catfish fishing rigs to use is a simple slip sinker rig. To make a slip sinker rig to be used for bait fishing for channel catfish  in ponds follow the following simple steps. Silde a small  ¼ ounce egg sinker up your line, then tie on a two way ball bearing swivel. Make sure the ball bearing swivel is large enough so the egg sinker does not slide over the top and past it towards the hook. Next tie on a 8” to 12” inch leader with a 3/0 to 5/0 bait fishing hook. Use creek chubs cut into 2” to 3” chunks for catfish bait. You can also use gizzard shad cut into strips or chunks if creek chubs are not available. Dip baits work well if you ar targeting small channel catfish.

To catch the large channel catfish it is best to fish at night. When you find the spot you want to set up for the night you can increase your chances of catching some larger channel catfish if use a underwater fishing light and you chum the area. You can use fish guts and blood, or small chicken guts laid out in sun all day for chum. If there are some large catfish in the pond the small and taste of the chum will attract them. The underwater fishing light will attract small bait fish to the area and they will start feeding on the chum. The larger channel catfish will much les wary and come looking for an easy feed.

Its best to use bait fish using natural catfish cut baits such as creek chubs and gizzard shad. Although the shad are not native to most ponds bigger channel catfish like to eat oily fish as food. The reason chumming attracts the bigger catfish is because it intensifies there smell and taste senses. Also because as I said earlier the chum also attract small bait fish to the area. Large channel catfish cannot resist a feeding school of bait fish and you can use this fact to your advantage on your next bait fishing trip to a pond.

I have had a great time writing this article we hope you enjoyed our information about Channel Catfish In Ponds. We wish you the best of luck on your next fishing trip!

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Click Here To See Old School Catfish Fishing Secrets From 12 Backcountry Catfishing Masters!