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All About Channel Catfish (in 5 MINUTES)

Channel Catfish Fishing Guide

Channel Catfish Fishing Techniques Guide

Channel Catfish Fishing Guide

Channel Catfish are popular with anglers because they’re tough fighters and can grow pretty large. They live in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds, usually hanging out near the bottom where there’s mud, rocks, or logs. Known for their strong sense of smell, channel catfish are often caught using smelly baits like chicken liver, stink bait, or even nightcrawlers.

The best times to fish for channel catfish are early in the morning or late at night, as they’re more active and tend to feed during these cooler hours. When fishing, cast near areas with cover or deeper water where catfish might be hiding. When you hook one, get ready—they’re strong, and the bigger ones will put up quite a fight! Channel catfish are fun to catch for all experience levels and are great for cooking, too, as they’re known for their mild, tasty flavor.

Channel Catfish Fishing Facts

Location

  • Lakes
  • Ponds
  • Rivers
  • Streams

Habitats

  • Abundant in streams, rivers, reservoirs and ponds.
  • Occupies a variety of habitats, but can be located
    underneath structure (fallen trees, cavities in rock piles).
  • Associated with cover including aquatic vegetation, holes and around rocks and logs.
  • Relies on taste rather than sight for feeding, so is
    tolerant of turbid water

  • Cats hug close to the
    bottom and forage with their whiskers

  • Target depths range dramatically (10-40
    ft), focus on the deepest section of water

Diet

  • Diet is varied depending on what is available,
    includes fish, insects, crayfish, mollusks, and plants. Most
    food is taken from the bottom. Will feed on decomposing
    organic matter (dead fi sh, dead plants, etc.).

Activity

  • Most movement and feeding occurs after sunset
    and before sunrise. During daylight hours, will hide in
    natural cavities or remain sedentary in deeper pools and
    will move to shallows or near cover to feed.

  • most actively feed at night from evening to morning

Channel Catfish Fishing Techniques

Bottom & Still “BObber”
Fishing

Cast & Retrieve Tips

  • Channel catfish best success is from evening to early night.
  • Get your smelly bait on the bottom, holding against the cur-
    Tactic
    rent and let it sit.
  • Fish for Channel Catfish on the bottom in areas with some water current and that has some cover (Ex. sunken logs, undercuts, and rock piles)
  • Channel Catfish like balls of worms, stink baits, or large minnows (dead)
  • Use heavy weights to keep
    Catfish bait on or near the bottom
  • Use circle hooks to avoid injuring the Channel Catfish.
  • Bobbers can be used but wait for the hook to set as the fish is taking the bait..
  • Heavy action rods, baitcasting reels, and strong line are recommended to catch Channel catfish.
  • Fish worms, hotdogs, doughbaits, frozen shrimp with a slack line off the bottom.
  • Check your bait every
    20 minutes

Best Bait & Lures

Wild Cat Pre-Molded Catfish Bait

Purchase on Amazon →

Wild Cat Blood Dip Bait

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Catfish Rig for Bank Fishing

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Wildcat Catfish Charlie Tub Dip Bait

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Berkley PowerBait Catfish Bait

Purchase on Amazon →

Pro-Cure Catfish Magic Chicken Liver Cure

Purchase on Amazon →

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