Fishing Channel Catfish
Fishing channel catfish has two approaches. One is the classic old-style bank angler in a comfy chair, a cold drink in hand, rod propped up, and a magazine to read if the action is slow. The other approach is today's dedicated bank angler, with the know-how to locate and catch channel cats in all their haunts.
The serious channel catfish angler chooses his or her gear with the greatest of care. The best outfits allow anglers to reach catfish wherever they appear to be, but are sensitive enough to relay subtle changes in depth and bottom texture.
A sensitive 7- to 8-foot rod, with either a spinning or baitcasting reel filled with thin, 50-pound superline is a good combination. Thin-diameter, low-stretch line yields the longest casts and provides a direct connection to the bait, due to increased sensitivity, as it rests or rolls along the bottom.
Some catfishermen choose larger gear when fishing big waters, even when targeting smaller catfish. Rods that stretch 10-15 feet in length allow extra-long casts into areas that hold fish. And in this case the reel must be large enough to hold enough line to reach long-distance catfish.
Bait rigs are generally three-way rigs, with a bell sinker on the dropper that's heavy enough to hold the bait in place in spite of the current.
Chasing Channel Catfish
Channel cats spawn when water temperatures reach 70 to 75 degrees. They hole up in dark, secluded spots and are very difficult to catch. Banks angling really heats up when the spawn is over and remains steady throughout the summer and fall.
Channel catfish scrounge the bottom for food, using super-sensitive pores in the eight whiskers that cover their faces. Baits that emit odors attract more fish than those that don't.
Many catfishermen make their own doughbait by mixing flour and hot water with many different kinds of smelly concoctions, including ground-up baitfish, leeches, and crawfish. But the all-time best channel catfish catcher is fresh, bloody chicken liver chunks. Fish these and other foul-smelling baits in areas where channel cats are found.
Channel Catfish Locations
Points: Always search out points abutting deeper, darker water. Those covered with trees, brush, rocks, shoreline weeds and other productive habitat are sure signs of catfish country.
Riprap Banks: Some are natural, but many man-made banks are formed when lake builders dump rocks and large chunks of concrete along the shoreline to prevent erosion. The nooks and crannies between the chunks are ideal hangouts for the tasty meals catfish seek.
Oxbows: These old backwaters are quieter and darker than the lake around them and often hold big catfish. Some have lived their lives in the oxbow, while others move in and out during periods of high water.
Tailwaters: Tailwaters below dams are favored by veteran channel cat fishermen. The giant turbines grind up baitfish from the lake, forming a huge chum slick that draws catfish.
Culverts: Culverts often deliver warmer or colder water of varying clarity. The incoming water is typically rich in forage, which in turn attracts numbers of catfish.
Armed with this new knowledge of bank fishing for channel catfish, hit your favorite river or lake and give them a try. Remenber to keep the hook point exposed for instant hooksets.
