| The spring time spawn is over. Catfish are once again | | | | this setup I promise. With just the resistance of the line |
| on the prowl in search of their next meal. The water | | | | the channel catfish will hang on longer and have no |
| temps have reached 75 or maybe 80 degrees. Days | | | | problem swallowing the liver. Use the best low cost |
| are hot and more suited for swimming and sipping on | | | | hook you can find and bring a bunch so you can just |
| a chilly one but once the sun goes down and the air | | | | cut the line and leave the hook inside, just be careful |
| becomes bearable it is time to go on the prowl for | | | | when you clean them, if that is your intentions. Leaving |
| your next line stretching adventure. | | | | the hook comes in handy because when the bite is on |
| Summertime is a great time to night fish for catfish. | | | | you don't want to take the time to dig a swallowed |
| Not only is it cooler but all the ski and jet boats have | | | | hook from a catfish's gullet. |
| gone home leaving the lake to the angler as well as | | | | If it is larger channel catfish you are after then fresh |
| the catfish that move into the shallows under the | | | | fish is the go to bait. When a channel catfish reaches |
| cover of darkness. Too many people focus on deep | | | | more than a couple pounds it begins to seek food a |
| water for catfishing in the summer. By deep I mean 5 | | | | little higher in protein. Where you might find dozens of |
| to 10 feet of water. You will find fish at these depths | | | | small channels like shallow flats and mud shores you |
| but usually they are moving to the shallow shorelines | | | | might find it void of any good size channels and that is |
| and eat your bait along the way. If you want to | | | | because, while still not a true predator the larger |
| increase your success try moving closer to the | | | | channel catfish become a little more of a loner and |
| shoreline and working depths of 1 to 3 feet of water. | | | | more of a predator than smaller channels. Live bluegills |
| This article will focus on the common channel catfish. | | | | where legal and live shad work great. I usually just fillet |
| Stink baits are probably the most common bait used | | | | the bluegill and shad. I first scale the bluegill. I believe |
| for channel catfish. They work and if it is numbers you | | | | that this allows more smell into the water as well as a |
| are after stink baits work great. I stay away from stink | | | | more tender bait which allows for a better hook set. |
| baits mainly because they stink and my wife just can | | | | Look for some structure for the bigger channels like |
| not handle the smell that lingers after a night with that | | | | big boulders or large brush piles or fallen trees. Toss |
| stuff on my hands so I have found that stink baits | | | | your fresh meat just outside this structure. They will |
| work but other baits are just as easy to come by and | | | | come out and get it but don't make them travel too far |
| smell way better. More importantly they work just as | | | | just in case it don't want to. Move the bait around the |
| well. | | | | structure. I usually soak my bait 5 to 10 minutes before |
| One such bait that has stood the test of time is | | | | moving it, sometimes only a few feet. After about 15 |
| chicken livers. Again, great bait and can help you fill the | | | | to 30 minutes I will look for another spot. I am looking |
| cooler with pan size channels with an occasional fatty. | | | | for the feeders and a hungry channel catfish would |
| One way I have found to increase my hook ups and | | | | have already found your bait in that amount of time. |
| reduce those bites that take off like a rocket, only to | | | | When targeting larger channel catfish you will want to |
| be dropped before you can react, is the hook only | | | | go with some larger tackle. I start with a baitcasting rig |
| setup. I use a single bait holder hook 1/0 or 2/0 and | | | | spooled with at least 20 pound test line on a Med. |
| connect it to 10 pound test fluorescent line. No weight | | | | Heavy to Heavy rod. You need the power to move |
| is added to the rig and this is key. You need a spinning | | | | the fish away from the thick brush or sharp rocks. |
| reel or a spin cast reel to be able to cast the fragile | | | | Anyone who has caught a channel catfish larger than |
| livers this way but it will increase your hook up | | | | three pounds know how hard these fish can fight and |
| percentage. Fresh livers that have never been frozen | | | | when they start the channel cat roll you best have |
| will stay on your hook much better than frozen livers. | | | | heavy gear. I use an egg sinker rig above and leave |
| Fresh livers may be hard to find but they are out there | | | | slack in my line so I can see the fish running with the |
| and once you find a store that sells them you will go | | | | line. You seldom have to worry about the fish coming |
| back for more as the livers are so much easier to deal | | | | toward you if you are fishing heavy cover during the |
| with. | | | | day because the channel catfish is going to head back |
| In the meantime as you search for those fresh livers | | | | to his home in that cover. So be ready and set the |
| there are ways to help keep livers on your hook. One | | | | hook ready to horse the fish away from the heavy |
| way is with common sewing thread. Break off a piece | | | | cover. Once the channel catfish is away from the |
| of thread about 8 inches long. Lay one end of the | | | | cover then you can take it easy and play it to the |
| thread on the liver. The thread will kind of cling to the | | | | boat. |
| liver and allow you to wrap the thread around and | | | | I hope this article has given you a few ideas for |
| around the liver. Make sure to bring the thread over | | | | catching some channel catfish. I know these |
| the inside belly of the hook. Try looping the thread, as | | | | techniques have helped me over the years and should |
| you come around, over loose strands of liver to create | | | | do the same for you. Keep experimenting and you will |
| a nice tight little ball of liver. There are other methods | | | | find some tricks of your own that will help you enjoy |
| but this one works so well I have never tried any other | | | | some great outings with the family in pursuit of a great |
| way. Use a black light with the fluorescent line to | | | | fish that provides fun as well as some delicious table |
| detect a bite and detecting a bite is not difficult with | | | | fare as well. |