When fishing rivers and streams your first thought isn’t normally to go after catfish. they’re normally known for sticking to the deep water lakes and ponds. Actually catfish and bullheads are extremely plentiful in most large warm water Rivers.That doesn’t mean that you’re going to be able to find them if you don’t know where to look. The following guide should help you on your search for those big River Cats.
How To Fish For River Catfish
Just like fishing for catfish in large lakes and ponds fishing rivers isn’t all that difficult. In the daytime catfish are typically going to stay in there deep holes along Channel edges. Bullheads on the other hand are going to prefer shallow backwaters. Night is when they’re most active searching for any piece of food they can get their mouths on.
When To Fish For Catfish
By far the best time to fish for catfish is right after sundown. You’re going to want to start off fishing for catfish around Bluffs, River mouths, shallow flats and the bottom of riffles/rapids. By far the best place to find bullheads is in shallow muddy water.
Best Catfish Tackle
To catch catfish you’re going to need to use some serious tackle and a bottom rig. Most of the time I’ll use a 1/0 Gamakatsu Baitholder hook with a 1-3 ounce sinker. Catfish will eat just about anything you throw at them. Try using live minnows, worms, cut bait or any other traditional catfish bait. I’ve had a lot of luck in the past pairing the Berkley Gulp Catfish Dough with a commercial catfish attractant spray. Try adding a little salt to your dough balls if they tend to fall off your hook. Just make sure that the hook is large and strong enough to handle a serious river cat.
Casting Your Catfish Rig
There isn’t a lot of science that goes into catfish Angling. Simply Caster rig into the deeper river water and allow it to sink it to the bottom.You’re going to be waiting for a while so prop up your rod, sit back and relax. You can either use a “Y” shaped stick or prop your rod on one of these fancy fishing rod holders. If you want to get serious about the sport try fishing several rods at once to have the best luck. Since you’re going to be staying in the same spot for a while it only makes sense to set up a few rods. Catfish hunt primarily by smell it takes a while for the Bates sent to waft into the surrounding waters.
How Long To Wait in One Spot
The number one problem that most catfish fisherman have is if they want to move to another spot when they don’t get any bites. So when do you call it quits on a fishing spot? The simple answer is that you stay as long as you can possibly stand it. I know that it’s not a very fun to sit around in the dark and wait, but that’s just what you have to do. This the perfect time to sit back and relax and have a couple beers waiting for a big bite. At the very least you need to wait a half hour to an hour before moving on to another spot, but I wouldn’t recommend moving because you’ll have to start the process all over again.
Where to Find Catfish
Fish The Rocks
My favorite place to look for River catfish is rock walls along the banks of the river. Rock banks are especially good fishing right around the spawn. Big Mama catfish tend to hide holes found along the rock wall. The best places to look are areas that are blocked by direct current. you’re going to want to fish the rocks using a slip bobber adjusted so that it floats directly in front of the rock openings.
Dam Tailwaters
Another great place to fish for catfish is in Dam tailwaters. Dam tailwaters are a natural collection point for loads of fish. Anything that gets caught up in the tailwater it’s going to be shot out at the other end. Tailwaters are going to contain a ton of bait fish, bottom structure and the perfect feeding grounds for a Hungry Cat. If they get lucky enough to find this type of spot the likely hold out and feed there for a while.
You can either fish tailwaters from a boat or work the eddies close to the Swiftwater. if you’re going to be bank fishing set up a bottom rig and cast it into the quieter water below the dam. You might want to switch up your rig if you keep hanging up on the bottom. A better way to fish tailwaters is going to be from a boat. Simply bump a 2 hook panfish rig along the bottom. Make long 1/4 mile drifts across the bottom before motoring back to your starting point. Just make sure you don’t set your rod down, because you’ll lose it off the side of your boat when you get a strike.
Fish Right After The Rain
By far my favorite time to fish the rivers is immediately after a rain. Directly after the rain look for drains and other areas where water is going to be rushing into the river. Catfish love to feed furiously in these areas as bugs and insects get swept away into the water. I like to dangle my bait a few feet below where the water is flowing into the river.
How To Use Catfish Dip Bait
Commercial dip baits are extremely easy to use and give off a serious smell. Products like Catfish Charlie’s Blood Dip Bait will really bring in a ton of river cats fast. They really are a mess of goop that you’re going to use to attract catfish. It’s kind of like a sticky oily slime that’s designed to attract catfish by smell. To use a dip bait you’re going to put it in a dip tube or use it in a dip worm filled with the goop. Just apply the dip bait using a stick( I like to use the free paint stirs you get at home depot).