Fishing Frenzy

Most fishing enthusiasts never consider how crucial their catfish baits are when heading out to the local fishing hole. If not appropriately handled, you could be wasting your time and effort trying to land a catfish. Whether fishing from the bank or the boat, it is important that you are using catfishing baits properly. There are plenty of ready-made baits available in the market these days and even some natural ones commonly available in the wild outdoors but if not used properly you are more likely to land pure frustration and not a fresh catfish.

So, here are the 5 things you must know to help you get the most out of your baits and make that big catch.

It all starts with timing
It is crucial to know and understand the best time of the day for catfishing. Technically, you can go catfishing at anytime of the day but for maximum reward for your effort I would recommend fishing early in the morning or late in the evening. Just like most animals, these species come out in the morning to hunt for food. They usually stay near the bottom of the river or lake in the day and come out again for food in evenings and night.

The seasons and the weather are excellent tools for making baiting a lot easier. Rainy and overcast days are ideal for catfishing. The cloud cover can emulate early morning conditions, which means that the catfish are likely to be swimming around actively all day long. Catfishing is particularly popular during the fall and spring, when water levels are higher and the catfish themselves are more likely to be active for longer periods.

Staying still is crucial
It's not surprising for newbies to make the mistake of moving while their baits are cast. What they don't know is that the bait must be kept at rest the entire time until a fish bites. Fishes will not bite a moving bait. It is also important to get the best spot that will make it easy for you to keep your bait steady. Water current should be quiet and still. If unsure, try to throw something into the water and wait for a reaction. If fishes appear, then you just found yourself a good fishing spot. Give yourself 30 minutes to determine if you need to move to a new one.

Find the hot spots.
You may have the best bait in the world; but if you don't position it in areas where the catfishes are located, it will just sit in water, lollygag and fall apart. Look for places where the catfishes will likely hide. If you are fishing on a creek or river, find a bend where there could be an overhang. Catfishes love to hang out in these areas as it offers them safety. They also commonly lurk behind deep holes and sunken logs. Follow water currents for you to spot deep channels. Learn more about the waterways before embarking on a fishing journey to know river entry points, alcoves and other areas where you can find these species.


Use the appropriate hooks.
Make sure the hook you are using isn't too small or too big for the cat that you are targeting. Trial and error would be a good approach. If the hook is too large, the catfish will not be able to get the hook in its mouth and will nibble around your bait. Using catfishing baits properly will ensure a highly productive catfishing trip.