Channel catfish fishing tips
Channel catfish are a popular catch across North America. They are
silvery fish with the characteristic whiskers and forked tail, but
also dark spots that the other species lack. Many anglers hunt for
channel catfish with live bait, but even more popular for these
animals with keen olfactory senses are stinkbaits. This kind of
malodorous bait is a crude concoction made up of chicken guts or
mussels that have gone bad in the sun. Clots of blood from a slaughter
house can also be used to attract these animals. And then there are
the homemade concoctions that any number of anglers have invented over
the years.
Channel catfish are popular for many reasons (including the good
dinner they provide), but one of the main reasons is pragmatic. These
fish often feed eagerly in midsummer, when many other species of fish
are lethargic and avoid the heat. In other words, they’re easy to
catch when it’s hot out!
To
catch Channel catfish in clear water, live frogs, minnows and worms
are all enticing live bait. In murkier waters, try the aforementioned stinkbaits, bologna chunks, cheese balls, etc. The key then is smell,
not sight.
Channel catfish are not the pickiest of eaters, as
you’ve probably surmised. They have even been known to bite at bare
hooks underwater when agitated. Live bait is the preferred choice for
most anglers, but another approach is to use a lure with a spray-on
additive for stinkiness. I prefer a plastic minnow, personally.
Stinkbaits work well with Channel
catfish because their whiskers are so sensitive to smell. A live bait
also works because those same whiskers can sense movement. The latter
type of lure might work better for an angler with a sensitive nose,
especially on a hot, windless day. Phew! These jars of rotting blood
and entrails can put off even the strongest stomach. A better bet
might be to use a smelly cheese and some sourdough bread to catch the
big cats. Bottom line: just about anything that smells will do the
trick!
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