How to catch catfish correctly in August so as not to be left without a catch

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Catfish is a very voracious predator; it is a heat-loving fish. Mid-summer is the peak feeding period for this fish. Therefore, July-August is the best time for catching catfish. This predator is not afraid of its neighbors; usually everyone is afraid of it. The most difficult moments in catching this predator is choosing a fishing spot, as well as the process of getting this river monster out of the water, because its size reaches incredible proportions.

Features of catfish behavior in August

Starting in August, reservoirs gradually lower water temperature conditions, and therefore catfish begin to spend more and more time searching for prey. If during the hotter periods of the summer season the catfish tried to lie down and wait out the heat in its pool or pit, and preferred to hunt exclusively at night, then in August this fish already hunts with might and main in the daytime.

Of course, the main time for catfish hunting is night, but during the day catfish are actively searching for food. Catfish are generally omnivores and can even hunt large animals. There have been cases when large specimens of this fish grabbed goats and rams that came to the river to drink.

The catfish has no rivals in the reservoir, it has no natural enemies, therefore in some cases they can reach quite large sizes. Experienced fishermen say that there are individuals that weigh more than fifty kilos and can reach more than ten meters in length.

Basically, catfish fishing is carried out in pairs; it is quite difficult for one person to pull out this fish, and accidents happen, so at least two fishermen are needed for this fishing.

Catfish in August for spinning

Fans of active fishing successfully catch the freshwater giant using a spinning rod. Catching catfish in August using spinning rods is carried out from the shore and boat. The main requirement for gear is high strength.

When choosing spinning baits for catfish, you need to take into account its poor eyesight. Large (10 cm or more) baits are selected that perfectly imitate the behavior of small fish with a noise effect. The noise can be created by the position of the blade on the bait or the noise chamber built into it. Coloring doesn't really matter.

Spinning baits for catfish:

• Wobblers with built-in noise chambers. Suitable for fishing in promising habitat areas for August catfish and for trolling;

• Fast-sinking oscillating lures. Uniform wiring with alternating pauses is used. During the pause, you need to lightly “play” with the bait. This behavior usually attracts the catfish's attention;

Choosing a fishing spot

An important parameter for successful catfish fishing is the correct place for the fishing itself. Catfish almost always live in one place; they have their own pit or pool, where several catfish can be found. Another thing is that catfish can patrol the vicinity of reservoirs to look for food, and they go quite far, sometimes swimming ten kilometers from their place of residence.

It is worth looking for catfish in areas of reservoirs where deep holes smoothly turn into shallow water. If an angler knows about a hole where catfish live, then he should fish not far from his house. During the daytime, catfish hunt, but most of their activity still occurs at night. That’s why fishing for them at night is more effective. Fishing is most productive after sunset.

You can find catfish in various holes, under cliffs, in places heavily littered with trees, you can look for catfish in various river backwaters. In some cases, catfish come quite close to the coastline, because frogs live here, which are the favorite food of this fish.

Tackle for catching catfish in August

The most effective means for catching catfish in the summer is spinning, from a boat, in the morning using a quok. This simple device is capable of creating sound, attracting catfish from a very long distance, while it costs very little, and can be made even at home.

The spinning rod must be strong and equipped with a capacious reel with a high-quality friction brake. The diameter of the main line can exceed 0.8 mm.

Catching catfish in August using a quok is distinguished by a very simple technique: the bait is lowered into the middle horizons, and the quok is used. Catfish, first of all, are attracted by the sounds of the quok, and only then it comes across a bait with a hook and swallows it. At this moment you need to hook.

Catfish can be successfully caught not only with a variety of baits, but also with all kinds of artificial baits, such as:

Some of the baits we buy are quite strange at first glance, but they are much easier to get and the catfish take them well:

Each season has its own preferred catfish baits. Properly selected bait can provide a stable bite, and, if you’re lucky, an excellent catch.

Spring

After winter sleep, along with the warming of the water, the catfish gradually become more active. In April, when the water temperature rises to 8-10° Celsius, you can start hunting for the mustachioed giant. Large specimens in spring respond more readily to bait in the afternoon. The bite in mid-spring is still very unstable: frequent bites can alternate with complete calm.

When the water warms up to 18° Celsius, catfish spawn. Soon (after a short lull) the eating begins.

The list of baits that catfish bite on after hibernation is very diverse. Among the most common and effective spring baits for catching a mustachioed predator:

crawling worms;
live bait;
fried sparrow;
pearl barley;
chicken liver;
frogs;
crayfish.

It is important to try different bait options to identify the preferences of the predator at a particular time and in a particular place, but it is better to start spring fishing for freshwater giants by using worms as bait, and only then experiment with other baits (live bait, crayfish and frogs).

Summer

The maximum activity of catfish occurs in summer, namely in its second half. In warm weather it is more active at night, and in rainy, cold or foggy weather it can peck at any time. Often, in search of food, catfish leave their burrows in shallow water. Trophy specimens prefer to be in quiet pools.

The choice of summer baits for catfish is impressive, since due to its activity it swallows almost everything. Indiscriminately. In addition, in the summer there are no problems with getting this or that bait. The preferred baits are those that form the basis of the daily diet.

The best summer baits for catfish:

small bird;
pieces of fish;
live bait;
shellfish;
frogs
crawls;
locusts;
any large insect.

The fishing method and casting distance depend on the bait you choose. For example, live bait can be used for long casts, as can a bunch of crawlers. You won’t be able to throw a frog far - it is suitable for short casts.

Autumn

cancerous necks;
fried sparrow;
live bait;
chicken offal;
crawls;
blood sausage or boilies with the smell of blood;
frogs;
shellfish

When fishing for catfish, it is advisable to cast several tackles with different baits. When there is a bite, for example on crawlers, it is recommended to change the bait for them on all tackles. This suggests that the mustachioed giant prefers this particular bait at a given time.

Winter

During the winter months, the catfish does not leave its hole, actually freezing. The chances of successful fishing are negligible. You can tempt a predator to bite with the help of bright bait. It responds best to live fish, especially asp and rudd. Such live bait is able to move energetically in cold water, attracting the attention of a predator. An alternative option for winter catfish fishing is fishing with lead heads.

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If organics are only suitable for fishing rods, in sport fishing with spinning rods there are a number of special baits: silicone baits with jig heads, deep wobblers, heavy spoons (mostly elongated, yellow, orange or silver).

Fishing gear for catfish in August

Catfish fishing in August is carried out using a variety of methods, including fishing with spinning rods, bottom gear, and the quok method. If you catch catfish using spinning rods, then these fishing rods should be selected with more stringent parameters. The test load of such fishing rods must be quite large in order to withstand large-sized catfish. The fishing line is also selected with a diameter that will support the fish. Reels should be of the inertia-free type. Special catfish hooks are sold for catfish.

Bottom rigs have been used since prehistoric times. The simplest bottom rig is the zakidushka donka, which is quite popular today. Installation of this equipment is quite simple - you take a sliding sinker, a rather heavy type, it is put on a strong fishing line, to the end of which a swivel is attached. And the leash itself with hooks is already attached to it. You can use doubles or tees.

Catfish fishing using kwok is especially effective. This method of catching catfish in August is carried out using boats. Today there are quoks of different size parameters. It is better for beginners to learn with the help of large quoks, which are easier to handle. Catfish are caught using kwok using a thick cord to which a hook and a weight are attached, and the cord itself is wound on a reel. The fishing process is carried out by hand.

Catfish fishing techniques in August

Classic catfish fishing in August involves throwing several donks to the deepest parts of the reservoir and checking them at night every two hours. The same thing happens with a feeder, but it is often thrown not into holes, but onto a shallow bank, which is located near the depths. It is imperative to maintain silence. To catch large predators, some anglers highlight the location of the bait with a large flashlight or even a spotlight. This is due to the catfish’s love for warmth and sunlight.

Choosing bait for catfish in August

Catfish is an omnivore, and therefore they catch it with all kinds of bait. The use of artificial baits when catching catfish in August is not justified; it is better to catch catfish using live bait or using pieces of meat.

The most common baits for catfish are the following:

– all kinds of live and dead fish;
– frogs whole or in parts;
– large species of grasshoppers;
– various types of crustaceans;
– all kinds of seafood;
– animal entrails;
– pieces of meat;
– leeches or worms, but they are attached in bunches.

In different bodies of water, depending on weather parameters, the taste preferences of catfish may vary slightly, but to find out, you need to gain experience in catfish fishing.

Catfish fishing gear in August

The predator is caught mainly with bottom fishing rods with good weights, strong fishing line and large hooks. The classic weapon for catching catfish is the donka. It is a wooden plank on which several tens of meters of large, thick fishing line are wound. At the end of the thick fishing line there is a very large weight and a pair of leaders with bait. You can also catch catfish using a feeder. You just have to understand that at the other end of the fishing rod there may be a fish weighing as much as a small child.

The seine has proven itself to be excellent for catching catfish; with its help, anglers achieve record trophies. The fringe consists of a thick core or cord with fixed leads at a distance of 1 to 3 meters. Frog, river snail meat, and fried sparrow are used as bait. Also, good results when catching catfish in the summer are shown by a bait made of ordinary crayfish. If you have caught a lot of crayfish for bait, read how to properly cook crayfish.

Techniques and tactics for catching catfish in August

When catching catfish in August on strong river currents, the excess fishing line is cast off and secured either on the shore or on a boat, depending on the fishing method. It should be borne in mind that after the hooking process, catfish tend to swim to greater depths and free themselves; if they fail to do this, they begin to actively jump from side to side.

If you fish with a quok and a donkey, then the tackle is thrown and the moment of biting is waited for. Next, when the catfish is already hooked, they try to tire it out and land it in a boat or ashore. When the catfish is already close to the fisherman, they hit it on the head with a mallet in order to stun it and calmly pull it out.

In some cases, you can easily confuse catfish bites with strong hooks, so the fisherman needs to be careful and careful not to lose the equipment, or not to go into the water when fishing from boats.

Catfish in August on the feeder

All types of gear that allow you to hold the bait near the surface of the bottom are suitable for catching catfish. The feeder is an improved donka, successfully used when catching catfish from the shore. A properly selected feeder rod allows you to cast 80 meters or more. It is important to pay special attention to the strength of the rod, because catfish weighing 10 kg or more are a bit of a rarity.

A high-quality spinning reel is installed. To prevent large fish from dragging the tackle from the stand, it is better to use reel models equipped with a baitrunner. The clutch must be adjusted correctly. It will ensure timely release of the cord when a critical load occurs that threatens to break the equipment.

The catfish feeder is equipped with a braided line that can withstand a breaking load of 20 kg. With such a cord you can feel more confident when landing large fish.

For catfish, durable types of fishing hooks No. 10-15 are used. The size of the hook is selected according to the dimensions of the expected catch.

The feeder feeder is filled with the crushed bait used, which is mixed with clay. To cast the bait to the required distance, attach a sinker whose weight corresponds to the rod test.

The fishing arsenal is filled with all available baits. What catfish bite on can be found here.

The casting is carried out with the expectation that the bait on the hook will hit the entrance (exit) in the detected bottom depression. According to this principle, the gear is installed in a fan. The optimal quantity is 3-4 tackles. If the coastline allows, it is advisable to place the rods nearby. The main thing is to avoid overlapping of rigs when fishing.

It is important to consider: in order to tire a catfish weighing 10-15 kg that has been hooked, it will take about half an hour.

Catching catfish in August using a feeder and other bottom gear is convenient because you can cast the gear before dark and expect a bite after daylight hours have passed. Bite alarms for night fishing can be bells, bells and special fireflies.

Recipe for making catfish cutlets

Cutlets made from catfish meat are quite tasty. To prepare them, you should take clean catfish meat, without bones, this meat needs to be passed through a meat grinder a couple of times. You should also add some white bread or rolls that have been previously soaked in milk.

In addition, a little onion is added to the minced meat, a couple of onions, no more. Drive two chicken eggs into this minced meat, add salt and pepper to taste. It is necessary to thoroughly mix the entire mixture and form cutlets. For greater fat content, add a little lard when passing through a meat grinder.

Tips for beginners

Catfish are quite suspicious by nature, so it is better to dress in camouflage colors of your clothes.
When catching catfish, try playing with bait.
Don't make loud noises when catfishing.
Choose the right place to catch catfish.
When fishing with a quok, you should not make excessively frequent sounds.
Fishing for catfish is carried out together; a hook or landing net is required.

Tackle for catfish

Of course, when choosing tackle for large fish, first of all you need to pay attention to the quality of each of its elements. And here it is important not to go cheap, because cheap parts of equipment for catfish usually last no more than one season.

Rod.

It should be noted that catching catfish is usually accompanied by the use of a plug rod 3 meters long for fishing from the shore and 2.7 meters long for fishing in open water. As for the test, for a spinning rod it is in the range of 100-150 g, and in the case of fishing using natural baits, the test will be 100-600 g.

Coil.

It can be taken as inertia-free or multiplier. At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the line on the reel spool should be at least 200 m. It is advisable to take a line with a thickness of 0.5 mm. Also, it won’t be very bad if all the other parts of the coil are metal.

Fishing line.

If we return to the conversation about fishing line, then for such a powerful fish as catfish, I would recommend taking a braided cord that can withstand a weight of 40-60 kg and a thickness of 0.35-0.6 mm. Mono fishing line 0.5-0.7 mm is also suitable.

Hook.

When choosing a hook for catfish, you should always keep in mind that its size directly depends on the size of the bait. For example, for live bait weighing 50-100 grams you will need a hook No. 8-10. For baits like worms or shell meat, a size 6 hook will do just fine. Well, in the case of using large live bait, I would recommend using a rig with a pair of hooks. To do this, usually take a pair of Kevlar leashes with a tensile test of 40-150 kg. As an alternative, you can take a fishing line with a thickness of 0.8-1 mm.

Bait.

As for bait, frogs, medium-sized roaches and almost all small animals in the reservoir where the predator lives are perfect for catching catfish in August. When catching catfish with a spinning rod, a sinking wobbler has proven itself well. You can also use an extended spinner.

Techniques for catching catfish in August in central Russia

Several catfish fishing techniques are the most popular and convenient for fishing:

Plumb fishing from a boat using a quok . Statistically, this is the most successful way to catch catfish. Fishing is carried out using a vertical line with bait, and the kwok helps to attract the predator with sound.
Trolling using wobblers . This method is less popular. Also designed for fishing from a boat. Unfortunately, the gear is expensive, and the route is difficult to construct.
Coastal donka. A convenient and affordable method of catching catfish. Designed for those who prefer to fish without using a boat.
Spinning catfish fishing. Catching catfish with a spinning rod is an affordable way, but not very convenient. Due to the large weight of the predator, you risk losing your gear.

Som in August

Everyone knows that catfish are the largest freshwater predator. Under natural conditions, its weight can reach three hundred kilograms (this is according to statistics). But in most cases, fishermen come across individuals weighing up to ten kilograms. Catfish are nocturnal predators. During the day, he tries to stay in cover, waiting for prey near his camp. And with the arrival of night, when searching for food, catfish in August

moves towards shallow water. Near the water thickets, the catfish wants to taste gape frogs, its favorite dish. Places where there is a lot of various rubbish, snags and pitfalls are suitable for parking catfish. The same places include pools near the dam, deep holes, and he also likes steep and washed-out shores. The main food for catfish is fish of different sizes. But he is a stickler for both crayfish and clams and little chicks. Even an adult duck, if it gapes, can end up in its belly. An exclusive treat for the nocturnal predator are green frogs.

Features of catching catfish on a donk from the shore

Catfish can be caught on a donk in all bodies of water suitable for its habitat, be it the wide Volga reaches with deep edges or the Astrakhan channels of the Volga delta. Or even an ordinary forest river with yellow riffles and black holes in which bog oaks and heavy spruces lie can give an angler a bite from a large catfish.

Coastal catfish fishing with bottom gear is relevant in the spring, when a spawning ban is in effect. This time is given to Aksakov float fishing rods and donks, but only if they have no more than two hooks. So donka for catfish will not violate the conditions of spring spawning bans.

Despite the restrictions in the Rules and the capabilities of the coastal bottom, these tackles catch quite large fish. Successful places for catching donkey from the shore can be canals where the fairway is within casting range, as well as deep channels of the lower Volga. In such places you can use gear that is used in carp fishing, that is, durable rods with a rod-pod type stand, for example, Salmo ROD-POD Al 3U+3Y, and electronic bite alarms. Such carp rods allow you to cast over a distance of more than a hundred meters and are able to withstand the jerks of large catfish.

On forest rivers, catching catfish with bottom gear can be the simplest and, nevertheless, quite effective. Since the catfish pit is often located directly under a steep bank, you just need to throw the sinker onto the edge that separates the sandy riffle of the low bank and the snags of the opposite steep bank. Usually, tackle is not thrown from a cliff, since you will have to pull out the tackle and get the fish out through the trees and snags lying in the hole. Casting is done from the sloping sandy beach, where it is convenient to lay out fishing lines or install carp fishing gear, which is used here for catching catfish.

Live bait donka for fishing for catfish

Catching catfish using bottom gear is often effective using live bait. Such live bait bottoms work especially successfully on small forest rivers, where long-distance casting is often not required, since catfish holes are literally right under your feet, that is, under the coastal cliffs. And therefore, for such live bait fishing, the simplest gear can be used - hooks. In addition, it is hardly possible to make long casts with a rod if there is a live fish on the hook. When attaching it to a hook using the “under the dorsal fin” or “by the lip” methods, the live bait will be disrupted by the inevitable jerks of the rod during casting. If you bait it using the “through the gills” method, then the live bait will most likely quickly become not a live bait, but just an ordinary bait, since its gills will be torn when jerking.

Catching catfish on a donk with live bait is quite simple, as is the equipment itself. A thick fishing line (0.7-0.8 mm) is wound on a reel made of plastic or wood, a heavy sinker (200-250 g) is placed at the end, and a metal leash made of flexible material about twenty centimeters above it is tied on a powerful swivel with a clasp. 30 cm. Hook – double, approximately No. 10 of domestic numbering.

Catfish on a bottom baited with small fish are caught along the borders of holes and rifts, as well as in fairly deep clean sandy pools with a reverse current. They are good if there are snags nearby and trees lying on the bottom, of course, not dangerously close to the hooks of live bait.

Fishing with live bait donks allows you to quite carefully throw the tackle with live bait onto the riverbed edge. This is achieved by placing a hook with live bait on a flat lead sinker and casting is done according to the principle of throwing a stone, but not with such force. Moreover, for some time the sinker and the live bait on it fly together, sometimes until they fall and splash on the water. This keeps the live bait mobile for quite a long time.