How to catch catfish using a bait?

Necessary tools and materials for making a zakidushka

Casting a catfish with your own hands is quite easy to do. To make this device yourself, you will need certain tools and materials:

• Hacksaw
• Drill
• Sandpaper
• Glue
• Foam rubber size 25:1, 5:1 cm
• Wooden board 20 by 25 cm
• Fishing line (2 mm thick)
• Leash (diameter 0.6 mm)
• Sinker (150 g)
• Several hooks.

This is all you need to make a catfish bait.

Donka with a rod

The option with a fishing rod requires the use of truly strong and reliable gear. So, first you need a powerful fishing rod that can withstand heavy loads. For example, a high-quality carp fishing rod or even a marine model would be suitable. The reel should be no less powerful, preferably a multiplier.

The fishing line used is monofilament with a diameter of 0.5 to 1 mm or braided with a diameter of 0.5-0.8 mm. Such requirements apply to the main fishing line, while leashes are made from fishing line of a smaller diameter.

A sinker with a weight of 100-150 g is attached tightly or a sliding installation is used.

Also, stones are often used as additional weight, which are tied using a breaking line and simply break off at the right moment. And, of course, you will need sharp, large hooks with increased strength.

DIY catfish kit - assembly steps

There is a very simple step-by-step method on how to make a catch for catfish.

1. stage. Take a board you prepared in advance and make cuts on it, onto which you will later wind the lace.
2. stage. Sand the cuts you make with sandpaper, this will help you avoid torn fishing line in the future.
3. stage. Next, secure the foam on one side of the board. This is of great importance for storing hooks; thanks to the foam rubber, they will not become dull.
4. stage. We tie the end of the fishing line to the board
5. stage. We wind the fishing line (about 50-100 meters) onto the spear.
6. stage. Attach the sinker at a distance of 70-100 cm from the hook. Usually they use a sinker that looks like a cylinder. (You can make it yourself from lead)
7. stage. The last thing to do is secure the leash.

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The device for catching catfish is ready. It's time to understand some of the features of the process itself.

Catfish for a snack

This type of tackle is great for catching even twenty-kilogram prey. At the same time, catching catfish with bait requires excellent knowledge of its habitat. The catfish, basically, hooks itself and, when fishing, swims quite calmly to the landing net, of course, if there are no bottom shelters on its way. For targeting this predator, tested baits include small frogs, as well as dead or freshly frozen fish; they also catch pieces of greasy poultry that have the smell of burnt meat. They are placed in a feeder made of wire mesh, then tied to heavy stones and lowered to the bottom in the expected habitat of the prey. Small windows are made in the feeder, through which the components of the live bait constantly swim out or crawl out, and everything else is washed out by the current.

In general, the catfish bait, being a multifunctional tackle, is used most often. There are plenty of reasons for this. And the main thing is the simplicity of its manufacture. In fact, every more or less experienced fisherman will be able to make this serious gear with his own hands in a very short time.

Fishing technique

The catfish prefers the night time, and therefore its daytime habitats are deep holes. When going fishing, study the place and identify the very hole in which this fish can hide.

Choose a place without strong cliffs, as your gear may get caught on something. In no case should you throw more than four baits, as they may get tangled, which will complicate the fishing process.

Casting technique:

1. Lay 30 meters of fishing line on a flat surface.
2. The tackle should be tied to a tree trunk and secured with a heavy stone for reliability.
3. Install a nod or bell.
4. Throw the tackle from your hand.
5. Be careful when fishing as the line may get tangled or wrapped around something.

Before playing, it is better to wear gloves to prevent wounds and cuts on your palms.

Bait for throwing

When fishing, the bait used by the fisherman plays a significant role. Of course, catching catfish with a hook also depends on it. The most famous bait for this type of fishing is worms. Professionals advise putting several worms on the hook. Also an excellent bait is the green inhabitant of the swamps - the frog. You will need to put it on a double hook by the legs, so it will begin to crawl along the bottom, which will attract a predator. You can also use a black leech to catch catfish. The main thing is to remember to cut off its suckers first. Fishing with live bait is also suitable. (The size of the fish does not matter.) If you are interested in the size of your prey, then you should use a roasted sparrow, it attracts the largest specimens. Insects such as mole crickets and cockchafers may be suitable.

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Catfish bait in spring

In the spring, the catfish wakes up from hibernation and gradually begins to gain activity. The first activity of catfish and its bite can be observed already in April. It is best to navigate by the water temperature and when it reaches 10 °C you can be sure that the catfish has already gone hunting.

While the water is not yet warm enough, catfish can be found even in shallow water and it is not at all necessary to look for deep holes to catch catfish. And although the catfish is considered a nocturnal predator, in the spring, while the water has not yet completely warmed up, the catfish can actively feed during the day and not respond to bait at night.

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At this time, the catfish bite is not yet stable. It may periodically delight with frequent bites, or it may not make itself known at all for several days. And when the water temperature rises to 18 °C, the catfish begins spawning, which lasts about 2.5 weeks. After spawning, the catfish has a short break, after which this huge predator develops a good appetite and begins to eat. But this happens already in the summer, but for now let’s return to spring bait for catfish.

The variety of spring baits for catfish is very large. After wintering, catfish take equally well on any bait, naturally of animal origin. It can be:

1. Crawling out. Placed on the hook in a bunch of 2-4 pieces. The crawler is an excellent bait, but large catfish are caught on the crawler extremely rarely and the main catch with such bait is catfish up to 3 kilograms.
2. Live bait. Live bait is one of the favorite delicacies of catfish. You can use absolutely any type of fish as live bait, but it is advisable to fish with live bait that was caught in the same body of water. Catfish bite much more actively on local live bait. The choice of fish as a live bait will depend only on what size catfish you are targeting. To do this, you must start from the fact that the size of the catfish that will bite your live bait will be at least 6-8 times larger than the bait. If we are talking about catching small catfish, then brushes, minnows, and perches are suitable as live bait. But for catching large catfish over 5 kg, it is better to choose crucian carp or roach.
3. Frog. Frogs are the catfish’s natural food to which it is accustomed. This is why using a frog as bait can bring good results. The frog is caught on a hook by the lower jaw or legs.
4. Sparrow. For those who are not particularly familiar with catfishing, using a sparrow as bait may seem like a joke or stupidity. But don't rush to conclusions. Sparrow roasted over a fire is one of the best baits. And in some regions, when asked “What do you use to catch catfish,” people answer in surprise, “Fried sparrow, of course,” as if there was no other bait. In order to catch a sparrow, various traps are used, which are quite easy to build and lure the sparrow into them with food.
5. Perlovitsa. Pearl barley is a bivalve mollusk. It can often be found in rivers and ponds. Catfish also readily bite on the meat of this mollusk.
6. Locust. A few insects such as locusts attached to a hook make excellent bait for catfish. Usually about 4 locusts are put on a hook.
7. Chicken liver. Another popular bait for catfish is chicken liver. Chicken liver that has been left in the sun may be more attractive to catfish, as it will give off an odor.
8. Pieces of fish. Catfish are excellently caught using pieces of fish. You can use a fish's head or tail. Often, in different bodies of water, catfish prefer a certain part of the fish. On some reservoirs, catfish are excellent at catching exclusively on the tail part, and on some, on the contrary, on the head of the fish. A purchased goby in tomato can also serve as a piece of fish. In some reservoirs, this bait attracts catfish more than others. You can use a whole bull, or again in parts. Try different options and watch the catfish’s reaction. By choosing the right key, you can regularly catch this freshwater giant.

Subtleties of catfishing

This type of fishing is full of its own characteristics and subtleties. Many nuances depend on the place of fishing. For example, if you are fishing on a river with a rapid current, then you will need a fishing line with a fishing line from 2 to 5 meters. It’s worth throwing such gear under a steep bank.

If your fishing location is a quiet and calm body of water, then you can safely use a fishing line up to 50 meters long.

The size of the hook should be chosen depending on the size of the intended prey.

The throw needs to be thrown by hand.

After following all the tips, you can expect a bite. However, be careful when it starts: the catfish is a very strong fish and after biting the guard can fly away.

Fishing tactics

Initially, you should start looking for a place to fish. Catfish choose places with fairly clean (and also warm) water. Freshwater fish cannot be found in places with abundant cold currents.

The main places where such large fish are found:

• underwater pits;
• places of rapids;
• dump sites;
• fairly quiet places in the reservoir with the presence of sunken branches and trees;
• a section of a reservoir with an abundance of snags and aquatic vegetation;

The predator prefers the deepest areas of the water area and rarely leaves its shelter (mainly during spawning periods or when going out in search of food). Catfish feed close to the shoreline, mostly in the summer at night.

It is this period that provides the fish with the largest selection of various delicacies in the form of frogs, worms, insects that fall into the rivers after heavy rains and other various small animals.

When choosing a site for catfish, it is recommended to watch the reservoir in silence for some time. It is worth betting on areas of the reservoir with the presence of peculiar funnels and periodic splashes of water. It is these behavioral features that a giant predator reveals itself to be.

Fishing is recommended to be done in the evening (19-23 hours) and in the morning (from 03:30 to 09:00). During these time intervals, the catfish is accustomed to going out in search of food.

Considering the fact that fishing takes place in the dark, it is necessary to prepare equipment and bait in advance. As bait, it is recommended to use a large part of the composition of animal origin and a smaller proportion of plant origin (about 20-25%).

Before fishing, it is better to make a couple of casts to feed the area of ​​the selected water area. After this, you can cast and wait for the bite. The gear should be rethrown every 35-45 minutes.

You should not count on the fact that an active bite will begin at the very first cast. The predator needs 30-50 minutes to feel the pleasant aroma emanating from the groundbait and bait.

Freshwater fish bite differently depending on their size. For example, from bites of small specimens, the tip of the fishing rod can make slight swaying, but large inhabitants of the aquatic area pull sharply, and therefore the tip of the tackle sharply slopes down. At the first bite, it is recommended to hook. When starting to fish, you should remember that even small predators put up a worthy fight to try to break free.

What can we say about the powerful jerks of large catfish. It is extremely difficult to successfully fish here. To begin with, you should be patient and under no circumstances make sudden movements. This will lead not only to the loss of the much-desired prey, but also to the breakdown of the gear. Therefore, when fishing, we try very carefully to tire out the fish as much as possible along the way.

Very often, when hooking, you can feel that the cunning giant is lying on the surface of the bottom, thereby making it impossible to lift it and begin fishing. The solution to this problem is to lightly tap the rod tip. The catfish is incredibly afraid of any noise effects, so it will immediately rise from the bottom and try to go to a safe place.

When fishing, the line must not be loosened. It is necessary to move the fish from side to side so that it gets as tired as possible and weakens the powerful resistance. As soon as the fish lies with its back to the bottom, you can make sure that the predator is sufficiently tired. Only after this can you fish it out to the coastline.

The shallower the depth of the reservoir remains in the path, the less resistance the inhabitant of the water area has. Having brought the catfish to a safe distance, you should grab it under the gills and calmly pull it onto land.

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Type of catfish bite

The strength and power of this ruler of the river kingdom is noted by everyone who dealt with him. Of course, this greatly affects the biting process.

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After the catfish has caught on the hook, it begins to try to escape into some kind of shelter with the help of sharp and strong ones, after which it begins to press with all its weight, trying to survive with all its power.

When biting a catfish, it is important to remember that you should not rush and give in to emotions. Do everything carefully and calmly, this is the only way you can achieve success in this difficult matter.

Safety precautions when catching catfish from a boat

Many fishermen prefer fishing from a boat in the middle of a body of water to calm fishing on the shore. But with this type of fishing you should follow a few simple rules:

Take a knife with you. When biting, the line can get caught on your leg, and with a knife you can easily cut it.

Do not wrap the line around your hand. This will not help you pull the catfish out, and on the contrary, it will help the catfish drag you to the bottom.

Do not drag catfish into the boat. Usually such fish are pulled to the shore, where they can be safely fished out. If you do this on a boat, there is a risk that you will end up in the water

Catfish, and especially a large and powerful specimen, is considered one of the fisherman’s most valuable catches. There are many ways to catch it, but fishing with a hook is one of the most successful.