Catfishing is considered one of the most exciting types of fishing. This fish, the largest representative of the family of the same name, is impressive in its size, which is why, having caught it, hunters experience incredible pride and pleasure.
The length of its body can reach five meters, while the weight of individual individuals is more than three hundred kilograms. The catfish lives in reservoirs in the European part of our country. It spawns in spring in coastal aquatic vegetation. Females lay eggs in the nest, and males guard them.
The choice of place for fishing for this large predator depends not only on weather conditions, but also on the time of year and even the day.
Fishing in spring
When the catfish awakens after hibernation, the water is heated to only eight degrees. At this time, the fish remains very sluggish, although there is a chance to catch it. You need to find the warmest place on the reservoir - coastal shallows or the mouths of small rivers, next to which there is depth. It is from there that this predator comes out to hunt.
When the water warms up to fifteen degrees, the catfish begins to eat. At this time, he does not understand the choice of prey, rushing at everything that can be eaten. Therefore, in the spring, fishing with artificial bait is very productive.
Fishing in summer
When reservoirs warm up to twenty degrees, it is time for catfish to spawn. It lasts up to three weeks. At this time, mostly small specimens are caught on the bait, but after the end of the spawn, during the feast, fishermen have the most freedom.
Towards mid-July, catfish become active in the evening, at night or early morning, when they hunt closer to the surface. Its presence can be determined by powerful splashes or a peculiar slurping sound. If the water in the reservoir is muddy, then this mustachioed predator can be active all day, and before a thunderstorm it completely forgets about the danger, actively and intensively hunting.
Autumn fishing
When the season of rain and cold weather arrives, it becomes very difficult to guess the location and hunting time of this fish. The hours she goes out to look for food may change every day.
Therefore, for many novice anglers, catching catfish in the fall is somewhat difficult. They often return home empty-handed. Catfish can feed both on quiet nights, preparing for hibernation, and on foggy and cloudy days.
It is difficult to name the exact time of its feeding or biting. However, experienced fishermen know how to catch catfish in the fall. A good guide this season can be those places where there are bream, chub and other small fish. Catfish will definitely be nearby. After the onset of the first frost, it begins to go to the wintering pits, but continues to feed from them. Just like in the spring, fishing for catfish in the fall during this period can be very difficult. Production is already less active.
Place and time of fishing
At the same time, finding the location of a catfish in a reservoir is not so easy. Usually, catfish do not indicate their presence in any way, so I would recommend finding concentrations of fish such as carp, bream or chub. If you find this fish near deep holes, then you will be guaranteed good fishing for a long time.
I would like to note that in the fall it is quite difficult to determine the best time for fishing for catfish. Sometimes catfish fishing goes well on quiet autumn nights, sometimes on foggy mornings, and sometimes there is an active catfish bite during the day. I think that a lot depends on what time a particular school of catfish was feeding heavily. And yet, many anglers agree that it is best to catch catfish during the daytime, and then decide for yourself.
It is well known that catfish are best caught at the edge of deep underwater holes. They are called “catfish pits”. At the same time, you must remember that catfish are very cautious fish, so catching catfish will require a lot of patience and absolute silence from you.
When it comes to choosing the most effective gear for fishing for catfish in the fall, the opinions of many fishermen differ. But personally, I think that catfish fishing is most successful using feeder equipment.
Catching catfish using kwok
In autumn, this simple device, in skillful hands, produces specific sounds, as if attracting a mustachioed predator to itself like a magnet. Most often, kwok is made from hardwood: maple, ide or apple. The correct sounds to attract prey depend on various factors: the shape of the device, the material, as well as the skill and experience of the fisherman. Catching catfish in the fall with a quok should take place without unnecessary splashes and splashes. Privada should not scare away, but rather attract. Therefore, for a good catch, some training is required.
You need to squawk measuredly - up to three beats with pauses of a few seconds. The equipment for such fishing and the equipment used to catch catfish on a donk in the fall are very similar - this is a powerful rod, a multiplier reel, thick braid from 0.6-0.8 millimeters, a hundred-gram sinker, a leash about sixty centimeters long, a power swivel and impressive treble hook.
Groundbait and bait for catfish
Now about the bait. It should be noted that when catching catfish in the autumn, the following have proven themselves well: live bait, crayfish neck, shell and worm.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that catching catfish in the fall always begins with determining the location of the hole in the reservoir. To do this, you need to anchor the boat next to the chosen fishing spot. After this, lower the weight on the rope to the bottom and simply drag it along the bottom,
If we talk about bait for catching catfish in the autumn, then it must be said that at this time of year, catfish, along with protein foods, do not disdain flour products. But I would still recommend that you use as bait for catfish what is natural food for any predator. Therefore, catfish bite well on the following baits: kidneys, gizzards, bird giblets, and the like.
Immediately after the bait is placed in the feeder, several casts are made into the fishing zone. In this regard, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that after lowering the feeder to the bottom, it must be tugged slightly so that the food is distributed over the bottom surface.
The most popular tackle
Catching catfish using a donk is especially common among amateurs. In autumn, this type of fishing gives good results. Donka is easy to perform, in addition, it is more reliable than a spinning rod. In addition, it has one big advantage - affordability. For example, one branded spinning rod costs the same as thirty donks.
Many anglers are very successful in catching this mustachioed predator using the most common models. After all, it’s much easier to catch, track bites, and fish with a donkey. In addition, it has more “tricks” than spinning rods.
Catching catfish on a donk in the fall begins the day before the actual fishing. First you need to get crawlers and bears. With this gear, catfish are usually caught starting at dusk and throughout the night. Therefore, it is necessary to arrive at the reservoir in advance in order to lay out and throw the gear.
Tricks for catfish
Depending on the choice of fishing location, their number also changes. Tricks for catching catfish are made as follows. A fifty-meter fishing line is wound on a reel, at the end of which a hundred- or two-hundred-gram sinker is attached. A leash about forty centimeters long is tied half a meter from him.
The size of the hook is selected depending on the size of the intended prey, but it must be so large that a bunch of crawlers or mole crickets can be baited onto it.
Donkey's choice
In each specific area, fishermen use their own types of this gear, with features and secrets. And although they are all similar in their principle of action, some differ in nuances.
For example, to equip a donkey with a fishing rod, you definitely need a high-quality, strong fishing rod. This could be a duralumin variety or a modern carp “stick”. The main requirement for this equipment is the ability to withstand strong gusts of large prey. A similar approach for the coil. It must also be reliable and durable. The correct selection of fishing line is influenced by the weight of the catfish - the inhabitant of this reservoir. In some cases, fishermen wind monofilament up to one millimeter, and in trophy fishing - braid with a diameter of up to 0.8 mm. The sinker is placed sliding or stationary. At shallow depths, its mass can be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty grams.
Catching catfish in the fall on the current can be done without using a traditional fishing rod. This is due to the small distance to the fishing site of this fish. In this method, everything depends on how the angler performs when catching catfish.
Types of bait for catfish
There are many baits, especially of artificial origin: twisters, wobblers, vibrotails, silicone fish, etc.
But despite this, many prefer to use the old fashioned way: worms, live bait, frogs, locusts, etc. And they believe that this is a more affordable and tasty food.
Organic origin
We can highlight:
- Crawling worms (whole bunches) - used by more than one generation of catfish, especially effective for small and medium-sized specimens, in the spring, when it gets warmer.
- The shell is a good delicacy; you can find it in a body of water where there is a current. Large shells are collected and the contents are removed using a knife.
- Scorched or lightly smoked poultry carcasses - Suitable for hunting large specimens. The bird is very strongly scorched over a fire, until it smells like burnt feathers and flesh. They let it rot and hang it entirely on the hook.
Crawls
Shell
Piece of fish
Zywiec - Pieces of meat and fish - the main thing is that they have a foul odor. In this form, they are cut into pieces of the desired shape and planted.
- Zywiec. The word live bait applies to any type of fish. The size is selected according to the dimensions of the catfish. You need to at least approximately imagine the size of the future trophy.
The main condition for live bait is that it must be alive and caught in its own reservoir.Catfish pose a natural danger to small fish. This means that they will frantically try to escape, and this will attract the predator even more.
Artificial origin
For spinning it is better to use a wobbler, some models:
- Liberty BITE 130F.
- Liberty Deep Runner 800F.
- Dorado Invader 8F and 7S.
- SalmoPerch P08SDR.
Dorado Invader 7
Liberty BITE 130F
Liberty Deep Runner 800F
Salmo Perch P08SDR
They have a good game: uniform, not very fast wiring. A wide variety of colors, very stable in operation.
For jig hunting , baits made from edible silicone are ideal; the choice is simply huge.
All bodies of water have their own unique features, so the choice will depend only on them.
When going on their next fishing trip, experienced fishermen take with them all the bait they have available. As they say, for all occasions.
The best lures for fishing with quok
Fishing with a quok involves attracting catfish to the bait with the sound of a quok. And the bait is only needed to provoke him, so that he swallows it and gets caught.
The following are good attachments:
- Pearl barley shell. This is a bivalve mollusk. They are collected in advance, in the shallows. They need to be stored in water, and when fishing, carefully open the shell with a knife and remove the mollusk. Place several pieces on the hook at a time; they should hang freely from the hook, but the tip should be open.
- Frog. It is necessary to catch frogs that are local, living near the habitat of the catfish, he subtly senses the difference. It’s good to do this at night with a flashlight; blinded by the light, they freeze in place. It is better to place them on the tee, just do it without damaging it. She must remain alive for a long time and must be mobile. The sting is passed from the back, through, next to the anus, with a slight deviation from the spinal column, slightly to the right or left. If after this execution she remains alive and vigorously twitches her hind legs, then you did everything right.
- Bark beetle larvae. They are very meaty and dense. They can be found in the forest on a rotten trunk or stump of any tree. If the tree below is strewn with sawdust, and there are round holes in the trunk, it means that the bark beetle has settled there. This is an excellent protein food; catfish simply love it.
- Pieces of fish and meat. You can take any meat or fish that is unnecessary on the farm. If it is relatively fresh, it needs to be spoiled a little, the smell should be as foul as possible.
- The bird is scorched. This type of bait has a stimulating effect on the big-headed predator’s sense of smell. You can take any carcasses, both domestic and wild birds: small chickens, sparrows, pigeons, etc. The plumage just needs to be severely scorched over a fire. And let it lie a little warm, when the smell appears, you can go fishing.
- Locust
Locust and mole cricket. Mole cricket has a specific smell that the barbel likes so much. It's not easy to dig out of the ground, but it will be worth it. There is especially a lot of it in vegetable gardens; its favorite place is under heaps of last year’s manure. Locusts are a little more difficult to catch; they live on agricultural lands, destroying them en masse. There is an alternative, buy it at a fishing store. - Cancer. This is also a bottom dweller, which is probably why it is so attractive. They should only be alive, so you need to learn how to plant them correctly.
You can't pierce the tail with it, it will die so quickly. A puncture is made on top of the shell, slightly above the eyes.Such a nozzle on the bottom will look very natural, because he will run and defend himself and move. This means that our predator will definitely notice it, and will not remain indifferent.
- Perch and other large baitfish. The catfish is an omnivorous predator; its main diet consists of fish. For large predators, it is necessary to take larger live bait, such as: perch, bream, burbot, crucian carp, asp, tench, pike, ruff, ide, loach, roach, chub, etc. The optimal weight is up to 200 grams. For large prey - up to 2 kg or more.
- Worms in a bunch. This is the simplest bait that has been used productively for many years - worms.
A bunch of worms (10-20 pieces) strung on a hook always serves as an excellent bait for absolutely all bodies of water and time of year. The worms just need to be strung on a tee so that the barbel does not break off when biting.
In Astrakhan
In autumn, the reservoirs of this region have a wide variety of fish. Having visited the Lower Volga catfish fishing once and enjoyed the trophy catch, a person will come here every year. In general, many believe that it is difficult to find a better place for autumn spearfishing than the Astrakhan region. Moreover, there is an excellent catch here all year round.
Catching catfish in Astrakhan in the fall offers great opportunities for large trophy specimens. There is quite a lot of prey in the main river bed, in its pits and pools.
Those who come to the banks of the Volga not for the first time know what to use to catch catfish in the fall. At this time, the insatiable predator can best be caught using frogs or bottom spoons. Once the water temperature begins to drop in September, it is time to troll. Gambling fishing in all available ways can continue until late autumn.
In October, when the catfish roll into the pits, the season for bottom fishing begins. It continues until the first frost, until mid-November.
River catfish in October
In the second half of October, catfish are very active and willingly attack spinning baits. Due to the colder weather, they change the territory in which they hunt.
At the end of cold October, catfish go to the depths. Carnivores have not yet lost their appetite, but their metabolic rate will soon decrease. Interest in zhor begins to disappear already in mid-November, however, everything depends on the water temperature.
Fishing place
River catfish stay at depths of up to 5-7 m. The feeding places of predators are in pits, in the main stream of the current, on its border with bays and in the deepest places between dams. Underwater spits are still good places for fishing, but only the deepest and with a hard bottom (the edge of the spit moves very slowly, crumbling sand is not visible). A very good fishing spot is a deep trench next to the shore (shore fill), in which bleak, dace, silver bream and vimba feed.
Bait
As bait, we offer wobblers for catfish of any type, of which the most effective are acoustic wobblers (with a rattle), minnows, in natural colors for perch, gudgeon, roach, and also in bright fluorescent colors. The size of an effective wobbler is 8-12 cm. Twisters, spoons, and cogs also give good results.
Read: Catching catfish in June
Fishing rod
We recommend a specialized spinning rod for catfish, dynamic with a fast action, 270-300 cm long, with a dough of 40-120 g, with strong and reliable rings and a reinforced blank, light weight. The choice depends on the bait used and the size of the fish in the river. Spinning reel with a solid design, for catching strong fish, size 4000(40)-6000(60). A spare metal spool is recommended and should hold 250m of 0.35mm line. Fishing line is easier to use than braid, which makes fishing difficult. It is much stronger and has half the diameter, making long casts easier. To catch catfish weighing 30 kg, you need to use a spinning line with a diameter of 0.30-0.35 mm, for heavier ones - 0.40 mm or thicker.
Tactics
You can start fishing at any time, even when it freezes down to – 4 °C. The catfish's zhor reaches its maximum around noon due to the maximum temperature during these hours. On a warm day, with low pressure, catfish become very active, and then you can expect good results throughout the day, at dusk and in the first hours after dark. The bait should be moved slowly and close to the bottom, no more than half the depth. We recommend displaying the bait 10-20 times in the selected location of the reservoir.
Bait
You can use worms, frogs or bird entrails for catfish in the fall. The most effective is considered to be a set of baits made from dead small fish, a vibrating tail or a silicone twister, an oscillating spoon or foam rubber. Autumn fishing always brings surprises to anglers.
Experienced “hunters” know what to catch catfish with in the fall and what baits it is better not to take with them. For example, fast-moving artificial bait is not suitable because the predator sometimes simply does not react to it. Whereas deep-sea wobblers and large vibrotails with various noise effects give good results, especially when fishing in cold water, up to ten degrees.
Features of catching catfish in autumn
Based on the available capabilities and skills, predator hunting tactics are built. The right choice of tactics helps to achieve a good bite.
Catching catfish in September
Weather vagaries in autumn greatly influence the behavior of the river giant. There are places where catfish actively feed and bite all day, and sometimes not a single promising bite appears in a day. Since it can be difficult to catch catfish in September, it is better to choose a cloudy or foggy day, then the chances are much greater. Windy days should be avoided, especially if there is a northerly, cold wind.
The choice of what to catch catfish with in September is still quite wide, although people more often use a donka or a feeder. First, the place is lured, and then the tackle is thrown into the lower layer of water. The attachments remain the same, there are no significant changes in the diet. Many people like to fish for smoked pigeon; its smell attracts catfish well.
Small fish aggressively attack the bait, but large fish tend to try the bait first, so there is no need to rush into hooking. Forcing the reeling is an unsuccessful tactic; you should let the fish get exhausted.
The best time of day for fishing for catfish in autumn is night and early morning
Catching catfish in October
In October, small catfish gradually descend into wintering pits and no longer go out to hunt; this happens after the middle of the month. Large fish, on the contrary, tend to feed until November. The predator is now not inclined to stray far from the pits and swims nearby. For successful fishing, it is important to find holes and cast close to where the predator exits, then there is a chance of a decent catch.
Important! Catfish always rise into holes against the current; they can no longer be found on the rifts. The best place for fishing is an intermediate depression with a reverse current between the riverbed and quiet holes near the shore. Pits on “volozhkas” and “breakthroughs” also turn out to be effective.
Catching catfish in November
Catching catfish in late autumn is possible only before the onset of severe cold. It is possible to catch fish only with precise casting. In November, large catfish still feed in the middle and warm regions, but are less active. A good bite begins in the first ten days of the month and worsens after the middle of the month.
Some tips:
- often caught on a donka with a lot of gear. They make simple zakidushki and install them on the shore in groups of 5, 10 or 20 pieces. Most often, the fishing rod is set at night, but at other times it may be advisable not to touch the fishing rod for up to two days. It is better to install donks next to deep holes;
- Trolling is an active type of fishing, since the fisherman has to overcome many kilometers of water until active catfish are discovered. Without an echo sounder, fishing turns out to be difficult; it not only describes the bottom topography, but is also able to highlight the outline of the catfish’s body. One pass is not enough to determine the presence of prey; you should try to repeat the procedure at least 4-5 times;
Fishing Features
Catfish fishing in the fall should be approached with special responsibility.
Every detail in the gear must be checked many times, since there is no point in going fishing with a stuck reel or frayed fishing line. In general, catching catfish in the fall has certain characteristics. For example, you shouldn’t rush to hook a catfish. The predator always tries the bait first and only then thoroughly grabs it. And even after a powerful bite, you need to wait a little. The hook must be done sweepingly and strongly. And then the fishing begins. This is the most important stage of fishing. Hooked prey always behaves differently. Sometimes even a small fish puts up a powerful fight, and sometimes it behaves calmly and heads towards the boat itself. But even in such a situation, you must remember that everything can change at the last moment.
Experienced “somyatniks” know: under no circumstances should the prey be allowed to go into snags. In this case, there is a great danger of being left without any gear at all. If the catfish lies on the bottom and cannot be moved from its place, you need to make a good noise - tap on the rod whip or on the side of the boat. This fish does not like noise, so it will most likely move away.
Catching catfish, in autumn or summer, in any season, requires good physical shape and endurance. Fishing should be done slowly, without rushing or fussing. The main thing is not to put too much stress on the rod. Having tired the prey, you need to begin to gradually drag it towards you. It’s good if there are two fishermen, because in some reservoirs the weight of the catch can reach up to seventy or even more kilograms, so in such cases it can be somewhat problematic to pull it out.
Where to look for catfish
Its food search schedule at this time of year is also inconsistent and variable. For example, it can feed quite actively at night, and also be active on cloudy, foggy days, beginning to prepare for an early winter. To determine the habitats of catfish, experienced fishermen advise focusing on other types of fish, such as chub, bream, carp, and carp. They are the ones who always find themselves nearby, but, unlike catfish, they actively betray their presence in a given place.
Catching catfish in September is a very simple, and at the same time quite interesting activity.
At this time, the fish begins to feed heavily, without leaving their favorite places. The hunting time of catfish during this period is constantly changing. Today he went hunting on a calm and quiet night, and tomorrow he will take bait only during daylight hours. It has been noted that in September catfish are more active during the day. In addition, its bite depends primarily on the fishing location - in deep holes there is a much greater chance of successful fishing than in shallow water.
