Features of catching catfish in August

Features of behavior

Som in September. During calendar September, catfish behavior changes as the air temperature drops. At the beginning of autumn there is still enough natural food for catfish. Active bottom organisms and small fish form the basis of the food supply of catfish. Large individuals rarely change areas with sufficient food. The highest activity of catfish is observed at night. On warm September nights, catfish can go to the coastal zone to hunt for frogs.

Large catfish, weighing more than 5 kg, rarely rise to the surface. But there are also exceptions. The predator can surface to capture a floating bird. Targeted catfish fishing in September often results in a good catch.

Catfish in October. A decrease in water temperature causes the fish to become more active before the upcoming winter. It looks for food by moving along the bottom depressions. In October, small fish gradually move to depth and often become prey for predators.

On large rivers and large-area lakes (reservoirs), catfish fishing using quok is characterized by high efficiency. As the temperature steadily decreases, catfish have to be looked for in deep holes with bottom piles or artificial superstructures.

Som in November. After the onset of stable frosts, catfish activity noticeably decreases. It can be activated on windless days, when the air temperature is around +10°C. When choosing a place to catch catfish in November, you should remember that the predator avoids fast currents. Coastal holes at the bend of the river, the coast of which is abundantly overgrown with reeds, are a good sign of the presence of catfish. In such areas, using a boat makes fishing easier. Successful catching of catfish in November is possible taking into account the nuances of the behavior of the inactive predator.

What to use to catch catfish in the fall

Catfish are caught in the fall with a variety of gear, using artificial baits and a variety of baits of animal origin. What to use for catching catfish in the fall is decided by each angler at his own discretion, taking into account the peculiarities of fishing. For catching catfish in the fall, all gear that allows you to deliver bait or lure to the bottom recesses is applicable:

• Feeder or simple donka without a reel;
• Spinning;
• Live bait float rod, with equipment for catching catfish;
• Summer girders;
• Mugs.

Important! Regardless of the method of catching catfish, special attention should be paid to the strength of the gear. The predator has poor eyesight, so he does not pay attention to the bulkiness of the gear.

Catching catfish on a donk

For catching catfish on a donk, simple gear without the use of a rod and reel is suitable. They are equipped with a regular reel, strong cord and hook, size from No. 10 according to domestic numbering. If there is a possibility of catching fish weighing several tens of kilograms, then it is necessary to tie on types of fishing hooks with increased strength.

It is more convenient to catch catfish on a feeder. This is the same donka, additionally equipped with a rod and reel.

Feeder for catfish:

• Rod. It is important to choose the right feeder rod. Powerful models with a length of at least 4 meters are suitable for catching catfish. The longer the rod, the easier it is to tear a large predator from the bottom surface. A rod with a medium action ensures a timely reaction to catfish jerks. Although the choice of formation depends on the desire and habit of the fisherman;
• Coil. When preparing the elements of the gear, you should choose the right reel for the feeder. It must be equipped with a friction clutch, with a convenient location of the adjustment knob. In addition, you need to pay attention to the volume of the coil. The spool must ensure the laying of a cord (line) with a length taking into account the casting distance of +100 meters. Additional meters will be useful if it is necessary to bleed the fishing line while fighting large catfish;
• Cord (fishing line). For catching catfish, it is preferable to install a braided line. The load capacity of the cord must be at least 15-20 kg. Durable equipment will give you confidence when fishing for a trophy predator;
• Feeder. It is better to equip a catfish feeder with large-sized feeders. The cell size should ensure the slow spreading (washing out) of crawlers, which are usually used as a component of bait. The weight of the filled feeder feeder + the weight of the sinker must correspond to the test of the rod. The option of equipping the feeder with a feeder is chosen at the request of the fisherman;
• Leashes and hooks. The metalized leash prevents it from breaking and, as a result, the fish disappearing. Strong hooks with a long shank, size no less than No. 10, are used;
• Bite alarm. Bells or bells are used as signaling devices, which are attached to the tip of the rod or to the cord. For night fishing, it is advisable to select alarms with different sound tones. Although it is impossible to miss a powerful catfish bite, even in low light;
• Stands for tackle. Reliable fastening of the tackle on the shore or in a boat is a necessary condition when catching large catfish. If there is no special stand for feeder gear, then you can use stands that provide fixation of the rod handle.

Tackle and bait

A bottom fishing rod is the most common gear for catching a mustachioed predator at this time of year. They use it in all suitable places - deep holes, edges, deep drops, as well as in shallow water, where catfish come out to feed at night much more often in autumn than in summer.

You can use either a classic baitcaster with a blind rig or a modern version with a rod and reel.

The tackle should be as reliable and durable as possible, even rough - this does not scare the catfish.

As for the feeder, it can be used in the same places as a regular donk (with the exception of places with strong currents and areas with a large number of hooks). Considering the presence of a feeder, fishing with feeder gear is usually more effective than with a regular donkey.

The following are used as bait for catfish:

• live bait,
• crayfish meat,
• a bunch of crawlings.

Before starting fishing, I recommend carefully studying the topography of the bottom of the reservoir in order to find the most suitable fishing point. It will not be superfluous to use bait. It can be meat, fish fillet, i.e. predominantly of animal origin. Before starting fishing, we do preliminary feeding - for this we send the bait into the feeder and make several casts. After this, the actual process begins.

A catfish feeder is a powerful carp or sea fishing rod and a large, reliable reel. You can also use a “marine” multiplier.

The heaviest and most voluminous feeder is selected. Often, fishermen, not finding a suitable option on sale, make a feeder with their own hands.

Spinning is as relevant as in summer. This is the most active and sporting type of fishing. It is best to fish with a spinning rod in clean places, without snags or other hooks.

1. Catfish are caught using both spinners and jigs.
2. The tackle should be as strong and reliable as possible.
3. The pace of the retrieve is slow, with smooth decelerations and periodic touches to the bottom.

Among the spinning baits, the following should be highlighted:

• large heavy vibrations,
• deep-sea wobblers with a long wide blade,
• large silicone twisters and vibrotails,
• frogs and imitation cuttlefish or a large pile of worms,
• Composite combined baits give a good effect.

Catfish bait

Catfish is an omnivorous predator. Catfish baits are selected according to the principle: the more varied, the better. The following baits are used for catching catfish:

• A bunch of dung worms or maggots. This bait is suitable for catching catfish weighing 1-3 kg. Large individuals are less likely to be tempted by this bait;
• Crawls. They are also planted in a bunch;
• Frog. Excellent bait for catching catfish in coastal cliffs on slow-moving reservoirs or medium-sized rivers;
• Molting crayfish are good at provoking predators to bite;
• Locust or grasshopper. If it is possible to catch them, then you can count on a good catfish bite;
• Pieces of fish and animal meat. A predator with poor eyesight, it reacts to the smell spread by these baits. The fried entrails of animals and birds are also characterized by the same catchability;
• Medvedka. The only drawback is its inaccessibility within the city;
• Leeches. Used as a complement to other catfish baits;
• Live bait. This bait needs to be given special attention.

Catching catfish with live bait

Catfish never miss an opportunity to feast on the smaller inhabitants of the reservoir. Catching catfish with live bait is carried out on fish caught in a body of water in which the predator lives. Crucian carp, perch, roach and other types of fish are used as live bait. The size of the live bait is selected according to the dimensions of the expected catch. Catfish weighing more than 10 kg easily capture crucian carp that have gained weight over 500 grams.

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.

Catching catfish using a spinning rod

Fans of spinning fishing for trophy predatory fish from the shore are always ready to travel long distances while moving along the coastline. After identifying holes (depressions), sharp changes in depth with bottom accumulations, casts are made upstream in relation to promising places.

Retrieving is done with short pulls of the bait with pauses. The catfish bites when the bait is lowered to the bottom or during a pause. The bite of a predator is felt through the rod. It is important to set the reel clutch correctly so that when hooking you do not pull the bait out of the predator’s mouth.

Fishing for catfish can last tens of minutes. There is no need to be hasty, even when equipping the spinning rod with reliable equipment. Unexpected powerful jerks and somersaults of a large fish can provoke its disappearance. Tired and brought to the shore, the catfish is removed from the water with a hook or landing net. Removal into the boat can be done by grasping the lower jaw of the fish with a gloved hand.

On large bodies of water, spinning rods are used for trolling. Using a fishing echo sounder, a preliminary reconnaissance of the bottom surface is carried out, and the route of the boat’s movement is outlined. Catching catfish by trolling is done at low speed.

Advice! If there is a possibility of catching a trophy catfish, then it is better to go out to a large reservoir (lake) or a large river together. Using a quality life jacket is a must.

To increase the chance of a bite, you can modify the classic spinning rod rig. Tie live bait below the catfish bait. The noise of the bait and the smell emanating from the fish attract the predator well. The blind barbel is equally likely to grab bait or live bait. Instead of live bait, you can use other large catfish bait.

And one more feature of catching catfish with a spinning rod. The wiring is carried out almost along the bottom. Existing bottom accumulations can cause an annoying snag. You can reduce the likelihood of snags by using a rig with a Tyrolean stick. For the same purpose, you can use Texas or Carolina equipment. It wouldn’t be superfluous to have a detachable hook for a wobbler. Although practice shows that there are no cutter models that 100% guarantee the “salvation” of the bait.

Fishing methods

Since the catfish becomes less and less active in the autumn, in order to catch the next specimen you need to try very hard and, as fishermen say, you need to present the bait on a silver platter and as close to the mouth as possible. Among the fishing methods are the following:

Fishing with kwok

This fishing method is best suited for catching catfish in September, when the predator is still active and the days are quite warm. You can also use small bird meat as bait, and catch it in the early morning or at sunset. In this case, the bait should be kept in the middle layers of the water and it is better to swim on rubber or wooden boats, since the metal body can scare away the predator and you will be left without a catch.

Donka

Perhaps one of the most effective equipment for catching catfish in the autumn. It is successfully used with live bait at night. The equipment is thrown without feeders into places near holes and underwater ravines, where the catfish prefers to be most of the time, especially before hibernation.

Spinning

Catching catfish using a spinning rod is also quite promising. As bait, the best are considered to be silicone vibrating tails with a length of 15 cm, mounted on jig heads. In this case, the bait is led in a step with high rises and pauses of 5-7 seconds. Also quite often, uniform wiring is used at the very bottom of the reservoir without pauses.

Trolling

Trolling is used by spinners who use wobblers as bait. With its help, you can carefully fish large holes and ravines. At the same time, it is worth taking care of the spinning rod itself and the equipment. The rod should be 3 or more meters long with a cast from 30 to 70 g. As for the reel, you should use a multiplier reel with fine adjustments to the friction and fishing line with a diameter of 0.2 mm and a length of 150 m.

For trolling, the bait is lowered into the water behind the boat and left at a distance of 50-70 m, at times allowing the bait to touch the bottom. In this case, the boat is led against the current and, even in the absence of bites, they go along the same route several times.

Catfish baits

When choosing a catfish bait, take into account its size, weight and noise created during retrieval. The following artificial baits are suitable for catching predators:

• Wobblers. Sinking baits are used (buoyancy is determined by classification), with a length of at least 10 cm. Preference should be given to wobblers with a noise effect. Color doesn’t really matter, but baits painted in bright colors work better;
• Spoons. Large oscillating models are good at tempting predators to bite. It is advisable to use silver-colored baits. You should not ignore rotating spoons with a petal at least 6 cm long;
• Silicone analogues of fish. With skillful retrieval, this bait often becomes interesting for catfish;
• Vibrating tails and twisters. For catching catfish, they are selected according to the principle: the larger, the better. Fast delivery to the bottom layer of water is ensured by the use of a jig head weighing from 10 grams. Considering the poor eyesight of fish, you should select baits of bright colors.

So, in order for the exciting catfishing in the fall to bring only positive emotions, you should carefully prepare for the upcoming fishing. A large fish caught on a hook rarely forgives a superficial approach to preparing gear.

Catching catfish in summer. Fishing in August

The best time for catching catfish
The best time for catching catfish is July - August . It is especially well caught soon after spawning, which usually occurs at a temperature of +18-22 degrees Celsius. The best fishing time during the day should be considered from dusk to dawn. But even during the day, the possibility of his grip cannot be ruled out if the bait passes close to his mouth. Usually during the day it is caught in places where it is concentrated, for example, at dams on large “catfish” (Don) rivers. There are numerous cases of catching small catfish on the Oka, Klyazma and other rivers. This fish is caught only on calm and warm days. What does catfish eat?
The main food
of catfish is small, medium, and sometimes large fish. It also eats worms, mollusks, crayfish, waterfowl chicks, and can even grab a gaping adult duck. Green frogs are a delicacy for catfish. Tackle and attachments for catching catfish
Hunting for catfish requires special observation and very durable gear. In most cases, a millimeter nylon line with a tee No. 10-12 is sufficient. The best baits are medium-sized roaches, frogs or fried sparrows (catfish love the smell of burnt feathers or wool).

When catching catfish with a spinning rod, tackle with small fish, elongated white spoons and sinking wobblers are used as bait. The best time to hunt with a spinning rod is early morning and late evening. The most catchy places are shallows in front of pits and pools, in which catfish constantly live.

In deep holes where there is no current, catfish are caught using vertical lures. The lure on the fishing rod is narrow, large in size (8-10 cm) with a single or triple hook. Sometimes, to increase the weight, tin is soldered onto it. More often, the catfish grabs the spoon during smooth pulls or at the moment of damping of vibrations. The predator is also attracted by the spinner moving on the ground when it creates a slight turbidity.

When fishing with a bottom fishing rod, the bait must be lowered onto the ground in a pool or on a coastal shallow near a riffle, at the exit of a hole, at the mouth of a tributary. Live fish or frogs are used as bait.

Catching catfish using kwok is very productive. A kwok is a curved instrument made of wood or metal ending in a flat head. When it hits the water, the quok makes a gurgling sound that attracts catfish. It is more convenient to fish with a quok together. One angler controls the boat, the other manipulates the gear. The fishing tackle for quok consists of a strong cord on a reel with a heavy sinker attached to it. Near the sinker, a half-meter nylon leash with a large forged hook is tied to the cord. A large frog is put on the hook as a bait. It is necessary to direct the boat with the current and guide the bait through a deep place in the bottom layer. After a series of three strikes on the water with a quok, there is a pause of several seconds. If there is no bite, then the quok strikes are repeated to the right or to the left. Catfish can be found in holes and pools washed by the river in soft soil. There they settle down in groups of several fish and spend almost the entire day there. The opening of a catfish hole often occurs by accident. If, while fishing with live bait, you remove the tackle with a broken line as if broken by a blunt object, then this is a sure sign that a large catfish living nearby has become interested in the bait. Often the proximity of a catfish pit is indicated by the break of a strong bottom installed at night. The hole itself should almost certainly be looked for a little further downstream, because... this fish usually goes hunting against the current. Sometimes the search for catfish can be done visually. Young catfish can hunt during the day in the surface layer of water. It happens that a catfish paired with an asp hunts for small fish on the surface.

It is generally accepted that catfish are active at dusk and at night. This mainly applies to large catfish that weigh more than 30 kg. The vast majority of these fish are active throughout the day. With the onset of twilight, catfish move in the water column closer to the surface. You can often observe catfish hunting frogs.

Catching catfish on a donk

Bottom gear for catching catfish is used in places where these fish may emerge from pits and in places where they may accumulate. Catfish are usually caught with a bottom hook at night, placing it in the evening and checking it in the morning. The tackle usually consists of a strong cord ending with a leash 0.5-1.0 mm thick. Single hooks are used, size no less than No. 10, and when fishing in pits No. 35-40.

On the shore, the tackle is secured in such a way that it can absorb the jerks of the caught fish. This could be a peg made from a tree branch attached to the shore. There are also special branded rubber shock absorbers. A catfish caught with such gear is usually ready for fishing by morning and offers almost no resistance.

Catching catfish using a jigging rod

The zherlitsa should be secured to the shore as securely as possible, tying it to coastal trees. The butt stake is not used with such tackle; the catfish is too strong and will almost certainly vomit it. Large baitfish and frogs are used as bait. They are tied to a hook in such a way that they can move. Frogs are allowed to float on the surface so that neither the current nor the wind can entangle the tackle in algae or bottom support.