Catfish bait can be very varied. Catfish are predators, so when choosing bait you need to be guided by this fact. The huge mouth of the catfish practically does not limit the angler in the size of the bait.
Catfish bait can be divided according to many criteria, for example, bait for catching large catfish and bait for catching small catfish; bait that is easy to get and unusual bait, so to speak exclusive. But these are all trifles, and when listing all kinds of bait for catfish, it will be clear whether it will be easy to get such bait or difficult, whether a large catfish will bite on it or a small one.
So I decided to break down my catfish bait by season. After all, the diet of catfish is subject to change and depends on weather conditions, temperature conditions, which are the seasons. In order for catfish fishing to be successful, it is very important to take into account the seasonality factor, and in this article you will learn what bait is best to catch catfish at a certain time of the year.
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.
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:
- 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.
- Zhiwiec . 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Fishing methods
There are a large number of fishing methods, but since this fish is bottom-dwelling, the most popular method is bottom tackle.
Bottom tackle
The simplest design of a donkey is a piece of fishing line about 100 meters long, wound on a reel. A sinker weighing from 30 to 200 g is attached to the end of the fishing line. The weight of the sinker depends on the type of bait and the fishing location. If fishing is planned on a section of a river with a strong current or in the case of fishing with large live bait, the weight of the sinker is selected as maximum.
Approximately 20 cm from the sinker, tie a leash 30-50 cm long, equipped with a high-quality large single hook . It is worth immediately noting that all components of the equipment for catching catfish must be of the highest quality and of a size comparable to the size of the intended trophy.
It is much more comfortable to fish with bottom tackle using a rod.
You can make your own stick from hazel. The length of the rod should be within 1.5-2.0 meters, the thickness is selected based on the rest of the tackle, but cannot be less than 30 mm in diameter. But this option is more suitable for people who are used to making everything with their own hands.
Specialized stores have a huge selection of fishing rods to suit every taste and budget. If you have the opportunity to purchase a high-quality carp rod, then this is a must-do for catfishing. The coil is also selected with a safety margin.
You can use an inertial reel to catch catfish. If a multiplier is used, then with a gear ratio: 1: 5. It is important that the reel has a spool or drum of a size that allows you to reel in at least 150 meters of high-quality monofilament or cord.
Catfish is a very stubborn fish, and can refuse an invitation to go ashore and drag the fisherman to visit him. Therefore, there should always be a sufficient supply of fishing line. Next, installation occurs in exactly the same way as in the case of a donkey - a sinker and a leash with a hook are attached.
Kwok
For quokking, a hollow tube made of wood is used. With the correct technique of application, when the kwok hits the water, it makes a sound that resembles the croaking of a frog. This sound attracts catfish even at a considerable distance. The reason why this happens has not been solved to date, but there are three versions.
Frogs occupy by no means the last place in our gourmet’s diet, so the hypothesis about a hungry catfish that is in a hurry to feast on frog meat is quite workable.
There is another explanation for this behavior - this is the incredible love of the hero of our article. To attract male catfish, the female makes a sound very similar to a quok striking water. And finally, the third option is the sound of an animal or bird falling into the water.
This theory is also not devoid of logic, because catfish of a fairly high weight category go out to knob. Whatever the real reason is, it really doesn't matter that much. The method of catching catfish using kwok is very effective and catchy. You only need to hunt catfish this way from a boat.
Often it takes two people to fish for kwok, but you can cope with this task alone. Difficulties may arise when hooking a catfish weighing more than 80 kg. Such a fish can turn the boat over and swim away with all the gear. Therefore, it is more advisable to go out to nod together.
Spinning
Spinning fishing with live bait can be very exciting, but the constant need to replace live bait, which, as a rule, becomes unusable after 3-4 casts, introduces certain inconveniences into this type of sport fishing.
Catfish bait in summer
Since catfish is a very heat-loving fish, it is most active in the summer. Particular activity of catfish is observed in July and August. In summer, catfish become active at night. It can be found both in holes and out into smaller areas of the reservoir where small things accumulate. But on cloudy, rainy and cool summer days it can continue to bite around the clock. It catches very well all day long when there is fog outside.
In summer, it is best to catch catfish using the following baits:
- live bait;
- locusts;
- shellfish;
- frog;
- crawl out.
In the summer, catfish have a wide variety of food. It actively feeds on fish, frogs, mollusks and large insects. This is the kind of food that should be offered to him as bait.
Depending on the bait you choose, your casting distance may depend. For example, you need to cast a frog over a fairly short distance, and a further distance for live bait.
To catch large catfish using a crawler, use a large hook and place a bunch of 7-10 crawlers on it. Such a tasty bouquet will surely attract a fairly large-sized catfish.
Bait for catfish in the fall
Catching catfish in the fall is most successful at night and in the morning. And when there is fog, the catfish feeds throughout the day. During this period, you should look for catfish in deep holes from which it practically never goes into shallow water. Autumn is quite a good time for catching catfish and with the right choice of place and bait it can bring good results.
As always, any bait suitable for catching catfish and listed in the spring catfish menu is suitable for catching catfish, but it is best to use:
- live bait;
- shellfish;
- cancerous necks;
- crawling out.
The listed baits can be the most effective, but do not forget about such baits as fried sparrow, frog or chicken liver. Some anglers successfully catch catfish using sausage and bloodworm. Blood is generally quite attractive to catfish, and in fishing stores you can buy boilies with the aroma of blood, which are very effective in some reservoirs.
Always have several fishing rods with you and attach a different bait to each of them to determine the most effective one. If a catfish bites on live bait, immediately replace the attachment on all fishing rods with this one. The same applies to bites on any other bait. If the catfish chose some kind of bait and pecked at it, it means that it prefers to feed on this.
By the way, on one small nickle you can catch a dozen catfish, so after several bites and successful fishing, do not rush to leave the good place. On your next fishing trip, the catfish may move up or downstream, but if it bites here today, you need to finish off the fished area to the end.
Let's sum it up
Summer fishing cannot be compared with any other type of recreation. After all, fishing is a type of recreation that is filled with a wide variety of positive emotions. And, if the fishing rods are set for catfish, then the very expectation of a bite is an expectation of something significant, for which the fisherman has been preparing throughout the year.
Well, if the bell rings, then such an amount of adrenaline enters the fisherman’s body that it is difficult to even imagine. The main thing here is to concentrate and not do anything stupid by trying to pull out a large fish yourself, especially at night.
As a rule, 2 fishermen hunt for catfish, this is especially true when fishing from a boat, when a catfish weighing several tens of kilograms can easily drag the boat along with the fishermen. It is very important that the boat has all the necessary equipment, including the boat hook. Sometimes without it it is impossible to drag large fish into the boat.
Igor 04/29/2016
Spinning baits for catfish
A few words about spinning bait for catfish. The following baits are excellent for this purpose:
- vibrators;
- turntables;
- wobblers;
- jig.
When catching catfish with a spinning rod, you need to look for catfish throughout the reservoir, just as when catching perch. If within half an hour there are no catfish bites at a promising place, move on to the next one. At each site, try a variety of baits to figure out the catfish's preferences and eventually start catching the bait that is most attractive to it.
Fish holes and edges, whirlpools and whirlpools. Focus on catfish splashes or catfish funnels. The easiest way to identify a catfish is by its activity on the surface of the water.
Tap the bottom with a variety of baits and the catfish will definitely bite if one of the baits is attractive enough for it. When fishing for catfish, it is best to work with a jig and have a powerful rod and strong fishing line.
Good luck with your catfish fishing and - no tail, no scales!
The best artificial baits
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).
Wobblers are especially popular among fishermen:
Salmo Perch P08SDR - refers to trolling baits. Available in three sizes at once - 8, 12, 14 cm. It has the shape of a perch. Capable of going deep up to 12m. The blade is made of polycarbonate. Equipped with high quality tees. It has a compact size and heavy weight, which allows for long casting and quick penetration.
Dorado Invader 7S is the leader among all models produced by Dorado-Triada. Weighs 44 grams, length – 12 cm. Works at a depth of 8 m. Well used for fishing in still water on all types of rivers.
Liberty BITE 130F is a high-quality wobbler, well-balanced, and has a bright, pronounced game. Inside there is a chamber filled with metal balls that create a sound effect. Weight - 36 g, length - 13 cm.
Halco Sorcerer 125 – when casting, the body moves from one side to the other, making a slight noise. A blade is attached to it to avoid underwater snags. The bow blade can easily be changed from deep-sea to standard, thanks to a special lock. Refers to the floating type. Length – 15 cm, weight – 30g.
Halco Poltergaist 80 is a good option for depths of 5 m or more. It makes a lot of noise when wiring. Used for fishing in snags and holes. Weight – 17 g, length – 8 cm. The shape is slightly curved, which makes it possible to enhance vibrations.
Among the oscillating spinners, it is worth paying attention to:
Heintz – heavy bait, from 60 gr. It features stable play that attracts predatory fish. Equipped with a double.
Williams Wabler W50 is the most popular among the company's models. It is sometimes called golden carp. Works at any wiring speed. There is a rib on the body to ensure stable movement of the bait. Made of brass, with 24 karat gold plating. Length – 7 cm, weight – 14 g.
Acme Kastmaster is a universal spoon, used for both bottom fishing and surface fishing. Available in weights of 7-21 grams. Perfectly balanced, has two cuts on the surface.
As for jig fishing, in this case silicone twisters are mostly used. In different regions, the diet of catfish may differ, so it is difficult to determine with which bait in shape and color the fishing will be successful. But, undoubtedly, the most catchy one is the vibrotail.
