Secrets of catching catfish on a feeder
Content
There are plenty of tricks for hunting river barbel using a hook feeder. But for every fisherman they are associated with details, nuances, and personal know-how.
It makes sense to list a few basic wisdom that will be useful to fishing beginners:
- The predator likes to live in holes, at the bottom of the river, where there are plenty of snags and other driftwood. In search of food, it begins to circle near its habitat and then rises with the current.
- Fishing on a feeder within a snag is not advisable. It is more effective to fish for giants near changes in depth, reaches, and edges.
- You can catch the predator in April when the water temperature is 8 °C. But the best time to hunt for barbel is July-August, when the activity of the representatives of ray-finned fish of interest reaches its peak.
- The feeder's chance of putting large, medium-sized catfish into a large bag will increase slightly if he starts fishing in the summer heat, in the morning or evening hours.
- Thunderstorms and increased atmospheric pressure are unfavorable factors for capturing the owner of the river depths. In bad weather, he hunts near the bottom away from the shore.
Today, modern feeder gear is the optimal solution for river catfish fishing.
The methods of catching catfish are not the same, it makes sense to briefly mention equipment and food. You need to choose durable, reliable gear in order to feel confident at a crucial moment. Before fishing, it is advisable to examine the bottom of the reservoir with an echo sounder in order to find depth differences and the presence of thresholds. Other promising places for hunting predators are strong currents and river bends.
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What is feedergam?
Feed the barbel:
- bread;
- pieces of fish fillet;
- meat;
- liver.
Shells and crawlies will come in handy. Catfish bite on worms, crayfish, and fish pulp.
Catching catfish on a feeder: choice of gear and bait, place and time of fishing
Anglers who catch bream at night on large rivers sometimes experience situations where a rapid bite occurs, followed by a break in the leader. This is how the owner of the river depths, the catfish, bites. The rigs and tackle for the river giant differ significantly from those for bream, so purposefully catching these two types of fish with the same tackle is not very promising. Catching catfish with a feeder compared to other catfish gear, such as a quok, is considered less productive. But at least this fishing is from one place and it is less tiring. Therefore, bottom fishing for catfish on the river is a separate, but very promising issue. How to catch this river giant on a big river, so that this trophy will be remembered for a long time?
Where to catch catfish
The habitat of catfish on the river are pits, most often snags. Fishing in such places is not very promising, and it is not very possible. If fishing is carried out in places near snags, then there will be little chance of catching a large catfish when it bites. Therefore, this fish must be caught in its feeding areas. Usually, a river giant, leaving its hole, first walks around it in search of food, and then rises upstream. Therefore, places upstream from the pits - edges, depth changes, reaches - are the most promising for catching this mustachioed predator. It is in such places that it is advisable to catch the river giant. Very often, a large catfish gives away the location of its hole by turning out of the water.
When to catch catfish
You can catch catfish at a water temperature of 8°C. Approximately this temperature is set in the month of April.
On a note!
Starting in May, the activity of the mustachioed predator intensifies and reaches its peak in July and August.
The best bite of this fish is observed at a temperature of 20°C. In June and September, catfish are also active, but their activity is slightly less. The best time to catch a river giant is in the dark. Moreover, this inhabitant of the river depths bites best in the morning and evening hours. Changes in weather, thunderstorms and changes in atmospheric pressure are the main harbingers of a bad bite. But in stable summer heat, it is much easier to catch this predator. Trophy catfish are most often caught in July. In warm summer rain, this bottom dweller can also be found on sandbanks.
Selection and equipment of the feeder, selection of optimal installation
Photo 1. Feeder test should be large.
Photo 2. Rigging: three-ounce sinker and large hook.
Today, modern feeder gear is the optimal solution for river catfish fishing. Other options for bottom gear are not as promising and reliable. Moreover, feeder tackle of sufficiently high quality is required. A powerful carbon fiber rod with test characteristics of up to 150 g must be equipped with a high-quality spinning reel numbered 4000-5000.
The reel's friction must be adjusted - without this, absolutely no fight against catfish is possible. The reel must be equipped with braid with a diameter of 0.2 mm. It is better to choose the installation of equipment on a catfish with an anti-twist tube. It is convenient to use fluorocarbon fishing line with a diameter of 0.4 mm as a leash. The length of the leash can vary from half a meter to a meter. In some cases, a small float is installed on the leader, which lifts the bait off the bottom. The size of the hook depends on the intended prey and bait. As a rule, this numbering can range from No. 9 to No. 14 according to Russian numbering.
Photo 2. A big fish needs a big hook.
Baits
Catfish can be caught on a feeder using a variety of baits:
- Crawlers are one of the most productive baits. This bait actively moves on the hook and has a certain smell of its own. In addition, crawlers live on a hook for a very long time.
- Worms are the bait that will not catch trophy catfish. But it is excellent for catching catfish.
- Medvedka is certainly one of the most promising baits. However, it is not so easy to get it, and it is not found everywhere.
- The toothless shell is one of the most popular. Before using this bait, you need to keep it in the sun and wind for some time. In this state it will hold much more securely.
- Leeches – this bait is a delicacy for catfish. When using it, it is necessary to cut off the suction cups of the leeches, otherwise they will wrap around the hook.
- Live bait is used for large fish. The size of the live bait depends on the intended trophy. The most effective fish species as live bait are perch, roach, rudd, and bleak. Instead of whole fish, cutting fish can also be used, which is sometimes more promising than whole fish.
- Molting crayfish are one of the most common baits when fishing near steep banks with crayfish burrows.
- Fried or seared birds are bait for large catfish. The use of these baits attracts fish from afar due to their strong smell.
- Omentum or larva of the May beetle.
Feeder fishing for the river giant will be much more promising if you use several bait options at once.
Sometimes bait brings great results. Considering that catfish search for food by smell, you can use bait in the form of giblets, worms, pieces of liver and tendons.
Fishing technique
After throwing the gear into a promising bite spot, you can wait a long time, especially when catching trophy catfish. Some fishermen spend fishing for this predator over several days, because catching a trophy catfish in one day is quite rare. Usually several feeder rods with different baits are cast at once. This is due to the fact that the river giant prefers one bait one day and another another, and it is almost impossible to guess the exact preferences.
One of the most important aspects of fishing is fishing. The larger the trophy, the longer this process may take. For example, a catfish weighing about 15 kg is caught in approximately 30 minutes. In the process of fishing, the following points will be very important:
- It will be more convenient to use a reel in which the drag can be adjusted during fishing. This is necessary to equalize the resistance of the gear to the efforts of the mustachioed predator.
- A long feeder rod makes it much more convenient to tear a predator off the bottom, which will make fishing much easier.
- The quality of the rod blank is important - in the fight against trophy catfish, the rod must withstand very powerful blows from the catfish.
An integral attribute of trophy catfish fishing is the presence of a hook. Taking a slippery catfish under the shore is not so easy.
Catfish is a coveted trophy for any angler, and catching it with feeder gear is a real struggle, filled with the most extreme and lasting sensations. And the caught mustachioed trophy is significantly different from all types of fish in its power and grandeur and is remembered for a long time.
fishelovka.com
How to choose the right place and time?
Every fisherman knows that catching a predator is an exciting activity, but not easy, especially for beginners. Much of the success depends on choosing the right place and fishing time. Experienced workers of the blue field love night summer fishing, when the heat and scorching sun are not exhausting. They avoid small, cold bodies of water, because the predator prefers to live in warm water. An indispensable condition is silence, the presence of holes, snags, and muddy bottom. This is the most optimal living environment for the owner of deep rivers.
Experienced noodlers try to go out to catch barbel at dusk, preferring night fishing. During the day, the predator likes to rest, hiding in snags, holes, and sloughs. After sunset he starts hunting and this time is optimal for catching the river giant. Catfish swim not only near the bottom, but also swim in shallow water, where the depth reaches only 1-1.5 meters. Under cover of darkness, a representative of ray-finned fish can swim to the shoreline, hoping to feast on frogs. Here, an experienced fisherman will definitely take advantage of the prevailing conditions.
The habitat of catfish on the river are pits, most often snags
Choosing a place to catch catfish using a feeder from the shore
A sudden bend in the river, a warm current, or a steep bank are likely signs of the presence of holes. If it is steep, overgrown with bushes and trees, and well washed out, then the bottom is snarled. The number of predatory fish is influenced by many factors and the depth of the hole. When there are not enough of them, dozens of barbels will swim near one place. Catfish habitat is found on the rifts, at the entrance and exit.
The river giant goes out in search of food along its “paths”. In most cases, lying along the edges of the pits. When there are underwater elevations nearby, fish can swim to such places in the hope of finding a lot of food. Small predators are caught under overhanging foliage, in creeks, and on riffles. But large individuals generally prefer not to swim so far and feed in a body of water where there are holes - a familiar habitat.
What time of day is best to choose?
Predators go hunting on clear, warm nights. They visit shallow water, reaches, shallows in the bay, looking for food at a depth of about a meter. The dark time of day is the optimal conditions for catching small specimens and catfish. Using a feeder rod, catching the owner of freshwater rivers from the shore will be much more effective after sunset. If the weather turns bad, representatives of the catfish order will not come to the shore.
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Equipment helicopter and two units for feeder
The best time to catch a river giant is in the dark.
Feeder night fishing begins with rich complementary foods. Here it is advisable to use a special purchased mixture with the addition of animal feed:
- pieces of meat;
- chopped worms.
The next step is a wait-and-see process. The rod must be cast once every 30 minutes and only after a confident bite should you start hooking. Do not pay much attention to minor tugs on the fishing line.
Choosing a place and time of fishing
Experienced fishermen always differ from beginners in that they know exactly where to find fish in a body of water. But finding catfish is sometimes beyond the power of even experienced fishermen. This is a very secretive predator that leads a sedentary lifestyle and practically does not move around the water area of the reservoir.
In shallow water and in parts of the reservoir, you don’t even have to look for catfish; it prefers to stay in places with warm water. If you manage to find a hole at the bottom of the river, in a quiet place, you can be 80% sure that a river giant lives in it.
And it’s even better if there is a lot of aquatic vegetation or snags in this hole. Those who purposefully hunt for catfish know that such conditions are best suited for them. Particular attention should be paid to meadows that are located on the border of the river bed. The predator is repelled by bright sunlight.
Catching catfish from the shore will be most effective at night or at dusk. During daylight hours, it is difficult to lure catfish from a hole, snags or bushes, but it is still possible. But with the onset of sunset, the catfish goes hunting in search of food. At this time it can be caught in shallow water.
Shoals in bays are one of the most promising places for catfish to swim to while hunting. The basis of its diet is frogs, which, as many have already guessed, prefer to swim near the shore. When there are no clouds in the sky at night and the temperature is quite high, the catfish prefers to come very close to the shore. Such weather conditions are considered the best for catfish fishing. If it’s cold outside, the fish won’t come to the shore.
Preparing gear for catching catfish on a feeder
Fishing for such a large predator requires scrupulous, careful preparation of gear. Catfish rigs must be reliable so that they do not fail at the most crucial moment. The requirements for a hook are strength and elasticity. It should not bend from effort or break. First, before night fishing, you need to check it. It is not necessary to use a tee. A barbel can peck at one, and the other two can catch on a snag.
The equipment must withstand a tensile load of at least 20 kg. You can use braided wire with a diameter of 0.8-1 mm, which has good reliability. You need to buy the most reliable rod, up to 3 meters in length, which is positioned with sufficient rigidity so as not to break from the weight of a large catfish, but you shouldn’t buy a “club” either. The reel must be very durable, made on a metal base with a spool with a line capacity of up to 200 m.
Today, modern feeder gear is the optimal solution for river catfish fishing
Selection and equipment of the feeder, selection of optimal installation
Photo 1. Feeder test should be large.
Photo 2. Rigging: three-ounce sinker and large hook.
Today, modern feeder gear is the optimal solution for river catfish fishing. Other options for bottom gear are not as promising and reliable. Moreover, feeder tackle of sufficiently high quality is required. A powerful carbon fiber rod with test characteristics of up to 150 g must be equipped with a high-quality spinning reel numbered 4000-5000.
The reel's friction must be adjusted - without this, absolutely no fight against catfish is possible. The reel must be equipped with braid with a diameter of 0.2 mm. It is better to choose the installation of equipment on a catfish with an anti-twist tube. It is convenient to use fluorocarbon fishing line with a diameter of 0.4 mm as a leash. The length of the leash can vary from half a meter to a meter. In some cases, a small float is installed on the leader, which lifts the bait off the bottom. The size of the hook depends on the intended prey and bait. As a rule, this numbering can range from No. 9 to No. 14 according to Russian numbering.
Photo 2. A big fish needs a big hook.
Baits and lures for catfish on the feeder
When it comes to catching such a predator, it is necessary to take into account its myopia. The owner of the river depths sees poorly, but perfectly senses prey using smell and hearing. The representative of ray-finned fish has very sensitive sides, which help it detect any fluctuations in the water. Therefore, the best bait will be food with a bright, rich aroma. You can use moving baits.
In addition to the baits described above, it makes sense to take other baits with you when fishing:
- frogs;
- pike perch;
- pike;
- perch;
- saberfish
It is recommended to use live bait. Good baits are obtained from crayfish, locusts, and mole crickets. The predator does not disdain: mice, large caterpillars, mussels. The question of bait is vast and varied, so you can only say for sure what the fish prefers when fishing.
Technique and strategy: how to catch catfish on a feeder
Beginner fishermen need to know that large fish are more picky about bait than small or medium-sized ones. An adult catfish considers himself a gourmet, so he will sniff the bait for a long time. Another element of the strategy is choosing a good place, when the chances of catching a giant increase several times. Prepare the bait in advance so you don’t have to mess around on the shore and don’t skimp; let the predator properly taste the delicacy.
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How to make feeder tackle with your own hands?
If you decide to catch a large specimen, you must wait until dusk, because the fish sleeps during the day. Young animals are active in shallow water in a place full of silt, snags, and driftwood. When preparing to cast the gear, set the bait deeper so that the food does not fly off during the casting of the line. You need to fish for a predator on a feeder near where other fish accumulate and not far from the hole in which the barbel is hiding. It is advisable for beginners to go with a partner. Catfish are not distinguished by their even temperament, when the calm mood of the owner of the rivers can be replaced by a violent disposition.
The feeder needs to catch fish gradually with perseverance and perseverance. If a predator bites, you should not immediately pull the rod, but try to wear it out. The barbel can lie to the bottom, then you can knock on the gear with a heavy object. The catfish is terrified of sharp sounds and will surface. Fish the giant patiently, and if the fish turns its belly up, showing its fatigue, the time has come to pull the barbel ashore.
Catching catfish on the liver: how to bait
Rules for catching catfish from the shore using bottom tackle and from a boat using quok in half the water.
As bait: frog, crawler, sparrow, chicken liver. Rules for luring catfish and fishing techniques. Catching catfish on the liver, how to bait, how to catch catfish from the shore feeder donka kwok frog baitfish crawling In order to successfully catch catfish, you need to know a set of things that will allow you to make the right decisions while fishing.
- Firstly, habitats, lifestyle, habits during the day and time of year.
- Secondly, prepare your gear correctly and use it for catfish fishing.
- And thirdly, lures, groundbait and bait. Only by understanding these issues can you be confident in your success.
First things first.
Finding a fishing spot
Catfish occupy deep places in reservoirs, displacing other fish. It is attracted by holes, rifts, and dumps. But he goes out into shallow water to feed. This happens most often on summer nights or after rainstorms, when small living creatures flow down from the banks along with the muddy water.
First of all, you should pay attention to the bottom topography. Holes, edges, rifts, sunken trees, Koryaks are habitats for fish. Catfish are also attracted by washed-out banks overgrown with bushes (provided that the banks are deep enough near these banks) and trees leaning low over the water. When searching for a fishing spot, pay attention to the places where streams and rivers flow into the reservoir. Small islands with holes at the bottom can also provide shelter for catfish.
It should be remembered that catfish are nocturnal fish. Accordingly, he also hunts at night. The best time for catching catfish is from three o'clock to nine o'clock in the morning and from eighteen to twenty-three. You can also catch catfish under bridges, where it will hunt in the shade all day.
If you fish from a boat, pay attention to places with slow currents. It is also convenient for catfish hunting here. Look for splashes, funnels. Cast the spinning rod from different sides of the funnel. Your secret weapon is agility and observation. Don't sit in one place.
How to increase your fish catch?
Over 7 years of active fishing, I have found dozens of ways to improve the bite. Here are the most effective ones:
- Bite activator. This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. But Rosprirodnadzor intends to ban its sale.
- Increased gear sensitivity. Read the appropriate manuals for your specific type of gear.
- Pheromone-based lures.
The rest of the secrets can be found in the free book. You can download it below the article.
Best bait
In summer, the diet for catfish is quite varied. One of the most favorite delicacies are worms. Of all the variety of worms, give preference to crawling worms (for their size) and dung worms (for their specific aroma). Crawlers can be dug up under trees at night, and dung worms can be found near livestock farms. There should be a lot of worms, since several are placed on the hook at a time.
Next in the bait ranking will be large insects: locusts and mole crickets. The downside is that they are difficult to obtain. Locusts live in warm regions and cause damage to farmland. You can try to find the mole cricket in the garden under the remains of last year's manure.
The mustachioed predator also bites well on live bait. It could be:
It is better if you catch live bait in the same reservoir where the catfish lives. The sparrow is scorched at the stake before being placed on a hook.
You can also catch catfish using shellfish. Open the shells and place the contents on the hook. To prevent the bait from slipping, wrap it with nylon thread and secure it to the hook.
Catfish also bite on chicken liver. But here you need to take into account many nuances. Firstly, it is better to keep the liver in a portable refrigerator or surrounded by large pieces of ice. Secondly, it is necessary to think about the fastening so that the liver does not slip in the water. To do this, the liver can be placed on a treble hook No. 8–10 so that each of the hooks pierces a piece of liver. Another way to securely fasten it is to use a nylon stocking. Wrap a piece of liver in a cloth, pin it on top with a hook, turn the hook around the axis and pierce the bait again.
You can also mix the liver in a blender with wheat flour, form the resulting mass into balls and stick them around a triple hook.
Two effective ways to catch catfish
Fishing with a feeder at night. The advantage of night fishing, especially in summer, is the absence of heat. Prepare everything you need before dark. In the summer, complementary food for catfish consists of 70% animal food, in the fall only from it.
It won’t bite right away – it will take the catfish about half an hour to smell the bait. The bite can be different: from a slightly swaying tip to a strongly inclined rod tip. As soon as you feel a bite, strike sharply. Be prepared for the fact that even a small catfish will resist, so fishing occurs gradually. Tire the fish out before crossing and hauling it ashore. A detailed guide to feeder fishing for beginners.
Fishing with quok from a boat. Fishing with kwok is catching catfish from a boat with a donkey-type tackle, but not from the bottom, but at a depth of about five meters. In order to lure the catfish, they slap a quok on the water, which makes specific sounds. It is better to go out for this type of fishing with a partner.
Start fishing from the beginning of the catfish hole. Lower the sinker 4-6 meters above the hole. Start playing kwok. The sounds will attract the fish, it will swallow the bait and begin to pull to the bottom, and then stop. Cast out several meters of fishing line until the catfish swallows the bait deeper and when it pulls to the depth again, make a sweeping hook. Details about how to catch catfish using a kwok are described in our article.
The process of fishing with a feeder from the shore and a quok from a boat
Feeder. Night feeder fishing involves starting feeding with the usual bait mixture + animal components (chopped worms, pieces of meat). Then a wait-and-see approach is followed. You should recast the rod no more than once every 30 minutes. You only need to hook when there is a confident bite. Ignore minor stretching.
When fishing with a quok, the bottom equipment is lowered into the water column (40-60% of the total depth at the fishing point). The angler holds the rod with one hand and croaks with the other. Or distribute responsibilities between two people. Hook only after a strong blow, not before.
When fishing for catfish, in addition to strength, you will need to be patient and act carefully. Don't pull straight to the shore. If the catfish lies on the bottom, sharply tap the rod with a stick. This sound frightens the mustachioed predator very much, and it will begin to rise. Keep the line tight. Move the catfish from side to side. Don't relax. Only when the fish is tired, drag it to the shore and pick it up.
- Catfish is a fish that loves silence and darkness. Its habitats are at the bottom in holes, under trees, in wetlands.
- The mustachioed predator is not found in cold and shallow rivers.
- Catfish can almost certainly be found along river bends.
- This is a nocturnal fish. Therefore, the chances of catching catfish will increase at night.
- Prepare all gear, bait and groundbait in advance.
- To catch a frog, just shine a flashlight into its eyes.
- Factory-made flavors quickly lose their properties in water. To keep the scent for a long time, cut a piece of foam rubber, soak it in the scent and place it on a hook instead of bait. Update every half hour.
- Catch live bait in the place where you are going to fish.
- Catfish are also partial to plastic bags. This can be used to make bait. Cut a palm-sized triangle from the bag, fold it to form an “envelope” and place it on the hook.
- Try to get the catfish stranded. His chances of fighting will be very low.
- Channel catfish are caught using dead fish. But in water it quickly gets wet and can slip off the hook. To make this bait more durable, dry the fish on a mosquito net. The mesh will allow it to dry on both sides, and the fish will become firm.
- At night, the donk is installed at the exit of the pit. During the day, the catfish sleeps in a hole, and at night comes out of it to hunt.
The process of catching catfish is a difficult, but enjoyable task. And although you will need endurance and strength, the result is worth it. Good fishing and bright impressions.
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Tips and tricks
For a successful catfish hunt, you can use a small set of rules:
- To prevent the bait (dead fish) from jumping off the hook in the water, it must first be dried.
- Catch catfish on the bends of the river, where it almost always lives.
- Choose a fishing time at night and a quiet place.
- When fishing, try to get the predator aground.
- There is no point in looking for catfish in shallow, cold rivers.
The last piece of advice is to prepare bait and tackle in advance.
Originally posted 2018-06-05 16:20:21.
Places
When fishing on a feeder, catfish are caught less often when compared with fishing when using other gear used in catfish fishing. For example, a comparison can occur with a quok. However, it is worth noting that such fishing is carried out from one position, which indicates that it is less tiring for humans than other varieties. For this reason, the issue related to how to catch catfish on a feeder should be considered from a separate perspective.
Catfish fishing on a feeder is often carried out from the shore. Fishermen are interested in how to catch such fish in high waters in order to be able to remember the fishing process for a long time.
It is necessary to take into account that:
- The habitats of this species of fish include holes at the bottom. At the same time, such pits have special features - they are clogged.
- Catching catfish in such a place is quite difficult. If you manage to catch a fish, it will be good luck for the fisherman.
If you decide to catch catfish in the places indicated above, then the chance of pulling the fish ashore is almost always zero. This is due to the fact that fish should be caught in the areas where they feed.
Catching catfish on a feeder will be successful if a person takes into account that often this large representative of the catfish order leaves its hole at the bottom and begins to swim around it to find food. For the same purpose, the catfish rises higher along the stream. This suggests that areas located above all the holes represented by edges, drops or depths will be an ideal place for catching the fish in question. Fishing for catfish in such places means success for fishermen. Experts say that fishing in such areas most often brings the desired catch. Most often in life, the catfish itself indicates the place where it is located. This happens when it turns in the water.