Rules For Fishing Catfish at Night!

 An excellent article from catfishing expert Bob Alexander.

The sound of the tug boat chugging up the river, pushing heavily laden barges filled with grain, quieted the tree frogs and crickets that shared the night with me as I watched the tip of my catfish rod jerk feverishly.

After the initial tug on the line, all movement of my fishing pole stopped. I considered this for a moment and then decided to leave the bait where it was, if there was any left on the hook. It was too pleasant an evening to exert the energy it takes to pull the hook and sinker out of the river bed, re-bait and sling it back out into the deep dark water.

My brother, cousin and I were all sitting in our camp chairs as we listened to the night sounds resonating softly against the gently moving Tennessee River, halfway between Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama. The day had been blistering hot, but at 9:00 in the evening, the temperature was pleasantly cooled by a Southeasterly breeze up from the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to thoroughly enjoy a night fishing experience such as ours, it is imperative that one follow a few simple rules designed to make an evening fishing trip pleasant.

Let there be light! This is a must for night time fishing. Bring your camp lantern or a set of construction lights that operate off the cigarette lighter in your car. Stumbling around in the dark on the banks of a river or lake can be hazardous to your health.

Make sure that you are able to tolerate your fishing companions during stretches of fishing inactivity. Usually the best fishing companions are those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the serenity of silence; but they're hard to find.

With the advances in technology available today, it doesn't make sense not to bring along a cell phone. Leave it in the car or truck to use in case of an emergency. Don't be tempted to call someone simply to chat during a lull in the fishing action, unless you have just caught a whopper of a fish and want to brag a little to a friend.

Bring a good portable camp chair. Better still; a chaise lounge would be preferable for a relaxing evening. The only drawback to this is when reacting to a strike by a fish, it's difficult to extricate yourself from the chair fast enough to set the hook. It can be embarrassing to fall on your face while the catch of the night is swimming down the river with your rod and reel in tow.

You will need a cooler, filled with ice, soft drinks and water. My years of experience in leisure activities have taught me that river water and alcoholic beverages just do not mix, whether you are sitting on the bank or fishing from a boat. My advice is to leave them at home.

Nothing works up an appetite like sitting in the dark on the bank of a river, chatting with pleasurable company about anything that comes to mind. Usually though, talk is confined to old fish stories about the big ones caught and the giants that got away. It makes you hungry!

No one really wants a sandwich when they're fishing at night; they're hungry for something more stable, like hot dogs. Charcoal is a must for cooking hot dogs. Unless you've brought along a camp stove, hamburgers or steaks are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, the smell of catfish bait on your hands doesn't seem to linger on hot dogs the way it does on fresh meat.

Remember to bring the bug spray! Unless the wind is blowing gnats, mosquitoes and other flying insects away from you, insect repellent is a must!

Last on the list of necessary equipment to take on an evening fishing trip are rods, reels, sinkers and hooks. Cat fish seem to like stinky baits so that's what I use. When I was younger, I would fish with chicken liver, shad guts and any other bait that had been left out in the sun to ripen. Today I just go to one of the large tackle stores and buy prepackaged soft baits that smell just as bad as the ones I remember from my youth.

Fishing at night is fun. I've never claimed to be an expert in catching catfish, just an expert in fishing for them.

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:

[http://www.bluemarlinbob.com]

[http://www.redfishbob.com]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Alexander/51033


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2653918

The sound of the tug boat chugging up the river, pushing heavily laden barges filled with grain, quieted the tree frogs and crickets that shared the night with me as I watched the tip of my catfish rod jerk feverishly.

After the initial tug on the line, all movement of my fishing pole stopped. I considered this for a moment and then decided to leave the bait where it was, if there was any left on the hook. It was too pleasant an evening to exert the energy it takes to pull the hook and sinker out of the river bed, re-bait and sling it back out into the deep dark water.

My brother, cousin and I were all sitting in our camp chairs as we listened to the night sounds resonating softly against the gently moving Tennessee River, halfway between Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama. The day had been blistering hot, but at 9:00 in the evening, the temperature was pleasantly cooled by a Southeasterly breeze up from the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to thoroughly enjoy a night fishing experience such as ours, it is imperative that one follow a few simple rules designed to make an evening fishing trip pleasant.

Let there be light! This is a must for night time fishing. Bring your camp lantern or a set of construction lights that operate off the cigarette lighter in your car. Stumbling around in the dark on the banks of a river or lake can be hazardous to your health.

Make sure that you are able to tolerate your fishing companions during stretches of fishing inactivity. Usually the best fishing companions are those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the serenity of silence; but they're hard to find.

With the advances in technology available today, it doesn't make sense not to bring along a cell phone. Leave it in the car or truck to use in case of an emergency. Don't be tempted to call someone simply to chat during a lull in the fishing action, unless you have just caught a whopper of a fish and want to brag a little to a friend.

Bring a good portable camp chair. Better still; a chaise lounge would be preferable for a relaxing evening. The only drawback to this is when reacting to a strike by a fish, it's difficult to extricate yourself from the chair fast enough to set the hook. It can be embarrassing to fall on your face while the catch of the night is swimming down the river with your rod and reel in tow.

You will need a cooler, filled with ice, soft drinks and water. My years of experience in leisure activities have taught me that river water and alcoholic beverages just do not mix, whether you are sitting on the bank or fishing from a boat. My advice is to leave them at home.

Nothing works up an appetite like sitting in the dark on the bank of a river, chatting with pleasurable company about anything that comes to mind. Usually though, talk is confined to old fish stories about the big ones caught and the giants that got away. It makes you hungry!

No one really wants a sandwich when they're fishing at night; they're hungry for something more stable, like hot dogs. Charcoal is a must for cooking hot dogs. Unless you've brought along a camp stove, hamburgers or steaks are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, the smell of catfish bait on your hands doesn't seem to linger on hot dogs the way it does on fresh meat.

Remember to bring the bug spray! Unless the wind is blowing gnats, mosquitoes and other flying insects away from you, insect repellent is a must!

Last on the list of necessary equipment to take on an evening fishing trip are rods, reels, sinkers and hooks. Cat fish seem to like stinky baits so that's what I use. When I was younger, I would fish with chicken liver, shad guts and any other bait that had been left out in the sun to ripen. Today I just go to one of the large tackle stores and buy prepackaged soft baits that smell just as bad as the ones I remember from my youth.

Fishing at night is fun. I've never claimed to be an expert in catching catfish, just an expert in fishing for them.

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:

[http://www.bluemarlinbob.com]

[http://www.redfishbob.com]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Alexander/51033

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2653918

The sound of the tug boat chugging up the river, pushing heavily laden barges filled with grain, quieted the tree frogs and crickets that shared the night with me as I watched the tip of my catfish rod jerk feverishly.

After the initial tug on the line, all movement of my fishing pole stopped. I considered this for a moment and then decided to leave the bait where it was, if there was any left on the hook. It was too pleasant an evening to exert the energy it takes to pull the hook and sinker out of the river bed, re-bait and sling it back out into the deep dark water.

My brother, cousin and I were all sitting in our camp chairs as we listened to the night sounds resonating softly against the gently moving Tennessee River, halfway between Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama. The day had been blistering hot, but at 9:00 in the evening, the temperature was pleasantly cooled by a Southeasterly breeze up from the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to thoroughly enjoy a night fishing experience such as ours, it is imperative that one follow a few simple rules designed to make an evening fishing trip pleasant.

Let there be light! This is a must for night time fishing. Bring your camp lantern or a set of construction lights that operate off the cigarette lighter in your car. Stumbling around in the dark on the banks of a river or lake can be hazardous to your health.

Make sure that you are able to tolerate your fishing companions during stretches of fishing inactivity. Usually the best fishing companions are those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the serenity of silence; but they're hard to find.

With the advances in technology available today, it doesn't make sense not to bring along a cell phone. Leave it in the car or truck to use in case of an emergency. Don't be tempted to call someone simply to chat during a lull in the fishing action, unless you have just caught a whopper of a fish and want to brag a little to a friend.

Bring a good portable camp chair. Better still; a chaise lounge would be preferable for a relaxing evening. The only drawback to this is when reacting to a strike by a fish, it's difficult to extricate yourself from the chair fast enough to set the hook. It can be embarrassing to fall on your face while the catch of the night is swimming down the river with your rod and reel in tow.

You will need a cooler, filled with ice, soft drinks and water. My years of experience in leisure activities have taught me that river water and alcoholic beverages just do not mix, whether you are sitting on the bank or fishing from a boat. My advice is to leave them at home.

Nothing works up an appetite like sitting in the dark on the bank of a river, chatting with pleasurable company about anything that comes to mind. Usually though, talk is confined to old fish stories about the big ones caught and the giants that got away. It makes you hungry!

No one really wants a sandwich when they're fishing at night; they're hungry for something more stable, like hot dogs. Charcoal is a must for cooking hot dogs. Unless you've brought along a camp stove, hamburgers or steaks are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, the smell of catfish bait on your hands doesn't seem to linger on hot dogs the way it does on fresh meat.

Remember to bring the bug spray! Unless the wind is blowing gnats, mosquitoes and other flying insects away from you, insect repellent is a must!

Last on the list of necessary equipment to take on an evening fishing trip are rods, reels, sinkers and hooks. Cat fish seem to like stinky baits so that's what I use. When I was younger, I would fish with chicken liver, shad guts and any other bait that had been left out in the sun to ripen. Today I just go to one of the large tackle stores and buy prepackaged soft baits that smell just as bad as the ones I remember from my youth.

Fishing at night is fun. I've never claimed to be an expert in catching catfish, just an expert in fishing for them.

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:

[http://www.bluemarlinbob.com]

[http://www.redfishbob.com]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Alexander/51033

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2653918

The sound of the tug boat chugging up the river, pushing heavily laden barges filled with grain, quieted the tree frogs and crickets that shared the night with me as I watched the tip of my catfish rod jerk feverishly.

After the initial tug on the line, all movement of my fishing pole stopped. I considered this for a moment and then decided to leave the bait where it was, if there was any left on the hook. It was too pleasant an evening to exert the energy it takes to pull the hook and sinker out of the river bed, re-bait and sling it back out into the deep dark water.

My brother, cousin and I were all sitting in our camp chairs as we listened to the night sounds resonating softly against the gently moving Tennessee River, halfway between Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama. The day had been blistering hot, but at 9:00 in the evening, the temperature was pleasantly cooled by a Southeasterly breeze up from the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to thoroughly enjoy a night fishing experience such as ours, it is imperative that one follow a few simple rules designed to make an evening fishing trip pleasant.

Let there be light! This is a must for night time fishing. Bring your camp lantern or a set of construction lights that operate off the cigarette lighter in your car. Stumbling around in the dark on the banks of a river or lake can be hazardous to your health.

Make sure that you are able to tolerate your fishing companions during stretches of fishing inactivity. Usually the best fishing companions are those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the serenity of silence; but they're hard to find.

With the advances in technology available today, it doesn't make sense not to bring along a cell phone. Leave it in the car or truck to use in case of an emergency. Don't be tempted to call someone simply to chat during a lull in the fishing action, unless you have just caught a whopper of a fish and want to brag a little to a friend.

Bring a good portable camp chair. Better still; a chaise lounge would be preferable for a relaxing evening. The only drawback to this is when reacting to a strike by a fish, it's difficult to extricate yourself from the chair fast enough to set the hook. It can be embarrassing to fall on your face while the catch of the night is swimming down the river with your rod and reel in tow.

You will need a cooler, filled with ice, soft drinks and water. My years of experience in leisure activities have taught me that river water and alcoholic beverages just do not mix, whether you are sitting on the bank or fishing from a boat. My advice is to leave them at home.

Nothing works up an appetite like sitting in the dark on the bank of a river, chatting with pleasurable company about anything that comes to mind. Usually though, talk is confined to old fish stories about the big ones caught and the giants that got away. It makes you hungry!

No one really wants a sandwich when they're fishing at night; they're hungry for something more stable, like hot dogs. Charcoal is a must for cooking hot dogs. Unless you've brought along a camp stove, hamburgers or steaks are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, the smell of catfish bait on your hands doesn't seem to linger on hot dogs the way it does on fresh meat.

Remember to bring the bug spray! Unless the wind is blowing gnats, mosquitoes and other flying insects away from you, insect repellent is a must!

Last on the list of necessary equipment to take on an evening fishing trip are rods, reels, sinkers and hooks. Cat fish seem to like stinky baits so that's what I use. When I was younger, I would fish with chicken liver, shad guts and any other bait that had been left out in the sun to ripen. Today I just go to one of the large tackle stores and buy prepackaged soft baits that smell just as bad as the ones I remember from my youth.

Fishing at night is fun. I've never claimed to be an expert in catching catfish, just an expert in fishing for them.

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:

[http://www.bluemarlinbob.com]

[http://www.redfishbob.com]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Alexander/51033

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2653918

The sound of the tug boat chugging up the river, pushing heavily laden barges filled with grain, quieted the tree frogs and crickets that shared the night with me as I watched the tip of my catfish rod jerk feverishly.

After the initial tug on the line, all movement of my fishing pole stopped. I considered this for a moment and then decided to leave the bait where it was, if there was any left on the hook. It was too pleasant an evening to exert the energy it takes to pull the hook and sinker out of the river bed, re-bait and sling it back out into the deep dark water.

My brother, cousin and I were all sitting in our camp chairs as we listened to the night sounds resonating softly against the gently moving Tennessee River, halfway between Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama. The day had been blistering hot, but at 9:00 in the evening, the temperature was pleasantly cooled by a Southeasterly breeze up from the Gulf of Mexico.

In order to thoroughly enjoy a night fishing experience such as ours, it is imperative that one follow a few simple rules designed to make an evening fishing trip pleasant.

Let there be light! This is a must for night time fishing. Bring your camp lantern or a set of construction lights that operate off the cigarette lighter in your car. Stumbling around in the dark on the banks of a river or lake can be hazardous to your health.

Make sure that you are able to tolerate your fishing companions during stretches of fishing inactivity. Usually the best fishing companions are those who keep their mouths shut and enjoy the serenity of silence; but they're hard to find.

With the advances in technology available today, it doesn't make sense not to bring along a cell phone. Leave it in the car or truck to use in case of an emergency. Don't be tempted to call someone simply to chat during a lull in the fishing action, unless you have just caught a whopper of a fish and want to brag a little to a friend.

Bring a good portable camp chair. Better still; a chaise lounge would be preferable for a relaxing evening. The only drawback to this is when reacting to a strike by a fish, it's difficult to extricate yourself from the chair fast enough to set the hook. It can be embarrassing to fall on your face while the catch of the night is swimming down the river with your rod and reel in tow.

You will need a cooler, filled with ice, soft drinks and water. My years of experience in leisure activities have taught me that river water and alcoholic beverages just do not mix, whether you are sitting on the bank or fishing from a boat. My advice is to leave them at home.

Nothing works up an appetite like sitting in the dark on the bank of a river, chatting with pleasurable company about anything that comes to mind. Usually though, talk is confined to old fish stories about the big ones caught and the giants that got away. It makes you hungry!

No one really wants a sandwich when they're fishing at night; they're hungry for something more stable, like hot dogs. Charcoal is a must for cooking hot dogs. Unless you've brought along a camp stove, hamburgers or steaks are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, the smell of catfish bait on your hands doesn't seem to linger on hot dogs the way it does on fresh meat.

Remember to bring the bug spray! Unless the wind is blowing gnats, mosquitoes and other flying insects away from you, insect repellent is a must!

Last on the list of necessary equipment to take on an evening fishing trip are rods, reels, sinkers and hooks. Cat fish seem to like stinky baits so that's what I use. When I was younger, I would fish with chicken liver, shad guts and any other bait that had been left out in the sun to ripen. Today I just go to one of the large tackle stores and buy prepackaged soft baits that smell just as bad as the ones I remember from my youth.

Fishing at night is fun. I've never claimed to be an expert in catching catfish, just an expert in fishing for them.

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at:

[http://www.bluemarlinbob.com]

[http://www.redfishbob.com]

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bob_Alexander/51033

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2653918

 

 

Catfishing Facts Essential Things To Know About Catfishing

Catfishing expert George delivers some great catfishing facts in this article, like catfish fishing usa with live baits is illegal in some states! I hope you learn something from George's article.

Essential Things To Know About Catfishing

If you are a novice fisherman looking to spend your afternoon near a cool breezy lake, catfishing can present an interesting challenge. Catfish are large ray-finned fish found all over North America. People usually fish for blue, flathead, or channel catfish in the United States where these species are abundantly found in lakes, ponds, and rivers. Catfish flesh is known for its delicate and delicious taste. Catfish are also artificially farmed for food. Some flathead catfish can grow up to 1 meter in length and 200 pounds in weight. You should carry medium to heavy action rods when you go catfishing.

You can recognize the catfish for their lack of scales on their body. Catfish also have prominent "whiskers", a specialized sense organ called barbells. These barbells help the catfish to hunt for food even in muddy waters where visibility is low. These fish are negatively buoyant and are typically found feeding on the debris and fish at the bottom of the water body. If you want to spot a catfish, you ought to look in the holes, logs and other hideouts on the river bed. Chances are you will find a monster cat hiding in one of these hideouts. Catfish sting so if I were you, I'd be careful when I handle them. If you ever get stung, rub the tail of the catfish on the wound; you will feel better almost instantly. And don't worry; catfish sting is not fatal and it won't hurt for too long either.

If you have done fly fishing before, don't take your light rod with you. Catfish are big and heavy. You will need to buy a different rod for catfishing. You can usually check the label on the rod to see if it is a medium action rod: that's the kind of rod you will need for catfishing. You can also forget lures. Catfish are usually caught with prepared bait. Some species like flathead catfish even prefer live baits like blue gills and sun fish. The line you sink is to be lowered in carefully and kept steady. And you need to attach one or two ounce weights to the line so that your bait sinks below the surface of the water. As you can see, catfishing is quite different from flyfishing. (Please note that catfishing with live baits is illegal in some states, so please check with your local authorities before you go fishing with live baits.)

Most fishing enthusiasts prefer to go fishing for catfish in summers May through September, when the catfish are easier to find in the flooded brush on the river bends and banks of the ponds. But if you really love the challenge of it, you could go looking for catfish even in winters. This activity, also called icefishing, is very popular in some parts of United States. Just make sure you carry lots of warm clothes and hot chocolate for your fishing trip. Mmm... wouldn't that be exhilarating? Do ask your friends to join you for the trip.

George is a catfishing expert. Wants to learn more great tips about Catfishing habitat, species, and more [http://www.catfishingpoint.com/catfishing-info-habitat-species-and-more..]? Visit my site [http://www.catfishingpoint.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/George_Landrail/1026169

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6190445

Catfish fishing usa article

What is the 'best' rod to use for Catfishing?

So, what is the 'best' rod to use for catfishing? errrrrr. I will let Dan explain in this excellent article. Catfishing is an art form and the more you practice and research, the better you get! simple really:) I hope you enjoy this article from expert Dan.

Spare the Rod - and Lose the Fish!

I am often asked "What is the 'best' rod to use?", for this or that.

'Best' is a relative term. There are many different types that will get the job done, so a lot of it comes down to what you prefer using. So all I can do is give you my opinions of what I think is the best type for a given situation.

Catfishing covers a lot of territory, only part of which involves rods. And what would work best for Channel Catfish from the bank, would be close to useless for trophy Blue Catfish or Flatheads from a boat. When selecting a rod, bear in mind that even if you are fishing for Channel Cats in the 1-5 lb. range, there is always the chance that you will hook into a monster Blue or Flathead. I'll go from smallest and simplest to large to make it easy to understand the entire scope.

At the bottom end of the spectrum, we have Bullheads, usually caught from shore. For these fun little guys, nothing more than a cane pole and a can of worms is needed. I've passed many an afternoon pulling in these tasty tidbits. What they lack in size, they make up for by being both easy to catch and delicious. While the world record Bullhead was around 8 lbs., most of them you will catch will be under a pound.

If you want to get more technical, almost any ultralight or light action rod will do. You can even fly-fish for them. I am partial to the Zebco Micro-Spin series, but to get the best of both worlds between cane-pole fishing, and ultralight spinning, try a crappie pole in the 12' length. I use B & Ms models a lot for small to medium fish from shore.

For channel catfish in the 1-15 lb. range, I prefer a 6' 9"' Ugly Stick Medium Action Tiger Lite rod. They are short enough to be easy to handle and cast from a boat, and have a good strong backbone for heaving catfish out of cover if needed. They are also incredibly tough. They are light enough to hold comfortably and have a long handle for leverage. The medium action is sensitive enough to detect the sometimes-shy bite of Channel Cats.

They can be cast gently, and/or flipped, making them a good choice for using dough or prepared baits, so as not to sling the bait off the hook. For shore fishing in still to moderate moving water, I prefer an 8' Medium Action Ugly Stick Big Water spinning rod. The extra length comes in handy when shore fishing.

For larger Channel Catfish and Blues from a boat, I prefer the Eagle Claw GRX Series. I know, you're gonna say "But those are Salmon and Steelhead Rods!". That may be the case, but they are also ideal for larger catfish from a boat. They are tough and durable, have a nice long handle for heaving fish when necessary, and have a good, heavy backbone to make heaving large fish possible.
They also have a faster action than most of the heavier rods designed for catfish, making it easier to detect a hit when not using a bait clicker. The faster action is also easier on live-bait when casting.
For larger catfish in the 20-40 lb. range from shore. in both still and fast water, I prefer a 12' Heavy Action Ugly Stick Big Water Casting Rod. They are tough enough to handle the biggest freshwater fish under the most demanding conditions. Your muscles will fail before this rod does! It is also my preferred rod for Gar, Sturgeon (where legal) and Medium saltwater species.

For the true behemoths of the catfish world in excess of 40 lbs., my choice hands-down is Cabelas King Cat E-Glass rods in the 9' length. These are the premium rods for large fish. They have double-footed, double-wrapped and sealed ceramic guides, so they won't come loose when fighting a large fish.
They have stainless-steel hoods on the reel seats, so your reel stays on the rod no matter what. They have the backbone and durability to handle anything you might hook into, up to small submarines! With the proper reel, line and leader, there is nothing these rods couldn't handle.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on catfish fishing here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Daniel_Eggertsen/2693

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/851846