Raising and Catching Catfish

The channel catfish,one of the best tasting and sport friendly fish made for the rod angler. I believe that this fish reigns supreme in it's habitat. A fish made for fishing by kids of all ages. you can have a good time catching and eating this fish. Watch out for it's fins and have a pair of pliers or skin pullers at the ready and you will be prepared for a great experience. Chicken liver reigns supreme as bait to catch him. There are also many baits ready made by manufacturers to get him on your hook . Since the channel grows to such large proportions,a large hook and tough terminal gear should be used. I have kids and grandchildren who love to fish. Bass need bigger areas of water in which to live and grow large. Sun fish and bream are okay but they do not grow to large sizes. Kids love to catch the smaller fish but are especially delighted to have a change of pace and have a chance to hook into Mr. whiskers.

I wanted an area where my children could have fun in a clean environment. I had a stock tank built on my property for a reasonable cost. I started to build a fishing pier by myself.The rains came and the pond began to fill up with water. Any ideas that I had in my head about putting post supports in the ground for the pier were dashed. I obtained 55 gallon non metal drums at a reasonable cost and began to work. I built the floating pier next to the waters' edge without the use of any electricity. I used drills that worked off of batteries and hammer and nails, I used treated wood and spiral nails that would not rust in the elements. I used my 6 year old as a pilot to test the stability of my project. After several dunks in the water I added structure onto the pier until it was very stable. I added a box structure on the end of the pier to hold one of my deer feeders. I cut a hole in the bottom and bolted the feeder down. Since I was one person and trying to find the most simple and most efficient means for building, I installed ropes on both sides in two locations. The ropes were secured to trees on the shoreline. The ropes could be secured so that they would not interfere with your fishing. This setup also aids levity in the natural rise and fall of water levels.

I went on a shopping trip to one of the local fish hatcheries, I came away with several hundred channel catfish in plastic bags, The fingerlings averaged from 4-6 inches long. I had already procured cat fish chow from one of the local feed stores. Dog food will do just as well. I put the pellets into the feeder and set the timer to discharge feed early in the morning and about 1 hour before sunset. Monitoring the quantity of pellets released can give you a good idea of how much the fish are actually eating and how much is waste. I changed the batteries in the feeder occasionally and watched as the fish came up to feed on the floating pellets. Catfish do not eat as much in winter months, so adjust the feed output accordingly. I waited until the fish reached a certain length before fishing was allowed.

After 2 1/2 years wait the kids and family were catching catfish that weighed 8 pounds. We had many fish fries where many families were fed. My kids and family looked forward to going fishing at the stock tank and many good times were enjoyed by us all. Outdoor activities like fishing are good ways for kids and adults to spend their leisure time. In this instance we were bringing a lot of food home to the larder. MY son developed an affinity for the outdoors and now my grandchildren are beginning to reap the rewards of my efforts so many years ago.

Stephen Graham-Avid outdoors man has spent his life in Texas fishing and hunting.
http://www.phmnetwork.com
http://huntn-n-fishn.blogs pot.com
http://goodstuffintexas.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stephen_Graham/38701

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/232493

How To Catch Big Channel Catfish With Moving Lures,

 Really interesting article from Dan explaining his channel catfish fishing exploits and how he dicovered how to catch big channel catfish.

Channel Catfish Stories - The 20 Pounders Love To Attack Moving Lures

The catfish is a fish of legends and stories. What follows are three stories of some monster channel cats and what lures they attacked. Lures, that is- nothing dead. In my time fishing for other fish, I have caught channel catfish on the oddest lures(for cat fishing that is). I will only write of the largest here. Once I was fishing for musky, with an 8 inch long floating creek chub with a steel lip. I let the bait float on the surface a bit, before retrieving on each cast. I threw out the lure on one cast, let it sit, and bam woosh swoosh, a "musky" had my lure in its mouth. This fish went absolutely nuts; it started tearing off line like nothing I'd ever seen before, I was thrilled. This fish was really using the river to its advantage, and headed straight down river at an amazing clip.

Luckily, I had my reel filled with 125 yards of high quality line, because this fish needed to be stopped. I put the breaks on him, and started pulling his head out of the current. Well, he didn't like this, and moved into the slower water, but just sat there for a good minute, I could not do much pulling against the current. I had to walk to shore to pull him straight towards me. And he was resisting as much as he could, but the line was too strong for him. I slowly pulled the beast towards me, and was met with a gray face of whiskers. Turns out, the "musky", was a giant 26lb channel cat. I was a bit mad at first, but then I figured it's a fish, it had the nerve to attack this huge lure, so he's a pretty worthy adversary. And he's pretty darn huge, may have even broken some state records, who knows, I released him or her, to fight again. And getting those trebles out of his mouth was quite a surgery to remember.

Another time, I was using a big risto rap crank bait to fish for musky again. Cast out the risto rap, reel it about ten cranks, and the rod nearly rips out of my hand. I have a "musky", this great, I was thinking-yet again. This was in a river with a bank composed of huge boulders, not a good place for an epic battle. The fish goes ballistic, and starts heading down river and stripping line like a maniac. I start jumping from rock to rock, like a possessed fisherman, almost killing myself about 20 times, and after a 15 minute battle I get to see the head of a huge 21lb channel cat. Again, a little mad at first, but then I think, we'll this fish is a great fish, it's easier to catch than a musky, it's just as strong, if not stronger, and its big.

Then a few years later the mother of all channel cats attacked the tiniest of lures. I was fishing for walleye one night, with a ¼ oz jig head and a white scentless 3" curly tail plastic grub. Yes 3" inches. It was pitch black outside, and the walleye were on a feeding frenzy. I got a few nice 20 inchers, and was pretty pleased. I throw out into the middle of the river, where no walleye were, but just as an experimental cast. Reel in the grub, and it stops, line starts peeling of the reel. I was using some stout 15 lb test line that night, and was pretty panicked as soon as I hooked this mystery fish. I think I have just hooked the world record walleye, this thing is huge, and it is moving across the river at the speed of light. I think for a second, and quickly realize that this is no walleye. It's gotta be a musky or pike, and it's a giant, not a 20lber, or a 30lber, this thing is 40lbs, maybe more.

After 30 minutes of letting this monster have line, reeling, back reeling, reeling, he was finally tiring, and I was able to pull on him. I have never had so much adrenaline in my body as on this night, it was insane. It was a Moby Dick moment. He was still flying back out into the river when he was touching or seeing bottom. This thing was invincible. I got anxious, and really started horsing him, I had seen the line in action, and was confident it was extremely strong. I just wanted to see what is was, I didn't think I was ever going to land this thing. So I start to really lay into him, not giving him an inch of back reel or drag, and he starts to submit. I pull this pike/musky/mystery world record walleye, into the shore, and to my amazement there is a channel cat that is easily over 40 inches and the fattest thing I have seen in my life. I released the beast and had no scale or tape measurer that night, which may have been for the better. After these experiences, I no longer think, oh great, it's a catfish. I think, yes, this has got to be a channel cat, and hold on for a great fight.

Getting ready to tie into some hogs this spring. Check out these amazing catfish baits [http://www.squi doo.com/thecatfishfishing] and watch some crazy catfish videos [http://www.squi doo.com/thecatfishfishing] of guys noodling for catfish.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Scott_R/176419

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1118050

Check out my three part catfish fishing techniques articles here

Tips For Catching Channel Catfish

Here is a great article from Mark, giving some tips for catching channel catfish.

Bait Fishing - How to Locate Channel Catfish in Reservoirs, Details Here!

The channel catfish is often thought of as the smallest of the catfish that are sought after in reservoirs. They may be the smallest but you can catch many 1½ to 3 lbs good eating catfish fairly easy. This catfish may be smaller when comparing to the other blue catfish and flathead catfish in reservoirs but these catfish can grow to well over 50 lbs in these freshwater impoundments. You won't find many of these monsters because channel catfish grow very slowly but they are there. Also catfish catches over 8 lbs are not rare in big reservoirs.

Channel cats are affected by the seasons and there is enough of a migration with the season changes to make them predictable. As the seasons change you can target different migration areas once you learn where they are. As spring breaks and the water starts to warm you will find channel cats mixed in with blue catfish chasing a variety of bait fish along the banks. Normally they will be holding on the windward side. There main food source in early spring are the winter kill of shad. If you can find multiple dead shad in an area most likely there will channel cats feeding on them. Once the shad kill is depleted the channel catfish will travel up the small tributaries located around the reservoir and will stay there feeding aggressively in a pre-spawn mode until early summer.

The channels will seek out cutbanks, riprap and hold there for unsuspecting bait fish. Channel cats also love mussels and if you can find sandy flats that hold mussels and that are close to deep water, you can go bait fishing with mussel meat and catch some great table fare. Once the water really warms channel catfish will head back to deep water. They normally do not like open water structure so look for deep water on the main body of the reservoir at the mouth of large creeks and rivers that dump into the reservoir, channel catfish like to hold there. For example if you can find the mouth of creeks and rivers that have structure and is adjacent to deeper water you can catch channel cats and blue catfish.

Look for points or a bar that drops into the creek near where the creek empties into the main reservoir. Also if you can find a large flat that is close to the opening of the creek you will catch channel catfish. A flat at these locations are ideal setup locations for night fishing for channel catfish and blue catfish.

Well folks that ends my article for today about reservoir channel catfish. We wish you the best of luck on your next fishing trip.

We Have Something Special Just For You, Check Out A Secret Weapon For Catfish Fishing My Friend Discovered In 2004 Check It Out Here! [http://www.oldfishinghole.com/LAND-CAW-EZA.html]
Check out Mark's website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about catch channel catfish [http://www.bait-fishing.com] that really work!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Fleagle/176411

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3135084

How To Fish For Catfish In A Lake

Here's a great article from Mark, on how to fish for catfish in a lake.

Catfish Bait - Fishing For Catfish at Pay Lakes - Details Here!

Many catfish anglers frequent pay lakes for the opportunity to catch a trophy catfish. Many time these anglers do not have boats or the fishing savvy to hunt for the big catfish in the wild. But many of these anglers never catch a trophy cat because they don't position themselves correctly to catch these large catfish at these pay lake pounds.

Catch trophy blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish at pay lakes there's a few tips and techniques you need to know to be successful. Many times if a pay to fish area has multiple ponds, the pond with the trophy catfish will be separate from the other ponds. Also if there are multiple ponds. chances are one will be stocked with channel catfish in the 1 ½ to 3 lb range specifically for table fare or for the novice fisherman.

Just like in the wild blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish will relate to structure that is located in the pond. If any where in the pond there is are known submerged debris or tree trunks the big catfish will be close by. Also, if you do not want to compete with other fisherman fish your local pay lakes at night. Get to your local pay lake before dark so you can pick the right spot to catch your trophy catfish. If you can find a submerged stump close to shore that is great because big flathead catfish, channel catfish, and blue catfish cruise the shore lines at night.

There are questions you need to ask the pay lake proprietor before spending your money. First ask to see a list of the types of fish and their weights that are stocked in the ponds. Next if there are multiple ponds get specifics on which pond or ponds hold the trophy catfish. Next ask how deep the ponds are Just a note, the deeper the pond the better. If the pond has a deep hole ask specifically where it is located. Also ask where known submerged structure is located.

The ideal spot to set up for your bait fishing catfish trip in a paylake is 6 to 8ft deep flats near to the deep water. Also find areas with submerged rock and wood cover that are adjacent to the shallower flats and ledges.. Normally the big catfish in pay lakes will be close to lots of cover and the deep water.

The best catfish baits for pay lakes are natural bait fish such as goldfish, creek chubs, and shiners. The ideal size for these baits are 3 to 4 inches in length. If you are targeting large catfish such as blue catfish, channel catfish or flathead catfish in pay lakes you need to have heavy tackle too match your prey. A surf rod 7 to 8ft in length, medium power and either a bait casting or open face reel designed to be spooled with 25lb to 50lb test line. My preference in line type is a fireline.

A catfish fishing rig for a pay lake is a good hardy large slip bobber rig. To make a slip bobber rig slide the bobber stop up the line firs. Next slide your 6" to 8" long slip bobber up the line first. If you are night fishing I recommend you get one with a small battery powered led light on top. This will help see your bobber at night. Next tie on a two way ball bearing swivel to the line. And last tie a 6 to 8" leader with a 6/0 to 7/0 hook. The large hooks are important. Next either fish your catfish bait live by hooking right through or just behind the dorsal fin. Or if you are fishing dead cut bait, cut your bait fish into large chunks and put them on your hook. Make sure the barb of the hook is exposed.
Well folks that concludes my article about bait fishing for catfish at pay lakes. May your next fishing trip be a success! Have a great day!

We Have Something Special Just For You, Check Out A Secret Weapon For Catfish Fishing My Friend Discovered In 2004 Check It Out Here! [http://www.oldfishinghole.com/LAND-CAW-EZA.html]
Check out Mark's website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about catfish fishing at pay lakes [http://www.bait-fishing.com] that really work!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mark_Fleagle/176411

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3149012