Showing posts with label channel cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label channel cats. Show all posts

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

How To Catch Catfish In Lakes

Another great article from Mark on how to catch catfish in lakes. Many people attempt to catch catfish in lakes, but a little research before you embark on this, can make all the difference!

Bait Fishing - Classifying Catfish Lakes Details Here!

When we talk about classifying catfish lakes we basically talking about locating different species of catfish such as channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish at different times of the year. The classifying process is not an exact science because there is not a lot of scientific data that has been collected about catfish like other game fish species. Fortunately there is some data that has be collected about the channel catfish, and we will use some of that history as reference for our article today. Our article today will focus on the different types of catfish lakes.

To classify catfish waters is a three part process. When you classify catfish waters for bait fishing you compare the type of lake, structure, the lakes location, and seasonal movements of a particular species of catfish such as channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. If this sounds like a bit of work it is. To be a very good catfish angler it does take a bit of practice and trial and error just like any other sport. For example your best pro athletes spend hours in the weight room and with conditioning to get ready for the next season. The ones that prepare the best perform the best, it's no different with fishing for catfish, or any other fish species for that mater.

Old School Catfish Fishing

Before we start on the different lake classifications lets talk briefly about the idea water temperatures for channel catfish, blue catfish and flat head catfish. This information is vital when you are preparing to identify ideal bait fishing for catfish waters. The ideal temperature range for all catfish is between 75degrees to 80 degrees. When the water temperature rises to 75degree all catfish will start their spawning. This will occurs at different times, depending where the catfish waters are located. Typical spawning periods for Florida are the months, of April, May and June. The catfish spawning times for Alabama and Georgia are May and June. In Texas and Oklahoma catfish spawn between May and June. In Kentucky and Tennessee the spawn will happen between June and July. In Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa The spawn of catfish will occur in June and July. In Ohio The cats will spawn over a three month period between July to early August. In Minnesota and Wisconsin you can expect the spawn to be between July to early August also. Manitoba Canada will have a spawn of catfish between July and August.

The following information about the types of catfish lakes is to be used as a guide only so you can classify your local cat fish hole and lakes around you. There are no two lakes that are exactly alike but fortunately lakes do fall into three basic categories which are oligotrophic (young lakes), mesotrophic (middle aged lakes), and eutrophic (old lakes). Some lakes such as oligotrophic lakes will not hold any catfish and can be eliminated them from you catfish lake classification list. Understanding the idea temperature range for catfish is a key factor when you start to learn the catfish water classification for bait fishing. All baseline data will be developed based on knowing this information first. Catfish will react differently when the water temperature moves below or above their ideal temperature and you will be predicting their movements and feeding patterns based on this information.

To classify a lake into one of the three lake classifications listed in the last paragraph there are some specific factors you need to consider such as how many game fish there are compared to the number of bait fish, the amount and type of aquatic vegetation, and other critical structure habitat factors. This information will be used in combination of seasonal movements to determine where catfish will be located and what type of catfish bait to use when you go bait fishing for your particular species of catfish.

Well that concludes my article today about classifying catfish waters. May you have the best of luck on your next fishing trip! Have a great day!
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Tuesday, 16 February 2016

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.
Old School Catfish Fishing

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

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