Catfishing Rigs How And When To Use These Three Options

Having the best catfishing rigs will dramitaccly increase your chances of landing a big catch! In this article, Keith gives 3 simple but solid options that are sure to help with your catfishing.

Catfishing Rigs - 3 Simple Options And How And When To Use Them

Catfishing rigs are simply the way you present your bait to the fish. There are a number of ways of tying on hooks and weights to your fishing line. Typically the kind of water you are fishing dictates which rig is best under the conditions. Moving water versus still water. Shallow water versus deep water. A rocky bottom versus a muddy bottom. In this article we will examine 3 simple options and when and how they work best.

The simplest and probably most common setup involves tying a snap swivel to the end of the line. The snap swivel is opened and a weight with a ring in it is put on the snap portion. A leader is either tied directly to the snap or the leader loop is placed on the snap. The snap is closed before casting.
This is a good setup for fishing water that is not moving too swiftly or slow drift fishing on soft bottoms. It can be fished in shallow or deep water. The weight will take the rig to the bottom and keep it there. The bait will typically lie on the bottom. This is a good place for the bait as catfish are typically scavengers and will be searching the bottom for food. In swift moving water the bait could be buried in moving mud, sand or silt and not be found by the catfish.

Possibly the next most common rig is using a sliding sinker. The main line is put through an egg sinker or standard sinker then a barrel swivel is tied to the end of the line. A leader is tied to the opposite end of the barrel swivel. This setup, when a fish eats your bait, allows the main line to go through the weight offering less resistance than the prior example. Oftentimes the fish will release the bait if it feels the resistance of the weight as it swims off.

A good way to keep the bait off the bottom is by using a 3-way-rig or dropper loop setup. Using a 3-way swivel is the most common. One ring of the swivel is tied to the main line. A leader for the weight is tied to what becomes the bottom ring of the swivel. And a leader for the hook is tied onto what becomes the center ring. A dropper loop is the same idea without the need for a swivel. You can vary the distance the bait stays off the bottom by adjusting the length of the weight leader and the length of the hook leader.

Tackle while catfishing should be medium heavy to heavy. Use a longer rod, 7 to 10 feet, for longer casts from shore and power to fight the fish. A minimum of 25 pound test main line and 25 pound fluorocarbon hook leader is adequate for smaller fish. Lighter line can be used for the weight leader when using the 3-way-rig or dropper loop. This allows the weight to break off if stuck in rocks or debris with a fish on.

Weights will vary in size depending on depth and current. Hooks should be larger and heavier gauge wire due to the big tough mouths of catfish. Circle hooks have become a favorite among many fishermen because they are designed to come out of the fish's throat and penetrate the side of their jaw. Treble hooks can be used for dough balls and manufactured baits.
Catfish can get pretty big and will put up a good fight. Even the small ones. Even heavier line and hooks should be used if you know there are large fish in the area. You do not want to break off a trophy fish by using too light of line. These catfishing rigs are time-tested to work in many situations. You may have a favorite you use on the waters you fish. Try experimenting with different setups when fishing in current and when there is no moving water.

Keith Abraham is a catfishing expert. For more great information on catfishing rigs, visit http://www.CatFishinginponds.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Keith_Abraham/985505

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6357283

Grab some great catfish fishing tips here

Having The Right Catfishing Bait Is Everything!!!!

Obviously having the right bait makes all the difference when trying to catch catfish. Here Jeremy gives some great tips and advice on using the right bait.

Catfishing Bait: Why It Is Important For Fishing

The most important aspect to fishing for catfish is using the proper catfish bait. Without the correct knowledge or the right type of bait you would just be sitting there all day without a single catch. That is why it is important to choose the perfect bait.
Only then you can be sure of a good deal of catches at the end of the day. You could go to many professional fishermen for their expert opinions on bait. Many anglers like using live bait to catch their fish. They say it seems natural to the fish. Then again, many others prefer to use home-made fish bait to get their catch.

What the pros do
Many fishermen have their own recipe for making homemade catfishing bait. They normally use bread dough as the main ingredient. Dough alone could make nice bait, but it does not always work. You could try adding different essences to it. Try vanilla of maybe the smell of fish. The scent alone will do enough to attract the catfish and make it go for the bait.
You could try a mixture for different things like dough, cut meat, chicken liver etc. to make small chunks and then use them as bait. This works well and catfish bite to it. There are doubts whether it works as well as live bait would, but it is worth a try. If you have positive results, you could try different variations and create your own recipe for homemade catfish bait.
Many anglers advise using cheese as catfishing bait. They say cheese works great for catching large catfish, and it is cost efficient too. Almost all types of cheese work great as catfish bait, but many fishermen swear by cheddar cheese. You can cut chunks of cheese beforehand, and then leave them to dry a little so they will get tough. This will help keep them attached to the hooks for far longer and prevent the catfish from stealing them.

"Stink baits"
Apart from using solid cheese as bait, you could add it to the mixture as well. This is used to make the so-called "stink baits." There are different recipes for different types of stink baits. Though they stink a lot and are harder to use, they can potentially attract larger catfish. Many people like to use these stink baits as you can make it easily at home; it costs less than traditional baits and has good results. You could give it a try. Others like to use simple chicken liver as baits. The problem with livers, though, is that they don't stick to the hook. Dry them first to solve that problem.
You could also use plastic baits, but that might be pushing it. Though catfish are attracted by their sense of smell, they tend to notice the difference between plastic and edible bait. They might not care about the different nuances if you make your own or use some live or "stinky" as your catfishing bait though, so be creative and remember to have fun.

Jeremy Jefferson is a catfishing expert. For more information on catfishing bait, visit [http://www.catfishinggenius.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jeremy_Jefferson/1055574

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6438206

here are some more great catfish bait tips

Catfishing Rods - Which To Use!

Catfishing tackle is a huge subject, so in this article Dan covers which catfish rods to use. There are some great catfish rod deals online, so I hope you are more able to make a decision after reading Dan's article on Catfish Fishing rods.

Which Catfish Rods to Use

If you are planning a trip to catch one of the most sought after fish today catfish, be sure to bring along the right type of rod for the job. The good news is that there are various types available to fit just about any style, size and design that fits with the way that you like to fish.
Both inexperienced and advanced anglers will be able to catch catfish without a problem, assuming they have the right equipment to do so. There is a huge selection in the market place, including very high end products and very low end fishing rods. Your best bet is to stay around the middle of the price range whenever your budget allows for it. What else goes into selecting catfish rods?
What Are You Catching?

Depending on where you will fish for catfish, select your catfish rod based on the overall size and type of fish that you are looking for. If you are unsure of what the water can offer, find a reference on the web regarding that specific location. Why does this matter? Before purchasing your fishing rod, you must take into consideration the size of the fish it will haul in for you. Is the rod large and strong enough?

Consider Examples
One sure way to find the type of fishing rod that you need for catfish is to compare the options available. One example of a catfish rod is the Berkley Reflex 2nd Generation. This is an inexpensive rod at around $20 to $25.

It offers three casting and three spinning options for you to use. It will hold up to 40-pound test as well as eight ounces of bait of your choice. You may notice that this rod is quite different from the original version, and with good reason. To reduce the price on it, the manufacturer completely changed the look of the rod. They made it much stiffer and reduced the number of rod size options available. It does not offer scotchlite on the guide wraps either.

On a good note, they did improve on the cork handle for this particular rod. In order to use this rod, though, count on only fishing for large Blue catfish or Flatheads, anything else will not be done justice with this rod.

Another catfish rod that you may want to consider is The Boss, which is from Jim Moyer's line. It provides four unique casting options. It is part of his specialty series of catfish rods including the Berkley E Cat. The Boss offers a high-grade E Glass design and has a cork handle with trigger. It includes a reel seat that is heavy duty and dependable in the long run. There are two smaller rods here, which offer titanium glides.

The two larger rods are made with stainless steel glides. Each of these models offers their own rating, but the largest can take up to a 40-pound test. You can enjoy using the larger rods for both mid size and larger rivers.

They are great for use with Flatheads coming out of the timbers, too. If you invest in the smaller models, which are good choices for many, you will want to use them for channel catfish and small Blues, in particular. For this type of specialty quality, you are going to spend more.
These catfish rods will run you about $65 to $70 on the market currently. Yet, the quality that you get from them is worth it for the angler that will use it often. You will appreciate the extra investment if you are a true angler.

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

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/851867

Best Bait To Catch Catfish Tips

Some great tips on finding the best bait for catfish. There are lots of people giving advice on the best bait to catch catfish. I suggest you research as much as you can and then the only way you will really find the best bait, is through trying different peoples advice. Here in this article below, Craig gives some great catfish fishing tips regarding bait.

The Best in Fishing Bait For Catfish best bait to catch catfish

Fishing is a hobby men and a lot of women enjoy, but having the right fishing bait for catfish is a very important ingredient to bringing home all those delicious mouth-watering catfish for an outdoor fish fry with your friends and family. Knowing which bait works the best for catfish will give you a fishing adventure you'll remember for years to come.
Dead minnows are a wonderful bait to use when fishing for catfish. Live minnows tend to attract a lot of bass and that can interfere with the catfish you're after today. Catfish really don't care, live or dead, they'll go after either so save the live ones for a day of bass fishing. Use the dead minnows with a bobber system to suspend them a foot or so under water especially in the summer and spring months and in shallow water.

Sardines, anchovies and shad are other favorite catfish baits. These work well in water that is deep and used more when you are drift fishing. Another favorite fishing bait for catfish is crawfish, this is a delicacy for them. The meat from the tail works best but crawfish can be used as live bait as well but the pinchers need to be removed if you're fishing on the bottom or use a bobber rig to keep the crawfish off the bottom.

Shrimp is another catfish delight. These should be shelled before being hooked as the catfish prefer the shelled shrimp. The larger shrimp can be cut into small chunks while the smaller ones can be placed on your hook whole. Some people soak the shrimp in garlic oil, vanilla, anise oil, or any number of other things to add another scent to bait shrimp.

Night crawlers work very well too, catfish love worms. Worms are easily found at any bait and tackle shops, especially from the spring months into the winter. When you bait your hook with a worm make sure you don't leave a long end hanging lose because a catfish will suck the worm off the hook before you know what happened. Place only enough weight on your line to allow your worm and line to drift naturally along the bottom with the current for the best results.
Chicken livers or gizzards are also great bait for catfish. Make sure they are fresh and not frozen. Place these on your hook and just wait for the catfish to come calling. The only draw back to using chicken gizzards or livers is they come off your hook easy after they get wet. It's best to use a treble hook so you'll get a little more time out of this bait.
There are also some lures and prepared fishing bait for catfish on the market today. Your best bet with these is to find someone who has had a lot of experience with lures and prepared baits and try those that have been proven to work. The bait shop owner can give you some tips on what's been working lately and recommend some brands to try.

You can find more information about fly fishing [http://www.fishingholereport.com/] at our site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Craig_Petersen/29084

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1173573

Catfish Noodling Guides Part 2

Here is the second part of our articles around catfish noodling guides. Although good catfish noodling can be productive, noodling for catfish can also be dangerous. Here Bradley gives some solid advice for anyone looking at noodling.

Noodling For Catfish 

Noodling has been around for a long time. It started when fishermen started noticing that big catfish don't swim around much, but live in deep holes or under a lot of cover. The art of noodling has been passed down from generation to generation, but only in the past fifteen years has been considered a serious sport
.
Most noodlers do not go at it alone. There is a real risk of drowning if you stick your arm in a big one's mouth. Catfish caught by noodling can weigh up to around sixty pounds. The catfish latches on and tries to get away. Noodlers report not being able to get their arm or hand out and end up in a struggle with the fish to get back to the surface. This is why some noodlers wear scuba gear when they dive. Noodlers generally have a spotter at the surface when they go down for a catfish. The spotter will help them out of the water, help secure the fish and help retrieve the hand.
Noodling is easiest in water that is shallow or at least not over your head. Spring and summer are the best times to find catfish in their nests. They spawn when the water gets up to around 70 degrees or higher. Once they lay their eggs, they do not often leave their nests.

Noodlers will generally test a hole before they stick their hand in it. They will prod with a stick to figure out if it is a catfish in there, or something else, like a turtle or a snake. If it is a catfish, they will sometimes create a barricade around the hole, lessening the fish's chance of escape. They will use logs, rocks or other people to stand close, trapping the fish in the desired area.
Catfish usually bite to defend their nests. This makes noodling a little easier. Sometimes they will just nip a finger and you will need to try to cram in your hand to grab it behind the gills. Be prepared, because catfish do have teeth. They also will spin once they have latched on. The teeth are small, but they can draw blood and break through the skin. Some noodlers use gloves, but most see gloves, small hooks or using scuba equipment as cheating.

If you want to improve your noodling success, you can create a habitat where big catfish will want to spawn. Fish attractors, such as Honey Hole Trees or Shrubs, are very useful. They create an area where catfish feel safe. They are inclined to hunt and spawn around this type of cover, increasing the population of catfish and increasing the size of the catfish. Natural cover can be more dangerous for noodlers because of the constant threat of snags. Check with your state before you go noodling, because it is illegal in some areas. Whether you find a hot bed of nests or use fish attractors to lure in the big guys, you're sure to have a great time noodling with your friends.

Brad Metzler is the owner of Honey Hole Tree Inc., an industry leader in the production and sale of fish attractors like Honey Hole Trees and Turtle Traps. Honey Hole Tree Inc. also consists of Lake and Pond Management Professionals that are dedicated to finding the most economical solutions and strategies for your fish attractant and stocking needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Bradley_Metzler/129677

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2099591

World Record Noodling Catfish

Catfish Noodling Guides Part 1

Noodling for catfish? There are many catfish noodling guides available. Some good catfish noodling information is all you need, here in this first part of our guide, Ronald gives some great catfish fishing tips.

Have You Had a Go at Noodling Yet? No! You Desperately Need Some Quality Catfishing Information!

The first piece of catfishing information you need to know is that over 2500 species of Catfish occupy the waters of the world. These eel like, scale less fresh water fish can be divided into many families and genres. Although their native waters boast a greater number and kind of species, a considerable population of catfish has been introduced into the Pacific and the European waters.
Catfish have the widest range of size. The smallest species of catfish gain sexual maturity at only 1cm, an average catfish may grow up to 1.2 to 1.6 m, whereas the largest recorded size of a catfish is around 2.5 m in length and over a 100kg. The bigger and older catfish is always hard to find and difficult to subdue.

Catfish are named after their distinguishing barbells, which bring to mind a cat's whiskers. These long barbells hang from around the mouth area and exist in pairs, helping the creature by heightening its awareness of the surrounding. The protrusions around the mouth play a vital role when the Cat is out hunting in the murky waters. Although very similar to a feline's whiskers, they are far from decorative. The long tactile barbells of catfishes actually carry external taste buds and allow the fish to 'taste' the waters.

Another distinctive anatomical feature of a catfish is its scale less state. Most Catfish are structured with a strong and hollow leading ray which is set on the dorsal and pectoral fins. Whenever the Catfish is irritated, annoyed or frightened it automatically locks these spines into place and prepares to inflict maximum damage to its foe.

A stinging protein is produced in the process by epidermal gland cells that can be fatal to a human. Only one Catfish species namely; the electric catfish lacks the fin spine, but this shortcoming is more than made up by the existence of electrogenic organs. These potent arms are able to send out electric shocks of up to 350 volts and are crucial for warding off predators.

If the long waiting hours before the catch are not your thing, you can try your 'hand' at noodling. For your information, noodling is a catfishing practice which originated in South America and uses bare hands to catch the prey. Also known as catfisting, grabbing, stumping, tickling and gurgling, noodling has taken fishing to a completely new level.

The technique requires invading a catfish hideout and putting in your hand for 'grabs'. Once a catfish bites into the noodler's hand it doesn't let go easily giving the noodler plenty of time to fish it out. Most noodlers prefer to go noodling with a team of spotters who play a major role in alleviating the dangers posed by noodling.

The first stage of noodling requires careful study of the catfish locations. When the angler is convinced of the existence of catfish in certain shallows, they wade in carrying prodding sticks. The catfish attacks and bites the noodler's hand, when this happens, the noodler has to pull the fish out of the water. This sounds a lot easier than it actually is. The fish being in its element always put up a fight, so the noodler has to be careful not to get stung in the process.

Noodling is an extreme sport and calls for fishing teams, generally known as spotters. The spotters assist the noodler with their catch and basically work as safety measures in the face of hidden yet inevitable dangers. Wrestling a hefty Flathead cat in its own play ground is no child's play and there have been many near death incidents.

RONALD SHARP (or Ron Sharp) is a catfishing expert.
For more great information on catfishing, visit [http://www.catfishingcatch.com].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ronald_Sharp/1015286

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6162777

world record noodling catfish

Catfishing Tips For Beginners and Experienced

When George gives advice, everyone listens! Here are some awesome catfishing tips for beginners and experienced anglers alike. These catfish fishing techniques are proven, so grab a coffee and take note :)

12 Catfishing Tips That Work In Summer and Winter, Learn Channel and Pond Techniques

Learning the right cat-fishing techniques can come in handy when you are out fishing. Here are a few tips that will help you catch a good catfish on a summer day.
1. If you are fishing in a lake or a river in summers, make sure that you attach weights your line. The summer heat forces the catfish to hide at the bottom, in deeper pools, or under the logs and other debris. Also try fishing in flooded banks with vegetation. You will likely catch a big catfish or two hiding there.
2. Try drift fishing. The wind might take you to a spot where the catfish are feeding.
3. Trolling for catfish also works. Make sure you use more than two lines when you are trolling.
4. Nights are the best times of the day for fishing for big cats. The flathead especially come out during the cooler hours of the night.
5. Always carry more than two kinds of bait when fishing for channel cats.
6. Flathead and Blue catfishes prefer live bait to prepared bait. Bait your lines with shad or bluegills if you want to fish for bigger catfishes.

If you are catfishing in winter, you will need to look in different areas of the lake or the river you are fishing in.
1. The water is cooler in winters so the catfish usually hide under the vegetation in the shallower end of the water body. Look under trees and flooded vegetation covers.
2. Do not make too much noise bringing your equipment. You might scare away the catfish. Also keep the conversations to a minimum.
3. Buy a really long rod for cat fishing in winter. This way you will be able to drop the line close to the catfish without scaring them away.
4. Bring warm mittens. Also bring warm clothes in adequate supply. It is also good to fish with friends.
5. You will likely need bigger baits to ensnare the catfish in winters.
6. Try to keep your line steady and not move it too much.

Cat fishing in fall and spring is relatively easy. All you need is a good supply of bait. Find the spot where the fish are feeding and you can bait at least a few decent sized fish while you are there. Usually the fish hang out in places where the flood water enters the lake or the river. A creek is the right place to look for catfish. If you don't get a bite in 15 minutes, you should move to a different place. You can also go trolling or drift fishing in spring or fall.

It behooves the fishing enthusiast to know everything about the water body he is fishing in. I suggest that you spend at least an hour studying the location you can set up shop in. If you find the right place for fishing, that is, a place where the cats usually hide, you can get a bigger bite. If you are out to fish for bigger cats like blue catfish and Flathead, you can hit the jackpot in winters when these fish are easier to catch.

People ask me. What if this recipe will not work for me? What else can be used to catch a catfish. Click the link and discover techniques and baits secrets [http://www.catfishingpoint.com] used by pros. Do not take my word, try it. It works. Talk to you soon.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6241318

Some great catfish fishing tips here