Catfish Fishing Tips

Big Blues Love Cold Water:

The biggest blue catfish often come from water below the 40-degree mark. Most other gamefish are sluggish in water this frigid, but not blues - they'll bite aggressively and put up a world-class fight.

Flatheads On Bluegills:

One of the best baits for a big flathead catfish is a live bluegill. Fish it under a float in shallow water, or below a heavy sinker on the bottom of a river. Use stout tackle - when hooked, a flathead usually heads straight for cover.

Catfish Attractor:

A "fish block" is a great catfish attractor. These biodegradable blocks (or cans of cheap dog food), when submerged, emit a fish-attracting odor which will call catfish and baitfish from a wide area. Tie a block to a tree limb or boat dock to attract fish close to shore, or sink one of or more on underwater structure. For best results, return in a couple of days and fish close to the block. Also known as "chumming" you will want to make sure this is legal where you fish.

Catfish Rigs:

Here are some generic catfish rigs that you'll find useful.