How to Catch Catfish

You will find Catfish in most ponds, lakes and streams. You won’t need to cast more than 30ft out to hook a decent size fish. Catfish search for food using their scent glands so you can pretty much use any bait that gives off a decent smell. The more stinky the meat, the more success you will have.

Shrimp and Mackerel are popular baits to use. If you leave them rotting in the midday sun for a few hours before heading out, they will smell awful and irresistible to the Catfish. When you bait shrimp, make sure that the point of the hook is still protruding out so whenever you strike after the initial bite, it will still imbed itself into the mouth. Mackerel works great too because it’s salty and the Catfish love it. When you bait Mackerel, make sure the hook is through far enough so that it won’t come off when you cast.

Liver is another favourite among anglers. Chicken, turkey or beef, it doesn’t really matter, whatever is readily available in your local supermarket or fishing store. There are several ways to prepare your liver to better attract the Catfish. Leaving the liver out in the sun for a few hours will give it a good smell and, as you know, the Catfish can’t resist meat with a pong! Garlic Salt is another trick that many fisherman use to give the liver a more intense taste. The fish hold on longer giving you more time to strike. Drain the liver well making sure all the blood and water is out. Add a pile of garlic salt to the liver and mix it well using your hands. If you don’t want your hands to stink afterwards, use a pair of rubber or PVC gloves. Place the liver in the fridge overnight and the garlic will soak into the meat. The Catfish won’t be able to resist the taste when they sink their teeth into it.

Using the correct hook for your bait is crucial. If you choose a hook that is too small, your bait will fly off during cast and you won’t catch anything. Treble hooks will hold the bait better and there will be less chance of it coming off. You can buy treble hooks with little springs that hold the bait on but these can be expensive. If you bait the hook correctly, a normal no.5 or no.6 treble hook can achieve the same results.