Here Kitty Kitty - Locating Catfish

Here Kitty Kitty- Locating Catfish

by Mark Bilbrey

Structure is the permanent attributes of the bottom of a body of water. It can be natural like a drop off, a point or a hole, or it can be man made such as an old roadbed. Often confused with cover, which are items such as wood and weeds that are not permeate or can be moved. Structure is always a good place to begin searching for catfish in an unfamiliar body of water.  Catfish commonly use structure as a holding area in the shadows preferring the darkest place to be during the daytime hours. Man made structure such as bridge pilings and the ditches of old road beds offer the light shy cats a place to hide. In the winter month’s catfish will be deep seeking the warmer more oxygenated water. This makes deep structure a good place to search for cats.

 

 

 Electronic fish finders are a great way to locate large concentrations of big fish. Modern innovations in side imaging and structure scan borrowed from bass anglers will give Catfishing gurus an advantage in locating big fish and the structure where they could be hiding. Flatheads, Channels, and Blues are nocturnal feeders by nature. Locating the big ones during the day in winter relies on the knowledge that

the fish will be deep on the shaded side of rock bluffs, ledges or other large structure that provides a comfort zone during the day before moving at night to feed. 

 

 

 Catfish can be caught in areas of structure where bluegill and crappie are known to be. The same structure that provides the cats a place to call home also gives the baitfish a place of security. The cut bait or live bait dropped beneath into the shadows of these areas can reward a fisherman with a large catfish. Make friends with some crappie fishermen their honey holes could possibly be holding a big cat that lurks beneath. 

 

 

 When fishing for large cats keep in mind that if you locate fiddlers (small catfish) there will be no large fish in the area. If their activity suddenly stops this could indicate that a large fish has moved into the area. Catfish like many other species have a cannibalistic nature when it comes to smaller fish and even larger ones as well once one becomes hooked or stressed. Take the time to learn different habits of the catfish you are fishing for whether it is blues, channel or flathead, each one has unique characteristics that can help you in locating them specifically.

 

 

Happy Fishing!