As is with all anglers, we want to be successful when we go catfishing. But when exactly is the best times to go? It is a question that I will try to address through this article. the old cliche is that the best time to go catfishing is whenever you can. while this is a truth all anglers share, there are a wide range of variables that can make your trip more successful if applied correctly.
let's begin by stating that countless thousands of catfish has been caught during the day, but large number of catfish anglers agree that the best catfish can be caught at night. All species of catfish become more aggressive in their feeding after dark, however, catfish are also opportunistic feeders, and will take a wide rnage of prey no matter the time of day. even when they are relatively inactive, if a prey presents itself, they will attack without hesitation. it is this feeding pattern that causues many of bass anglers to hook into ol Mr Catfish. Catfish often stay in the same type of habitat that bass, and walley inhabit, though they are generally alot less active.
A few years ago, an elderly gentleman called me at home seeking fishing advice. He really wanted to catch some catfish but had no idea where to start. He asked if I had any ideas that would help him. The old angler explained that he did not want to go catfishing alone at night and that he had a small boat. I responded that the best catfishing occurred after dark but that I appreciated his limitations. I asked the senior citizen to give me a little more time to come up with an appropriate plan.
The next day, I had an idea and immediately called him back. I decided to send him an easily accessible logjam located near a public boat launch on a local river. My instructions were to get there at dawn, tie up on the logjam, stay there and to fish straight down near the river bottom in about 10 feet of gentle current using nightcrawlers and large shiners. I knew that catfish would retreat from the bright sunlight and that the logjam provided perfect shade. A few days later, he called me back, gushing with gratitude. Following my instructions to the letter, he caught and released several nice channel cats and a five-pound flathead catfish. As far as I know, the old fellow is still out there somewhere catching catfish in the broad daylight.
Catfishing exclusively at night offers several distinct advantages. The primary benefit is that large catfish feel more comfortable after dark and will become more active. They’ll exit cover near dusk and start aggressively searching for sustenance. If you set your bait close to cover and take advantage of the current, catfish will scent the presentation and swim to you. It becomes a waiting game with the patient angler holding all the high cards. Rather than tossing your bait into a dense logjam and hoping for the best, you can remain upstream above the cover and lure catfish out. Your odds of landing huge catfish increase significantly if you can hook the big fish away from dense river debris. Also, you can frequently catch several catfish in one location without having to move. I actually prefer to stay in one location all night rather than relocating after a few hours with no action.
I’ve caught catfish from dusk to dawn but I’ve noticed three distinct time periods when the fishing seemed to be the best. The one-hour twilight period around dusk has proven to be one of the very best times for me. As a result, I always prefer to have my bait in the water well before dark. There seems to be a flurry of activity as the sun disappears. This makes perfect sense when you think about it: Catfish have lain up all day and have developed an appetite. They’re eager to get out and feed. The first twilight conditions on the river spark activity.
The middle of the night has been hot, too. I’ve taken many nice cats during the hour around midnight. By that time, the river has settled into its nightly routine and boat traffic is usually absent. For whatever reason, most catfishermen simply give up and go home. It’s usually very dark, quiet and peaceful. I normally have a well-established bait scent trail established in the water current. Perhaps that helps the big cats to zero in on my position from further down stream.
Dawn has been very decent to me, too. On many occasions, I’ve caught trophy cats before I could barely see. When the birds start to sing and get active just before dawn, the cats are preparing to call it a night. My theory is that the fish are returning to their holes from a night of wanderlust and they often have appetites. Hungry cats are not likely to pass up a tasty bluegill or fresh cutbait when faced with a long inactive day ahead. Remember that catfish are opportunistic feeders and that this characteristic takes precedent whenever there is any available food nearby. If this scenario is correct, I may have originally missed the fish when they first left the hole the previous evening to feed. Being there at dawn and dusk significantly increases the possibility that they will find my bait.
For that reason, I routinely fish all night. I feel that the more time that I can keep my bait in the water when the cats are most active, the better my chances of landing a huge flathead catfish. I’m extremely reluctant to miss any of the three prime periods described earlier. However, if I had to limit my time on the water, I would fish exclusively from dusk until about midnight. If you want to catch catfish, fish at night whenever possible. If you want to increase your success rate, fish all night. Keep your bait in the water when catfish are most active. These simple rules will consistently put catfish in your boat
