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Welcome to Catfish University!
Catfish U was built to promote catfishing to the next level that
some other "game" fish are on. Catfish U intends to grow the general
awareness, promote the sport, and give catfishermen and catfisherwomen a place
to learn different catfishing techniques and a place to share their knowledge
with other catfish enthusiasts.
Wintertime is fast approaching and for many catmen and women the
thought of landing that monster blue is in the front of our brains. Winter
time catfishing can be the best time to fish if you know when and where to go.
Ask most river catfish guides and they will tell you that between now and late
February is the time to be on the water chasing those big cats. Get your
reels oiled and re-spooled, check all your guide lines, make sure the boat is in
working condition and full of gas - and go get those lines wet. Winter
time and big blues are here! Scroll down below to read a few articles
about chasing winter time blues.
A Tip for Storing your Catfishing Reels
Always store your catfishing reels with the drag set at no tension (free spool)
or as low as it can go. This will prevent flat spots on drag material. You can
set the clicker to the "On" position to prevent the reel from turning and line
unwinding. A little bit of planning now goes a long way when battling the
big'un!
A Tip for your Catfishing Rods
Pull a strip of
nylon hose through each guide - If the material sticks or threads, there's
probably a nick in the guide which could lead to line damage. Replace the guides
as necessary. Inspect guide wraps for hints of wear - re-wrap if necessary.
Clean the cork grips by gently rinsing with warm water and soap solution. If
fish scales and slime prove stubborn, gently rub the grips with a piece of fine
steel wool. If the rod is fitted with EVA foam grips, wipe them with a soapy
dish rag, and then rinse them with cool water. If utilizing a two-piece rod, rub
a very light coating of paraffin onto the ferrule. This not only makes for a
firm, secure connection, but also makes it easier to separate the sections.
Store your fishing rods in a horizontal or vertical rack as opposed to leaning
against a wall or stacking in a corner where the rod might bend and actually
take a "set". Run your fingers over the length of the blank. Should you detect
any dings, the rod may have incurred damage that may cause it to break during
use. You don't want the backbone of your outing to break when fighting the
big'un either!
Are you about to buy a new catfishing rod? Check out out Catfish U Rods
section first!
A Tip for your Catfishing Line
Always check the line for nicks or burs or areas of
abrasion that cause a weakness. After every catfishing trip cut off
approximately ten feet of line and retie. If you land a fish and you
believe it has been frayed – don’t take the chance, retie your line. When
fighting a decent fish, two things could happen - (1) the fish goes deep,
pulling the line across rocks, logs or other hard objects, (2) the fish is big
and the line will rub across its body or tail. These two factors will cause
abrasion, eventually wearing down the line to break in that spot. The easiest
solution is to cut off the weak line and retie or cry once the big catfish swims
away with your line, hook, sinker, and bait. No use in chancing it - retie
your line so that it doesn't break when you are fighting the big'un!
What say you? Have you or anyone you know used the
"Catfish Caller"
also known as the
"Clonk"?
We'd like to hear what you or your buddy has to say about it. For real or
fishing scam - let us know!
Also, has anyone out there used this "secret weapon"? If so, we'd like
feedback from you!
Finally, the "catfish
fishing secret weapon" from 1947 has been re-discovered and revealed to the
public - for the first time...
Old School Catfish Fisherman Refuses To Reveal This Closely-Guarded "Secret
Weapon" That Instantly Swarms Hundreds Of Blood-Thirsty Catfish To His Bait,
Doubling His Catches!
"So Powerful It Was Banned In 2 States!"
100% Guaranteed To Double Your Catches!
Catfishermen and women would like to know if it's
the real deal or just another fishing hoax. Let us know so we can spread the word!
What do you think of the catfish hook setter? Watch video when new page loads ...
Join our Catfish U Top Site and see where you
rack and stack against other catfish web sites!
A guide to
nontypical catfishing techniques ...
Winter Catfishing is one of the most exciting times of the year to catch the
bigger blue cats in your river system. These cats are aggressive feeders
even when the water temperature is in the mid to upper 30’s. Hold on for a few
moments and lets get started on where, how to find catfish and baits. We’ll
cover tackle, after figuring out where to locate these winter catfish.
Click to
continue reading catfishing article ...
Spawning season is peak time to catch many gamefish,
but when catfish are considered, it's a different story. The spawning habits of
catfish differ greatly from those of other gamefish, and fishing success may
take a nosedive when blue catfish, flathead catfish and channel cats are on
their nests. Unless you understand why this occurs, you're likely to return from
a late spring/early summer catfishing trip frustrated and perplexed.
Click to continue reading article ...
"Anglers can go to the James River and expect to catch 30- to
40-pound blue catfish on a regular basis, and if they hit the right hole on the
right day, they will be catching unbelievable numbers of these large blue
cats. Blue cats in the 50- to 60-pound range are caught on a fairly
regular basis and blue catfish up to 83 pounds have been caught in the James,"
Greenlee observed.
Click to continue reading article
How big
is a trophy catfish? Different anglers answer in different ways. The reply
depends on several things - where they fish, the type of catfish they seek and
how big a cat they've caught before. For most anglers, however, a channel cat
over 20 pounds is an exceptional fish, and in most waters a flathead or blue
over 50 pounds would be the trophy of a lifetime.
Click to continue reading - Gearing up for a Mega-Catfish ...
3 Great Trophy Cat Fisheries In Carolina
The Cooper River and lakes Marion and Moultrie have thriving blue catfish
populations, and you can catch your share of these monster blue cats now!
Click to continue reading article ...
Only two kinds of catfish swim the Tennessee River in Alabama -- eaters and
trophies. Fisheries biologists might dispute that, citing the channels, the
blues, the flatheads and the several other kinds of catfish there. But when you
fish the Tennessee River, you catch small ones to release into a frying pan’s
sizzling grease and big ones to release back into the river -- after taking some
pictures, of course.
Click to continue reading this article ...
Colorado River Flatheads
While every other Southern California angler is chasing blues and channels at
Irvine and San Vincente, take a friend and head to the Colorado River near
Blythe for some excellent catfishin' away from the crowds.
Click to continue reading this article ...
Understanding Catfish Senses and more
With more than 250,000 taste buds on even the smallest catfish, these game fish
can rightly be called "swimming tongues." But that's just the tip of the sensory
iceberg when it comes to catfish.
Click to continue reading this article ...
All Hail -- Missouri's King Of Cats!
From the loess hills of the northwest to the swamps of the southeast, Missouri's
catmen have crowned the channel cat king.
Click to continue reading this article
Getting Kids Hooked on Cats
Summer cats: fun to catch, tasty to eat, and perfect for introducing the joys of
angling. Come along as we reveal the kid-friendliest spots for filling a
youngster's stringer.
Click to continue reading this article ...
Our Finest July Catfish Rivers
Now's the time for some serious cat angling, and these proven Buckeye State
rivers are the places to be for lunker flatheads and channel cats this month.
Click to continue reading this article...
Running the Rivers for Oklahoma Cats
To find our best fishing for Old Whiskers this month, it's the flowing streams
of Oklahoma that you'll want to hit.
Click to continue reading this article ...
Floating Illinois' Best Cattin' Rivers
Most folks prefer to wait for the whisker fish to come to them. But if you fish
from a boat on these waters, you'll catch a whole lot more filets!
Click to continue reading this article ...
During winter and early spring, big blue cats run
the river channel, feeding along the channel ledges. They rarely move onto
adjacent shallow flats. Even the hot-water discharge area doesn't attract big
blue cats, although it does draw one of the blue cat's favorite baitfish, the
skipjack herring. The discharge area is a prime spot to gather fresh herring for
prime cutbait. Click
to continue reading this article from In-Fisherman magazine ...
Drifters take a different tact. They know that cats
often spread out over large flats or along channel ledges, where anchoring is
inefficient. They know, too, that they can cover more water by drifting, putting
their bait in front of many more fish during the course of a day. Learning
the basics is easy. Most anglers will learn enough in a day or two afloat to
start catching cats. But like any other endeavor, the more you do it the easier
it becomes. I'll wager that if you follow Lawrence's 6-step process this season,
you'll catch more and bigger channel cats than ever before.
Click to continue reading this article from In-Fisherman magazine
...
Frosty Flatheads
The Hole Truth About Flatheads In Rivers Right Now
The season for channel cats on the Minnesota portion of the Red River extends
from early May through the end of February. I mention this in an article about
flatheads because it's the only legal season for catfish that I'm aware of in
North America. Most parts of the country, though, have at least an informal
season. Most veteran flathead anglers, for example, begin fishing when water
temperatures warm into the low to mid-60F range in spring, and they hang up
their rods when water temperatures cool below 50F in fall.
Click to continue reading this article from In-Fisherman magazine
A bit of advice when you get back from
catfishing:
After Every Trip
After every outing, flush out the engine. This doesn't just apply to salt water
adventures, but to fresh water outings as well. Buy a set of "rabbit ears": two
flexible rubber seals connected with a metal clamp. Slip the apparatus onto the
lower unit where the water is picked up and attach a garden hose. Start up the
engine and let the water pump do the rest. (Practice safe boating and remember
to stay clear of the prop and make sure no one tries to shift the motor into
gear.) While you're flushing the motor, check the water pump to make sure it has
good water flow. Carefully put your finger through the stream of water. It may
be warm, but it shouldn't be hot. If the output is not strong, you may have some
debris stuck in the outflow tube. Immediately shut down the engine to prevent
overheating and damage. Insert a small piece of wire into the flow tube and work
it back and forth. Start the engine again and check the output. If that doesn't
solve the problem, you may need a new water pump. After flushing the engine,
disconnect the fuel line and allow the engine to burn all the fuel in the
carburetor. Once you've finished the flushing and run the engine out of fuel, be
sure to turn off the key and, if you have a battery switch, turn it off. Take
the engine cowling off and check for fuel or water leaks. If you find leaks,
consult your safe boating mechanic. Wipe everything down and spray with an
anti-corrosive like WD 40 or Quick-lube. Be sure to lubricate all the moving
parts such as the shift and throttle cables, carburetor valves, etc. Replace the
cowling and wipe it down. Keep a canvas or plastic cover on the engine between
trips. Always use fresh fuel. At the end of the season, boat motor maintenance
should include draining your tanks and taking the fuel to the proper recycling
authority.
Read more on boat maintenance
Please pass the word about Catfish U and let's get catfishing
noticed by all.
If you have any suggestions
or comments, please
email us and let us know. Catfish U was built for the catfishing
people out there - so please provide some input. If you don't provide any
input, we can't pass anything on to the masses!
Remember to CPR - Catch, Photograph, and Release cats over 10
pounds in size. An average 10 pound flathead or blue cat will lay approximately 25,000
eggs. A 20 pound flathead or blue cat will lay approximately 50,000 eggs. If you
release the big ones you are also helping the DNA / gene pool out - bigger fish
equals big DNA and genes out there in the waters. We need to keep the big cats in our water
systems so that our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids have monsters to chase
when they get older!
Thank you,
Catfish U
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