I hope this article has been helpful, I have cat fished for years and these techniques have worked great! Take Care and God Bless
1. Fishing Poll
A good quality poll with at least a 30 to 50 pound test line. We used a Ugly Stick with a open face rill that was purchased at Wal-Mart. for around $25.00.
2. Tackle
These are the two choices I would choose a medium size treble hook or a small perch hook. Your average tackle equipment, Pliers, Knife, also bring a thing of white sewing string.
3. Bait
Have a variety of bait! I would recommend Chicken Liver in blood bought at a local supermarket, or Worms.
4. Location
The 75+ pound catfish we caught was at SaylorVille Damn outside of Des-Moines, Iowa. The open mouths at rivers are great places for cat fish. The best advice I can say is ask around to local fisherman about great places to catch catfish! Try to find a place that has a night light so you don’t need a lantern or flash light to get around.
5. Time
I highly recommend night fishing that is when I have had the best luck on catching catfish.
6. Equipment
A Gas Lantern,Battery Lamp,Flash Light, a good fold out chair, Insect Spray,Beverages, Remember catfish can some times take a while to catch so bring items that can make you as comfortable as possible.
7. Fishing License
Please always obey your local laws on fishing and buy a fishing license prices range from state to state just call your local Wal-Mart and ask the sports goods section how much, They usually have the answers for you.
8. Getting Started
A. Setup your fishing line
I highly recommend a treble hook and a good size weight, Using the Polymer Knot it has not let me down yet. You can find instructions on how to tie this knot in any search engine just use the keyword Polymer Knot. I put my weight at the very bottom of the string and then add the treble hook about 20 to 30 inches above the weight. Also you can just use a Worm and Hook.
B. Putting Bait on the Treble Hook.
This is the trick for using Chicken Liver take a chunk of chicken liver and wrap it around the hook once that is done take the white sewing string and overlay it around the treble hook and keep over looping it around the treble hook and bait once it has a nice little ball around the treble hook and the bait wont fall off your ready to go fishing!
C. Cast and Leave it
Set your poll up with a fishing poll holder you can purchase for a few bucks at Wal-Mart or just use a stick that has a sling shot look to it. Just prop your poll up some how and tighten the line on your poll so that there is no slack. If you are night fishing some like adding a little bell you can clip on the end of your poll so that when the cat fish bites you can hear the bell ring.
D. Catfish just nibbled!
The most common mistake is to grab the poll and pull as hard as you can do not do this! If it is a big bite take the poll in your hand and grab some of your line by the other hand and pull it out so you can feel the catfish nibble on the line then you can try to set the hook that way. But the best way is to let him swallow the hook by nibbling then try to set the hook.
9. Tips and Tricks
If you loose the big one don’t get upset just keep trying. I caught my big catfish on a Small Perch hook with a Polymer Knot and a Worm with 50 pound test line. It took 3 1/2 hours to bring him in just take your time bringing in the big catfish and never let your tension go! Just walk with him or set your drag to
let line out when he goes to run.
