If you plan on releasing the fish you catch it is important to handle the fish as little as possible and release them as quick as you can so as to cause as little damage to the fish as possible. Use these netting tips to release the fish as quickly and safely as possible.
JP answers a new anglers questions about swivels. The main purpose for swivels is to prevent line twists and JP offers tips on picking the best type for your style of fishing.
JP answers a viewer's email question about the best knot to tie to join a fluorocarbon leader to a braided main line.
Unlike the channel catfish, which can be found in most bodies of water in Iowa, the flathead catfish is a big water fish that prefers deeper, muddier environments to nest in. Its limited habitat makes it tougher to find and requires a lot of preparation to land these fish.
With a ratio of 500 - 5000 fish to one mile of water, the channel catfish are the most abundant sportfish in Iowa and they can be found in almost any body of water. You would think that a fish that was so plentiful would be easy to find and catch, but this isn't always the case.
Where can an angler find some great fishing for rainbow, brook, and brown trout, blue and channel catfish, bass, wipers, crappies, bluegill, and sturgeons, in the same body of water? They're all in Irvine Lake, just a few miles east of Anaheim, Calif
Seneca Lake is the largest of the glacial Finger Lakes in New York. Known as being the "Lake Trout Capital of the World", it boasts some of the best fishing in the state.
Mark Melnyk leaves his fishing rods in the truck and goes noodling for catfish.
Fresh Water
Salt Water
There are nearly 3,000 species of catfish distributed across the globe, all ranging vastly in size and look and belonging to numerous different families.Popular fishing species include channel, flathead, bullhead, and giant catfish. This section will deal with the most populous North American variety, the channel catfish.
Catfish are so named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers. Channel catfish, like most in the species, have no scales, but have a thick, hard body. Channel catfish have blue to olive backs, whitish bellies and silvery sides mottled with distinctive black spots of varying sizes - the only
species of this family to have such spots. They generally have eight barbels and a deeply forked tail.
The largest catfish are the Mekong giant catfish of Southeast Asia. These catfish can grow to weights of over 600 pounds (272 kg) and is considered the largest freshwater fish in the world. The IGFA world record for channel catfish is 58 pounds (26.3 kg).
Catfish can be found on every continent in the world except Antarctica, with the majority of populations living in tropical regions. Channel cats are widespread in North America, stretching from lower Canada and the eastern and northern United States, southward towards northern Mexico.
Most catfish live in shallow, running freshwater bodies of water. Channel catfish thrive in small and large rivers, reservoirs, natural lakes, and ponds.
Channel catfish are primarily scavengers, feeding on any type of vegetable or animal matter that happens to float by. However, larger channel catfish will use their speed to go after small fish, or even go after fish eggs.
Channel catfish reach sexual maturity in 3-6 years. They prefer temperatures of around 75°F (24°C) to spawn, doing so in late spring or early summer.
Information courtesy of Wisconsin DNR and Texas Parks and Wildlife.Few fish species have quite the same number of rabid fans as catfish do. Although these fish are found all over the world, in North America they are especially abundant. Rivers, lakes, streams and even ponds can prove to be fertile grounds for catfish. The fact that they can obtain enormous size helps make catfish fishing a whole lot fun.
Catching catfish is a popular past time that has reached cult status in the Southern US states. It's a cultural passion that has spread all over North America.
Despite their unattractive appearance, slippery skin and sharp spines that make them very difficult to handle, catfish are one of the most popular types of freshwater fish for a few reasons.
Because of the different varieties of catfish, they are able to live in various conditions, and can also grow to massive sizes. This means fans of big catfish fishing can travel to exotic locales and score monstrously huge catfish that make for amazing photos.
Catfish are one of the best tasting freshwater fish, too, and throughout the Southern US there are numerous restaurants that specialize in serving them. Many people also cook and eat them on a regular basis with recipes ranging from fried catfish so popular Down South to baked or even barbecued catfish.
Since they are easy to fish for and taste so good, catfish have become incredibly popular with anglers. You don't need much in the way of tackle or gear to catch them. In fact, some brave anglers only use their bare hands!
My friend Joey Monteleone traveled to Pickwick recently to fish with pro catfish guide Phil King. The day was filmed to be part of an upcoming segment of the television program, Tennessee’s Wild Side. If you listen to Wild Side Radio, Joey was on the road on yesterdays broadcast as he traveled to Pickwick Lake, which is located on the Tennessee River along the
Jon boats are the most versatile watercraft for small bodies of water, find out how to modify them for maximum fishability.
Preparing for spring is certainly an endeavor in patience and persistence. There are so many things to remember in the late winter and early spring preparation it is hard to say where to start. I usually begin with trying to whittle down all the tackle I bought last summer and fall down to a manageable level. I used to carry 4 hard sided plastic tackle boxed and two soft sided
Catfish fishing techniques vary widely depending on where you plan to fish. Everyone has their own catfishing tips they believe work best. The truth is, you can find success with most methods if you work at it and apply it under the appropriate conditions.
One of the most popular methods in the southeast section of the United States is to put lines out at night. Some people use a trot line, which is a long line tied across the water. You could also use two anchor points in the water for the same effect. Hooks are situated every two or three feet along the line. This is an effective method because of the amount of hooks available to catch the fish and works quite well for those targeting flathead catfish.
Similar methods to trot lines are limb hooks and bank hooks, in which a line is either tied to a limb above the water. You can also opt for a line tied to a stake on the bank. Those river fishing for catfish often go with this method and score big.
Set poles, one of the old fashioned approaches to fishing, involves setting a catfish fishing pole. You can pick up catfish fishing rods about 12 to 15 feet long at most tackle shops in areas where catfish are popular. The line is cast out, and the rod is secured with a forked stick or rod holder on shore. The bail is either left open or the reel is set to a special bait running position that allows the fish to swim with the bait with minimal resistance until the angler is able to set the hook and fight the fish.
Jug fishing for catfish is one of the more interesting methods out there. A short line with a hook and bait is tied to a bouyant jug and left to drift in the water. Anglers keep an eye on the jugs and chase them down with a boat when they start to move. Some people like this method because it requires very little catfish fishing tackle. Jug fishing catfish is definitely a relaxing way to enjoy time with friends without having to pay close attention to your line.
Drift fishing for catfish involves using a boat. With this method, you simply drift in the current and and drag the bait along with you. This method can work well because you can easily cover a lot of water.
The most extreme method for catching catfish is known as noodling or grabbling. In this method of fishing, an angler locates a typical place where I catfish would live, such as a hole under a log are rock. They then dive under the surface and put their hand into the hole. The catfish usually grabs onto the hand, and the angler wrestles the fish to the surface. It should be noted that this is an extremely dangerous method of fishing, which is illegal in many states. Cuts and bruises are common, and drowning is a potential risk. In addition, a lot of the areas where catfish live are shared by alligators and snapping turtles.
As for bait, while there is commercial catfish bait available, many homemade baits can be just as effective or better. Catfish find their food by tasting minuet particles in the water, so most baits that have a strong odor and will disperse flavor and scent into the water will work well. Typical catfish bait choices include chicken liver, dough balls, cheese balls, worms, and dead fish.
Me, my friends and family gettin r done!
All were only 12 to 14 inches and 1/2 lbs.
Ambassador package
Adventures fishing with friends
2012 FISHING
The fish of 2012
Bassin in the 509
i went fishing this weekrnd with my dad and my brother on the richelieu river. we had a blast!! we caught what i wanted at the end , BASS. catch and release , aways!!
Fishing 20 miles off of the coast on Sea of Cortez down in Mexico. We caught two 150lb striped marlin!
Some fish I have caught....More photos in time still working on getting out fishing more :)!!!!
Like to go out to my grandparents who live off of moira lake and do some fishing together here are the pics
Bay of Quinte
CPW colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing derby in Broomfield CO
London Ontario. Fanshawe Conservation.
A good pair of polarized sunglasses can make all the difference in your day on the water!
All the bass me and my friends catch
smallmouth bass caught in 2012
The elk river fishing n stuff
Good old time
ShutUpAndCampGear.com Camp Site/Location
Misc fishing pics
35.11 lb Black Drum from Taylor Lake out of a john boat.
Fish pics
Fishing May 2011 Kazan River Northern Saskatchewan
Fish I have caught over the past few years before joining WFN.
Where To Catch A Fish Bigger Than You
If you're an angler who craves excitement and is willing to travel, then here is your bucket list: where to catch a fish bigger than you around the world.
Most Dangerous Ways To Fish
Check out how you can take fishing to a whole new level of adventure and danger with these crazy ways to bring in the big one, including noodling catfish.
How To Catch A World Record Fish
Catching a trophy fish is a great reason to be proud, but a world record fish is even better. Here's everything you need to know to catch a world record fish and earn a fishing legacy you can really be proud of.
