Channel cat season is upon us. I must be crazy because I’m giving away some of my best secrets to help you crush more cats in 2019!
Tip #1
Location!
With your fish electronics, look for hard bottom and targets which can mean fish. Boulders, drop offs, and deep holes can all hold big cats. Channel Cats like to hang around near fast water but will hide behind rocks to get out of the current. Cats will also ambush their prey as other fish will try to get out of the current as well. If the current is super strong, fish shallow. Cats will do whatever it takes to get out of the current.
Tip #2
Anchors are very important. I always have two anchors in my boat. One at the bow and one more on standby just in case it’s windy. The second anchor will help stabilize the boat on a windy day. This is accomplished by throwing it out of the boat on the side the wind is blowing. By stopping the boat from fishtailing you won’t drag your bait rigs on the bottom of the river. This is really key in cutting down on snags.
Cat Tales anchors are the best anchors on the Red River hands down. Why? The aggressive hooks on the anchor and a four foot chain help it grab the river bottom and hold you there. Also using an anchor bungee act’s as a shock absorber, helping you hold in even the roughest conditions.
Tip #3
Being comfortable in the boat is very important. Always dress for the weather. Sunglasses are a must. You spend a lot of time staring at your rod tip. Protect your eyes from the sun. Rod holders are very important as well. Not everyone can sit and hold a fishing rod for long periods of time. My recommendation is the Cannon holder. They are super strong and can handle any size catfish. The best thing is they can pivot in any direction.
Tip #4
REELBAIT CATFISH RIGS
They’re the best catfish rig out there. With a 150 pound barrel swivel, 30 pound quality monofilament line and a 7/0 octopus Gamagatsu hook or a 7/0 circle hook to hold lots of your favourite catfish bait. Plus the hooks are supper sharp. Fish with confidence, knowing you’re using a top quality catfish rig.
Tip #5
Your rod and reel combo is very important. It took me years to figure out the perfect rod and reel combo to fight these monsters. The nine foot medium heavy action Shimano Talora with a TRANX 400 HG bait caster reel is a deadly combo. The Talora has a soft tip so you can see the cat tap the bait before the rod loads up, plus it has the backbone so you can set the hook hard. The Tranx reel has all the strength to reel in the big ones.
Tip #6
Big Game Bait Buttons
Once you load your bait on your hook you want to keep it there. Big game Bait Button are designed for bigger hooks and will keep your bait where it needs to be. A smaller fish or a strong current can pull your bait off your hook, plus if you fishing with live frogs there not going anywhere. With Bait Buttons I’m confident my bait is on the hook.
Tip #7
A BIG NET!
Never go catfishing with a regular size net. Your day of fishing will turn into a gong show real fast. Get yourself a big heavy duty net with a strong handle. We are talking fish over 30 pounds. I prefer rubber coated mesh. Less tangles and better for the fish. If you weigh your fish do it in the net. As long as you know how much your net weights then subtract it from the total weight with the fish in the net.
Tip #8
A plastic tub over 40 inches long. This tub will make a great fish handling station. You can get your measurements in the tub as well as the weight and photo. Plus the tub will help keep the protective slim on the fish and not on your carpet of your boat.
Tip #9
Never spend more the 15 minutes on one spot if your not getting hits. Sometimes you mark fish but get no action. More likely your buddy was on your spot earlier and fished it out…lol, run and gun my friends. Look for active fish. You will eventually find aggressive fish. Channel Cats are almost always hungry.
Tip #10
I’ve had many boats fish next to me but I almost always get more hits than the other boats. Of course it’s the bait and location plus I’m overconfident in my abilities to put fish in the boat. It’s also the amount of bait I put on my hook. Channel catfish have poor eye sight and are all about scent. They can smell your bait in the water a long distance away. So if one shrimp as an example is good two shrimp would be better. The more bait you can put on your hook the more sent you will have to lure in these huge predators. Different baits work better at different times of the season. Goldeye and shrimp with head on are good from May till the middle of August. Then switch over to live frogs. Channel Cats love frogs. Have someone put sunscreen and bug spray on for you. If you’re the one baiting the hooks don’t contaminate your bait.
My final though is this, when it comes to fishing being confident in one’s ability to put fish in the boat is very important I hope these tips help you become more successful. Remember to wear your life jacket and be safe. See you all on the water.