Catfish Spawn

Catfish­ w­ill generally wait to spawn until the water temperature reaches at least 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, for the catfish, geography is destiny. Because water in southern latitudes warms first, catfish-spawning season begins in the south first. Most species spawn in the late spring or early summer. Obviously, it takes longer for a lake to heat up than it does for a shallow backwater to do so. Remember, too, that not all fish in a water system spawn at the same time. Any part of a lake or river may have catfish at one of three stages: pre-spawn, spawn, or post-spawn. And of course, there will be fish too young to spawn. Catfish mature at three to four years of age, though females may mature sooner. Catfish nest in cavities. The male creates a nest, and then lures the female there to spawn, no doubt inviting her to view his etchings. After the female has deposited a mound of sticky yellow eggs, the male fertilizes the mass. He drives the female from the nest, preferring to guard the eggs himself. During the six- to 10-day hatching period, the papa catfish eats little. His work is to prote­ct the eggs and keep them aerated and free of sediment by constantly fluttering his fins to circulate water. He continues to protect the young until they leave the nest.

Using Cut Shad to Catch Catfish

Catfish feed primarily through their sense of smell and they have a distinct taste for shad in any body of water that is home to both fish. Catfish anglers are missing out on a big trade secret if they don't match the hatch by fishing with cut shad during the time that shad runs are on and catfish are feeding beneath them.
Shad can be heard and seen busting the top of the water in lakes and rivers where they stage big spring runs. At times shad will be all over the place running to and fro and wise anglers who will be looking for catfish watch them.
During their runs, shad are attacked by a host of predators including many hungry birds, as well as gorging largemouth bass, striped bass, and, yes, catfish. The chaos of a spring shad run is a sight to behold as critters from above and below try to bust in and grab a shad dinner.
All of this means that shad are being wounded during their runs. Bits and pieces of wounded shad filter down in the water column at the lakes and rivers and catfish naturally enjoy the harvest.
A good shad run is like ringing the dinner bell for a catfish. Even if a catfish doesn't snag a whole shad it can gulp down a hearty meal on the leftovers that the other feasters leave behind.
That's why you will find big catfish underneath schools of shad. Not only are they eating the shad, they are also picking up all the bits and pieces the birds and fish dropped while devouring their shad buffet.
The trick is to get hold of a shad. You can often do this by fishing for them with various small jigs and bucktails. In some places you are allowed to use a cast net to capture shad. Once you have a fresh shad in your hand you have a bait no hungry catfish can refuse.
Most anglers fish cut shad on a fish finder rig. You have to have the bait on the bottom, so big weights may be necessary. In heavy current egg sinkers of one ounce or more help you keep your cut shad where it needs to be.
Catfish will find your cut shad bait if you leave it under a school of running shad. They are there just waiting for dinner. If that's what you're after too, then using cut shad to catch catfish makes fishing simple.

How to Catch Summer Catfish

Catfish fishing can be tough in the hot summertime. Lengthy fishing days could be in store for you without a little bit of advice. With the information in this article, we will notice yourself catching more catfish in the hot months. After reading this article, you will be set with the understanding to catch even more and larger catfish.

Catfish have a tendency to consume a specific type of bait in the summer, which can make them picky. Let me make clear. fishing is tough in the summer but not impossible. Firstly, bait is all over the place for the catfish to consume. If you gander around, you will visualize new little tiny fish all around. This allows the catfish to engulf food when they wish to. Let’s be frank, it’s warm outside. The water temperature is soaring. Given the soaring temperatures, fish have had to make adjustments. Catfish lead the hazard of expiring from low oxygen levels and temperature stress.

You can’t fix the temperature, so I propose we work around them. Always begin fishing in the hot months in locations that feature either deep structure or current. Lessened water temperatures and additional oxygen happen more often in these types of places. The advantages for this makes for more in a mood to chase prey fish. Rivers offer those types of places, which makes them my favorite type of place to catfish in the summer. What if we don’t have current? discover plenty of cover on your deeper structure such as stumps, rocks, and logs. Fishing channels and points are splendid deep structures to catfish. Once we find the cover on these locations, you can really start catching catfish.

What if the heat is too much for you? you can catfish early or late when its cooler. we’ll catch more fish that way. No matter the fish, cat fishing in low light yields more in a mood to chase prey catfish. The tiny eyes of prey means that they can’t visualize as well as flathead catfish. The bait catfish will not visualize the catfish in time to avoid being eaten. Day break is my favorite time to fish. Fishing at dark can be just as good for people that don’t like the morning. Also, try night fishing. we might be surprises at how dependable it is. Its impressive for Flathead catfish.

Always pick the water’s most usable bait. You’ll find shad in most locations. Why is this? Catfish have garnered a taste for these shad.

When you go cat fishing next, try out these Catfish tips.