Ice fishing is a fun way to spend the winter, especially up in the frozen northern states and Canada. Ice fishing for catfish is an especially big challenge for a hearty cat-fisherman. Those cats are still there, way down under the ice, and they still need to eat! Most ice fishers find that when they score, they score big. You have a good chance of catching a huge blue cat who's hanging around at the bottom waiting for the ice to thaw.
There are several challenges to ice fishing for cats. First off, catfish are less active in the winter time. This means you really have to find out where they are, and get your bait right in front of them. This is one reason why many ice fishers like to go for catfish in farmed ponds. In the winter time, you have to know exactly the deepest spot in the lake, and with a man-made pond stocked with cats, it's easy to find out.
For a regular lake, you'll need to probably take some samples unless you know the lake inside and out. With ice fishing, it's not as simple as just picking up and moving to another spot if they aren't biting. You need to know that it's a good spot before you start fishing. One way to do this is to drill a few holes and use a depth finder to find the deepest spot. The very bottom is where the big cats will be lurking.
For bait, you can always go with whatever you use during the warmer seasons. During the winter, catfish are mostly eating grub worms, so if you really want to increase your chances of catching a fat cat, go with something like that.
The main thing is to put your hook right on the lake floor, and leave it there. Don't move it too much, just let it sit, and when he bites, the fight begins!
Good Catfish Ice Fishing Gear
Because we're dealing with the depths here, it's always good to have a rod with an extra sensitive tip. It will be really tough to tell when you've got a bite, especially for first time ice fishers. You also want a rod that has some serious backbone. You're liable to catch a big one, and he's not going to want to come out of that hole in the ice!
You'll also need things to keep warm. Don't try to be a tough guy. Get some hand warmers, a nice bucket to sit on, a good heavy coat, and keep in mind that you're going to be spending some time out in the cold. Also take an ice auger, ice picks and a sled if you are going way out on the lake. The ice auger is needed to cut through the ice. Ice picks come in handy for a variety of things, and the sled can be used to haul stuff out onto the lake and back.
If you really want to go all out, invest in an ice shelter. You can get your own ice fishing house, complete with a propane heating stove, that you can flip up and take back down when you're finished. The disadvantage of an ice shelter is that it's tough to move around, and it can be a pain if you want to try a different spot. On the other hand, it can keep you toasty warm and maybe keep you out on the ice longer. Tell your wife it's for your own safety, and I'm sure she'll go along with it!
Have you ever had the opportunity to go Mississippi catfish fishing? If not, you really should give it a try because it will be one of the best fishing trips that you have ever experienced. Some of the biggest catfish ever caught came from the Mississippi River. In fact, the Mississippi state record for the blue catfish was caught here. This is just one example of the opportunities the lakes and rivers in Mississippi has to offer.
Catfish are bottom feeders and most of the time they will eat anything they can fit into their mouth. This gives the angler quite an advantage because they don't have to be too picky about what they use for bait.
The catfish has extremely sensitive smell that they use to locate the food source and a good angler will use this to their advantage.
If it smells and looks anything like food the catfish will go after it. Some of the best bait to use to catch catfish include shrimp, chicken, livers and stink baits. In fact, stink baits are so popular that many anglers make their own.
There are many different recipes available that you can go by or you can experiment and come up with your own personal mixture. Either way, if it stinks and will hold together on the hook, then it will most likely attract the catfish and give you the opportunity to catch a lot of fish.
If making your own bait is not an option, then you can also buy many different recipes already prepared.
Lakes and Rivers in Mississippi for Great Catfish Fishing
There are many lakes, rivers and reservoirs found in Mississippi that are the prefect habitat for catfish. If you are not familiar with the area, then you may need a little help trying to figure out where to go. The list of lakes, rivers and reservoirs listed below is a great way to get started and plan your fishing trips.
Grenada Reservoir Okatibbee Lake Ross R Barnett Reservoir Enid Reservoir Lake Tom Bailey Sardis Lake Pickwick Lake
The state record for the channel catfish was caught in Lake Tom Bailey and the flathead state record was caught in Pickwick Lake. These are just two examples of what the different lakes and rivers in this area have to offer. There are many other great opportunities available when fishing in these waters.
You will find that most all major lakes and rivers are the home to different species of catfish. What this means for the angler is that there are several different tactics that can be used to catch each species.
The tactics and tips listed below will help you know which methods would work the best for catfish fishing in Mississippi.
Tactics and Tips for Mississippi Catfish Fishing
Different tactics should be used for the different types of catfish if you want to get the best results. When channel catfish fishing you will find that crawfish and other smaller fish are the best baits to use because these are the natural food source they will be feeding off of naturally.
You can also find the channel catfish in areas where you see this food source. Normally, areas of the water that has gravel and rocks would be the best place to start your search.
Article Source :
has sinced written about articles on various topics from . . 's top article . to your Favourites.