For example, you can find huge catfish in some rivers, especially in the Mississippi, and in area lakes, you'll find an incredible variety of both species and sizes. You can even find some species of catfish in saltwater locations. Because of the size of the body of water, there are especially important guidelines for an avid angler to follow when pond catfish fishing.

In a pond, catfish fishing can still provide extremely large fish; however, the idea of a "large" catch is relative.

In ponds, specimens of ten pounds and greater are considered monstrous in most circumstances, mostly because ponds are not large enough to spawn large communities of catfish that grow old and live to gain incredible size. However, with the equipment that is generally used in these pursuits, catching a catfish of such size can become a struggle quickly.

Pond catfish fishing requires a lot of preparation and patience. First, you need to know where within the pond you'll be able to locate the catfish. Under most circumstances, you'll find your target in deep water near the bottom of the pond.

However, this can vary based on the season, and you may want to watch for them near the surface on a warm late spring or early summer day. Still, the best fishing can be accomplished in the deep part of the lake, with bait suspended within inches of the bottom. Use a tight line and let your weight settle to the bottom unless you know the exact depth, in which case you can set the bobber to let your bait hang at about six inches above the bottom.

Next, know what type of bait is the best to use for pond catfish fishing. Catfish are attracted to bait more by smell than by sight, so a strong smelling, stinky bait works best in any application.

However, remember that in a pond, you don't have nearly the current you would in a river or lake to drive the odor to the fish, so you'll want to us something that will permeate the water with its stink. You might try chicken livers or multiple night crawlers (one probably won't smell strongly enough), or even rotten foods, like old hot dogs. With a little patience, you will be rewarded.