How To Catch Channel Catfish

Do you want to try your hand with channel catfish? Do you want to learn how to catch channel catfish? Do you see pictures of these very large channel catfish and want to experience the thrill of catching them? Channel catfish are abundant and thrive in almost every body of water. They are hard fighters and taste good on the table.

In this article, we will discuss how to catch channel catfish, share the best fishing methods, the baits, lures, fishing tackle, and fishing tips to cut the learning curve.

How To Catch Channel Catfish

1. Baitcasting

Baitcasting is one of the widely used methods when fishing for channel fish. Anglers will set the bait on the hook and cast it into the body of water. The process is cast and retrieve until you get a bite, then you reel it in. Baitcasting is done on rivers, from the shore, lakes, ponds, and streams.

2. Trolling

Trolling is another fishing method that is used to catch channel catfish. When trolling, the bait is set at the back of the boat as it moves slowly over the water. When a strike is made, the angler will take the rod, set the hook, and reel in the fish. Trolling allows you to cover a lot of water quickly.

3. Drift Fishing

Drift fishing allows you to let the bait drift with the boat at the speed of the water current. Drift fishing, like trolling, covers a lot of water and habitats. This makes it highly possible that a variety of fish can be caught while drifting your bait.

4. Still Fishing

Still fishing is a simple yet effective way of fishing. it is a good fishing method when you are learning how to catch channel catfish. When still fishing, you sit, preferably at a dock or pier, and just drop your line into the water. You then do nothing; don’t move the line. Wait until you get action from the fish and then set the hook and reel in the fish.

Best Bait For Channel Catfish

1. Nightcrawlers

Nightcrawlers are one of the effective bait used by anglers when fishing for channel catfish. It is a good choice for beginners who are learning how to catch channel catfish.

2. Leeches

Leeches are also used by anglers to catch channel catfish.

3. Grasshoppers

Channel catfish feed on grasshoppers and if you can gather a good quantity, you can use them to catch channel catfish.

4. Minnows

Minnows are also an effective bait used by anglers when fishing for channel catfish. When someone is learning how to catch channel catfish minnows are good options for fishing.

5. Sunfish

Sunfish works well as bait for channel catfish.

6. Bluegill

Channel catfish prey on bluegill and it is used by anglers when fishing for channel catfish.

Best Lures For Channel Catfish

1. Jigs

Jigs are sometimes used to catch channel catfish although baits are the best choice when fishing for channel catfish.

2. Diving Plugs

Diving plugs are also used to catch channel catfish.

Channel Catfish Fishing Tackle

The fishing tackle for channel catfish is not a high-tech setup. You can use the tackle that you use when fishing for many other species of fish like bass, salmon, or trout. A medium-heavy rod and reel combo will get the job done when fishing for channel catfish.

A spinning tackle and reel can also be used. Circle hooks are the best choice. Braided as well as mono lines can be used. It is a matter of preference. But I prefer braided lines with 200 yds or more of 30 lb or 40 lb test.

How To Catch Channel Catfish From Shore

When fishing for channel catfish from the shore, anglers usually cast in areas where bluegill or other baitfish that channel catfish prey on. It is usually about 10 feet or less from the banks. Look for areas with deep holes, points, and coves to cast your bait.

Even though you are fishing from the shore, you can still catch catfish from those areas. If you have a long rod, 7 ft or more, you can cast further into the body of water for the bait to go deeper into the water columns and target catfish that are closer to the bottom.

How To Catch Channel Catfish In A River

When fishing for channel fish in a river, use your fish finder or sonar device to locate structures that the catfish may be hanging around waiting for baitfish. Use cut baits, live baits, or smelly baits to catch channel catfish. Trolling, still fishing, drift fishing, and bottom fishing are methods anglers use to catch channel catfish.

How To Catch Channel Catfish In A Pond

When fishing for channel catfish in a pond, cast your bait so that it is closer to the bottom. You can use cut bait, live bait, or smelly baits to get the attention of catfish. Look for structures that catfish may be using as cover to ambush prey.

Drift fishing, still fishing, baitcasting, bottom fishing, and trolling are fishing methods implemented by anglers when fishing for channel catfish in a pond.

How To Catch Channel Catfish In The Winter

Channel catfish will move to deeper water as the water temperature starts to drop. When targeting channel catfish during the winter, cast cut bait or nightcrawlers closer to the bottom. Bottom fishing is the most practical fishing method that is used during the winter when targeting channel catfish. Drift fishing and bottom bouncing are also used during the winter to catch channel catfish.

How To Catch Channel Catfish In Summer

During summer, channel catfish will spawn. Look for rock structures with cavities that can possibly be nesting areas. Using a bobber, drop minnows, nightcrawlers, or leeches in those areas to target channel catfish. Baitcasting, drift fishing, still fishing, trolling, and night fishing are fishing methods that are used to catch channel catfish during the summer.

Channel Catfish Fishing Tips

1. Channel catfish swim in groups. When you find one, there will be others in the area.

2. Channel catfish is a hard fighter and will wrestle with you when caught. Your best bet is to let it tire itself and then reel it in. Use the backbone of the rod to get it tired.

3. Channel catfish spawn in the summer.

4. As the water temperature rises in the summer, channel catfish become active, searching for food to build up energy reserves before the spawning period. this is a great opportunity for anglers to target channel catfish.

5. Look for shallow areas that are close to deep drop-offs. You will always find channel catfish in these areas.

6. Fresh-cut bait and live baits are some of the best bait to use when you are learning how to catch channel catfish.

7. Always try to match the hatch when you are fishing for channel catfish. Find out from other anglers or the local tackle shop what is the diet of channel catfish in the area and buy the bait or get it fresh.

8. When fishing from the banks of a lake, you really don’t need to use weights. The bait will get down to the bottom. If you do use weights, use little weight as possible.

9. When you are learning how to catch channel catfish, look for areas with a lot of baitfish or marine life. Move from one area to another if you are not getting any action in one area.

10. When fishing for channel catfish, also look for areas where the wind is blowing into you. If the wind is blowing into your face, then the wind is also washing baitfish and other aquatic life in that direction. This means channel catfish will also be hunting that area for prey.

11. Shallow water covers will almost always have channel catfish lurking there waiting for baitfish.

12. Circle hooks are the popular choice of hooks when fishing for channel catfish.

13. Hook sizes ranging from 1/0 to 5/0 will work when fishing for channel catfish while 5/0 to 8/0 will get the job done for monster channel catfish.

14. Never reel while a channel catfish is pulling the drag. When faced with this situation, just work the backbone of the rod to wear the catfish. When it is exhausted, you can then reel it in.

15. Cast and put the fishing rod in the holder. Only take the rod when its tip is touching the water. The fishing rod will set the circle hook as the catfish swim away. Then all you need to do is reel it in.

16. Drift fishing, still fishing, trolling, and baitcasting are some of the fishing methods anglers use when fishing for channel catfish.

17. Whether you are fishing in a lake, a river, or a pond, concentrating your fishing at the bottom will be the best option for channel catfish.

18. Channel catfish have a good sense of smell and smelly dead baits and cut baits work well when fishing for channel catfish.

19. Channel catfish are caught most of the time with baits, whether dead or alive, cut or whole. Lures are not the best option for catching channel catfish.

20. Use a live worm or minnow at the tip of a jig when you use a jig to catch channel catfish.

21. If you are close to a dam, you can target channel catfish in tailwaters where they wait for chunks of baitfish that have been cut up by the turbines.

22. The junction of channels, deep holes, bends, and curves are areas to target when fishing for channel catfish.

23. When fishing from a lake, look for ledges, humps, or shoals where there is a big drop in deep water. Channel catfish will be in there waiting for baitfish.

24. Night fishing for channel catfish can yield more results than fishing during the day.

The Bottom Line

Channel catfish is a sporting fish that anglers like to target as they are almost everywhere, fight ferociously, and have a good table fare. They respond well to fresh and cut bait but will also take dead bait.

In this article, we shared information on how to catch channel catfish to improve your chances when you go channel catfish fishing. You can also read how to catch blue catfish, how to catch flathead catfish, how to catch white catfish, and catfishing tips.