Question Fishing For Catfish

SaltySerg · Jun-09-2009, 01:37 PM

I've reviewed previous posts to get some info on catfish fishing but wanted to get current info from you guys.

I'll be taking my 5yr old boy and myself catfishing for the first time, this summer. I normally fish saltwater and have all my saltwater outfits. Can I get suggestions for a rod/reel/#line for my son and one for myself? Also, is it better to fish from a rental boat than from shore?

Raginkjn · Jun-09-2009, 01:42 PM

Where do you plan on fishing for them at ?

BuonaForTuna · Jun-09-2009, 01:46 PM

Serg any fishing combo will do trust me its a bottom fish just like rock fishing. Get some fresh dead mack or stink bait the nastier the better and just drop that shit, murky dirty water deep maybe 3 to 4 cranks off the bottom usually works for me. Rental boats are fine so is shore fishing depending on where you are fishing from in the lake.

hucklongfin · Jun-09-2009, 01:47 PM

I usually fish from shore and use a 12# rig. Best so far is a 30# blue using a Calcutta 250 on a 12-25 rated Convergence rod.

SaltySerg · Jun-09-2009, 02:33 PM

Looking at Irvine Lake and DVL as prospects.

makohunterz · Jun-09-2009, 09:38 PM

DVL is pretty nice you could either go with the lightest rig you have or the longest jig stick and get the bait out far. go off to the right until you are parallel with the boat docks where they store the rental boats not in use (it isn't too far of a hike away). just cast out with mack, shrimp, sardine, anchovie, liver, stink bait or anything else you want to try not really rocket science although there are a few little tricks to getting the big ones (big bait doesn't always mean big fish I tried). Hope some of this helps

duckdog · Jun-09-2009, 10:04 PM

Baitrunner/clicker set up with a 1 or 2 oz. slide sinker, Gamagatsu 3/0 circle hooks. Fishing at night don't be afraid to fish the shorelines maybe one short and launch the other setup. like others said stink works. Chicken livers, mack etc.. Good luck to you and your son

SaltySerg · Jun-10-2009, 02:43 PM

I'll try all the recommendations, thanks!

big steve · Jun-10-2009, 05:05 PM

a decent spinning rod and reel combo 12-15# line. spinning reels are the way to go because you want to fish with the bail open. you dont want the fish to feel any resistance. go to irvine lake this sat there is a catfish and crappie seminar being put on by the lakes pro team. opening day for the catfish season is fri pm. good luck. send me a pm for more 411.

SaltySerg · Jun-10-2009, 11:25 PM

So I can use something like a Baitrunner 3500?

opahdad · Jun-11-2009, 03:50 PM

Big Steve has it right, cats don't like to feel resistance when eatin' a bait. If you have baitcasters, you can pull line (like 5 or 6 feet doubled up) out the side of your guides too. If you're watching your rods, it still gives you 10 to 12 feet of slack for them to run out and get to your rod to swing. FLY LINE your BAIT (I prefer mack)! Even in 25 or 30 feet of water it makes a HUGE difference in your bite to hookup ratio in a lake. Rivers are different.

1:11 · Jun-11-2009, 04:06 PM

I agree that you can catch catfish on anything, cheese, hotdogs, liver, anything that stinks. Mackeral works well. The best bait i have found for channel cats and bullheads is Shrimp. Ive used it at Lake Mead and they seem to eat it better than anything else there. You can buy a bag of frozen and boil it yourself, then freeze it inside ice block to keep it fresh and thaw block on the shore, just set it in a couple inches if water and let it thaw a little at a time, when not thawing keep it on ice.. Now that water is warm i would try to fish 15-20 feet depth on points bait right on the bottom with open bail. Should/could also find cats in the flats 6-15 of water. Have fun, that is what catfishin is all about.