Winter Catfishing Tips
There are many misconceptions out there about catfishing. Many people say that the only time you should go fishing, or at least the best time, for catfish is during the night. However, this is a rumor that has been spread that is simply not true. While during the daytime catfish are generally less active than they are at night, they are still very catch-able. The same is true with catfishing during the winter. Many anglers will tell you that you shouldn’t even try to catch catfish during the winter and it’s not worth attempting to until the Spring thaw. However, this is again another rumor that doesn’t hold true.
Catfishing can be great during the winter time as long as you switch up your tactics. Summer catfishing tactics are very different from winter ones. Trying to catch catfish from the bank during winter has it’s own unique set of challenges but can be very rewarding when you haul in the big one.
Where Do Catfish Go During The Winter
During the winter months catfish will usually move to seek warmer water. Therefore, if you are targeting catfish from the bank during winter you are going to want to fish as deep of water as possible. The deeper the water, the warmer the water as the more shallow water acts as insulation. If fishing in a lake try to find the deepest holes. If you are fishing a river you may have to travel a bit to reach deeper water. You’ll want to be on the lookout for any areas with slow to no current.
Generally, catfish (flatheads) will seek water in the 50-55 degree temperature range. If you are able to find this environment it’s very likely you’ll find quite a few catfish wintering there. Therefore, if you are able to catch one flathead catfish you are likely to catch more if continue to fish in that area (during the winter). Channel catfish on the other hand will remain more active than flatheads and can be caught just about anywhere.
What Do Catfish Do During The Winter
Different species of catfish will behave differently during the winter months. As discussed above, during the winter flathead catfish will seek out deeper water in the 50-55 degree temperature range. While flatheads (or any other catfish species) don’t hibernate during the winter they do become very dormant and lethargic. This means you’ll have to seek them out if you plan to catch them during the winter. So, if you are in a spot for a while and getting no bites, it’s likely there are no flathead catfish in the immediate area and you should try fishing a different location.
While flathead catfish go dormant during the winter channel catfish are quite a bit more active. They can still generally be caught pretty much anywhere in the water column and letting your bait sit for a while may result in a bite (you shouldn’t have to move around to find them, instead there is a good chance they’ll find your bait).
During the winter blue catfish act quite similar to flatheads. They opt to move into deeper water, with as little current as possible. Blue catfish tend to be more aggressive feeders than their Flathead cousins, which means you can still catch large blue catfish during the winter. We recommend fishing specific holes and moving around quite often if you aren’t getting bites. Best Catfish Baits During The Winter
The best winter catfish bait will be their natural, native prey or something that closely mimics it. If you are able to net baitfish in the water you’ll be fishing for the catfish in, will make the ideal winter catfish bait. The fresher the bait the better. So, if you are unable to catch your own baitfish you should try to buy live bait from a local bait shop.
Generally speaking, live shad is one of the best baits to use when targeting catfish, winter or summer. So, if you are unable to catch the native bait fish, shad should be your second option (ideally live shad).
If you can’t get your hands on live bait, fresh cut bait can also be effective. Fresh, never-frozen bait is much better than any sort of frozen bait. Cut bait has the added benefit in that it’s scent will attract nearby catfish and ideally entice a bite.
Finally, if you are unable to get live or freshly cut bait you can try to use a variety of bait to see what will entice a bite from your native catfish. I’ve had success using everything from worms and grubs to chicken liver (I’ve never had to much luck with chicken liver but some people swear by it). Of course, the best winter catfish bait is the one that gets the bite so if you aren’t getting any bites try to switch it up!
How To Catch Catfish During The Winter
There are a number of different techniques to catch catfish during the winter (from the bank or in a boat). The two main ones you’ll hear about that are effective are drifting or stationary fishing. Draft fishing for catfish allows you to cover more ground and therefore potentially put your bait in front of more fish. However, if you want to use this technique to catch catfish during the winter from the bank you’ll need to find the perfect spot that will allow your rig and bait to drift unhindered. To do this effectively, you’ll need to find the right size weight that will keep your bait in contact with the ground but still move with the current. And remember, you’ll want to try to fish deeper holes with slower currents.
The other method to catch catfish during the winter is stationary fishing. For this you’ll want to use a heavier weight that won’t move with the current. This method also works better for catfish that are more dormant and holding still in deeper pools of water. Again the best bait to use for this method is either live bait or freshly cut chunks. If you feel like you’ve fished the ins and outs of the hole without a bite you should try fishing a new location, as it’s unlikely you’ll get a bite.
