| Catfishing covers a large range of tactics. The | | | | more high-tech set-up. For all around fishing in this |
| tackle you need will depend on how you plan to | | | | type of water, it is hard to beat a simple |
| fish. I'll go from simplest to the most complex. | | | | medium-action spincast combo, such as the |
| If you plan to 'noodle' (where legal) for catsfish, | | | | ubiquitous Zebco 33. This will work for catfish up |
| you only need some clothes that you don't mind | | | | to the 10-20 lb. range, with proper care. This is |
| getting wet (and I would recommend a good | | | | the the usual upper limit size for catfish caught on |
| First-Aid and Snakebite Kit). 'Noodling' is simply | | | | prepared dough-baits, nightcrawlers, grasshoppers, |
| getting in the water and looking for catfish along | | | | chicken livers, shrimp and small minnows. For the |
| banks with a drop-off where they hide in holes in | | | | average fisherman, this is the ideal set-up. Any |
| the bank or rocks. When you find one, you just | | | | medium rig with a mid-sized spinning reel will also |
| grab it (or it grabs you) and you pull it out of the | | | | work well. |
| hole and throw, or drag it up on the bank. It's not | | | | If you frequent areas with larger catfish, you will |
| as easy as it sounds. First off, a large catfish | | | | need to use bigger baits, and this will require |
| could possibly hurt you, or pull you under the | | | | bigger tackle. For trophy-sized fish, it is not |
| water and hold you until you drown. Secondly, | | | | uncommon to use baits and rigs weighing well |
| everything in the holes are not always catfish. | | | | over 1 ounce.; For casting large chunks of cut |
| Water Moccasins are fond of holes, too. Large | | | | bait, or whole live bluegills and shad, you will need |
| catfish have very strong jaws. And if your in | | | | a long rod, at least 7', with a heavy action. This is |
| Louisianna, South Georgia, or Florida, it could be an | | | | where the specialty catfish rods come in handy. |
| alligator. I'm sure an alligator would not have much | | | | And your reel will have to be equally strong. With |
| of a sense of humor after being grabbed while | | | | a few exceptions, such as the Zebco 808, 888 or |
| sleeping! This type of fishing I leave to the | | | | Great White reels, spincast reels are not going to |
| younger crowd! | | | | cut it. This is where you need the larger spinning |
| If you plan on fishing still waters from the bank, | | | | reels, or best of all, good bait casting reels such |
| such as small ponds, streams , rivers and lakes, | | | | as Ambassaduer, or Penn reels. These have |
| you can get by with a cane or synthetic pole. | | | | tough stainless-steel bearings and strong gears to |
| These work for anything up to a medium -sized | | | | crank large, mean fish up from the depths. |
| channel cat. For anything bigger, you will need a | | | | |