Basic Tackle for Catfish - Large Range of Tactics

Catfishing covers a large range of tactics. Themore high-tech set-up. For all around fishing in this
tackle you need will depend on how you plan totype 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 mindto the 10-20 lb. range, with proper care. This is
getting wet (and I would recommend a goodthe the usual upper limit size for catfish caught on
First-Aid and Snakebite Kit). 'Noodling' is simplyprepared dough-baits, nightcrawlers, grasshoppers,
getting in the water and looking for catfish alongchicken livers, shrimp and small minnows. For the
banks with a drop-off where they hide in holes inaverage fisherman, this is the ideal set-up. Any
the bank or rocks. When you find one, you justmedium rig with a mid-sized spinning reel will also
grab it (or it grabs you) and you pull it out of thework well.
hole and throw, or drag it up on the bank. It's notIf you frequent areas with larger catfish, you will
as easy as it sounds. First off, a large catfishneed to use bigger baits, and this will require
could possibly hurt you, or pull you under thebigger 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. Largebait, or whole live bluegills and shad, you will need
catfish have very strong jaws. And if your ina long rod, at least 7', with a heavy action. This is
Louisianna, South Georgia, or Florida, it could be anwhere the specialty catfish rods come in handy.
alligator. I'm sure an alligator would not have muchAnd your reel will have to be equally strong. With
of a sense of humor after being grabbed whilea few exceptions, such as the Zebco 808, 888 or
sleeping! This type of fishing I leave to theGreat 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 -sizedcrank large, mean fish up from the depths.
channel cat. For anything bigger, you will need a