CatfishAngling.com

I know that with fall there are many other activities that can interfere with your desire to go fishing. Maybe you have more chores to do on the weekend now that your kids are back in school and you have to deal with all their activities. Maybe you are looking forward to the hunting season or maybe you just like to watch football. In any case having time to fish may be a problem but I urge to find the time to go. Fall fishing can be one of the most rewarding times of year for any angler.

I urge you to go to your local river or stream and try fall fishing. You will find it to be beautiful with all the fall colors and tranquil as most other anglers have already put there tackle away. What a perfect way to relax after a hectic week of work and kids. Not only will you find peace but you should also find some great fishing.

Fish are cold blooded creatures whose activity does slow as the water temperature drops. But fish notice the change in water temperature and begin to stock up on food before the onset of winter. You will need to work your baits and lures a little slower than normal and you may have a little more trouble finding them but they group together this time of year so when you do, have fun.

As always, enjoy the fall fishing but be responsible and take care of the water or bank you are fishing on so that when we find your spot we can all enjoy the beauties of nature without the ugly reminders of civilization.

Are you going fishing for channel cats? Then you are going to want to know what the best baits to catch channel catfish are. Channel cats will eat just about anything you put in front of them. This gives you lots of choices. Heck, they have been know to bite on everything from hot dogs to ivory soap.

Your choice of bait will depend on a lot of factors. Water temperature, time of day, and weather conditions are just some of the variables when choosing the best bait for catching channel catfish. Here is my list. Every one of these has worked for me and every one has left me high and dry without a fish. You will have to experiment some to find out what works best for you in your local waters.

PREPARED BAITS: Prepared baits can be purchased at any tackle shop or your local Wal-mart.
These manufactured baits can be very effective. You can also make your own. You can easily find hundreds of catfish bait recipes online and they all have one thing in common. They stink! Make sure you take something with you to clean your hands after baiting the hook.

WORMS: Night crawlers, garden worms and Catawba worms are all included here. These are the old standby and will catch catfish but are best used where they are likely to find them. Places where creeks and drainage ditches feed into the lake or river seem to be best. The downside to worms is that all fish eat worms and you may find you are losing a lot of bait to bream.

SHRIMP: You can purchase shrimp at your local grocery either with or without shell. I leave the shell on but most remove it. Depending on the size of the shrimp and the size of the bait you want you can use them whole or cut them in half. Many also soak them in vanilla extract to enhance their appeal. I am particularly found of the cut baits and shrimp because they stay on your hook and can be fished in fast currents when necessary.

CHICKEN LIVERS: These can also be purchased at your local grocery store and are a very good bait. I do suggest you take an old nylon stocking and cut it into small squares. You can use these squares to wrap around the chicken liver and attach it to the hook. They will stay on the hook much better. Fish on the bottom and check your bait every 20-30 minutes. If all the blood is gone replace the bait.

CUT BAITS: Cut baits cover a wide variety of fish baits. The most common ones are: shad, bluegill, anchovy, sardines, mackerel and minnows. Make sure it is legal to use them in your area. I know that bluegill is not legal in some states but is ok in others. I cut them into chunks depending on the size of the bait. I personally believe cut bait is the best bait to channel catfish. Especially if want the big ones.