Catch Those Lake Lanier Catfish! •PDF• •Print• •E-mail•


•Written by Administrator•   
••Thursday•, •April• 08 2010 12:30•
Catfish, by and large, are omnivorous feeders with a well developed sense of smell. This simply means they consume a wide variety of food items, and the fish is most often attracted to odoriferous or "smelly" morsels of food. The single greatest determinant of catfish food preference is body size. Smaller catfish, those less than 14 inches, feed primarily on bottom-dwelling organisms, such as aquatic insect larvae and other invertebrates. As catfish grow to a larger size, their diet changes and a wider variety of food items are eaten. Fish, however, either alive or dead, make up the bulk of their forage after they reach 16 inches.

The diet of catfish also varies with the different seasons. Some food items are more available at one time of the year than another, and, being an opportunistic forager, channel catfish take what food is vulnerable to predation at that time. During late winter and early spring the most abundant food is a wide variety of organisms, including fish, that have succumbed to the harsh winter. These morsels, in various stages of decomposition, are consumed in large quantities by catfish. It is not unusual to find catfish stomachs gorged with decaying fish in the winter. As the water warms into late spring and summer the diet of catfish shifts continually to food items that are again most available and vulnerable. The most prevalent foods at this time of the year are aquatic and terrestrial worms, fish, frogs, crayfish, mulberries, insects and their larvae forms, and algae. Many other items are consumed but usually make up only a small portion of the menu. Catfish food habits in the fall again change as the water cools. More fish is consumed along with aquatic invertebrates and terrestrial insects. Frogs become increasingly important for food as they move into streams before the onset of winter.

Lake Lanier catfish are not evenly dispersed but concentrate into specific locations. The major cause of this concentration is the thermal and chemical stratification that is in place in the lakes during the summer. Most ponds and fishing lakes stratify into three distinct thermal layers 10 to 15 feet below the surface, and water in the lower strata contains no oxygen -- and consequently no fish. As a result, it is a waste of time and effort to fish in the deeper water during summer. Restrict your angling to depths above this stratification level. In many recreation lakes this depth will be posted near access points. Or if you desire, a temperature profile at the deepest point will give the definite answer of where to fish. Streams that inflow into the upper ends of lakes also have the tendency to concentrate catfish, as does submerged structure such as timber, rock protected shorelines and drop-offs. The best advice is to look for diverse habitat -- the more diverse the habitat, the more attractive it is to catfish.

Baits and Other Catfishing Tips

Using the right bait is probably the most confusing part of channel catfish fishing, and there are nearly as many concoctions as there are catfishermen. Bait selection ranges from nightcrawlers, chicken blood, chicken liver, chicken or fish guts, live and dead minnows, cut bait, and a multitude of prepared "stink" baits. The prepared baits most often have one thing in common -- cheese. All of these bait preparations and many others are excellent for catfish, and all will catch fish. Selection of a bait from this lengthy list may seem difficult but in actual experience selecting bait for catfish can be made into a rather simple process.

The most important points to consider when selecting catfish bait are to determine the size of fish sought and the water temperature of the lake. The rule of thumb is to use cut-bait or dead minnows for the best luck in late winter and spring-time. This bait is composed of half-rotten fish and should be fished when the water temperature is less than 60 degrees F. Catfish actively feed on fish flesh and other animals that diet during winter and sink to the bottom. The stronger the rotten odor of bait this time of the year, the better the success. Fish in deeper portions of the lake in winter; then shift your efforts to shallow water in the spring, summer and fall. The shallow water warms faster and attracts catfish into the near-shore reaches. Catfish can be caught in earnest after the water temperature reaches 40 degrees F.

The keen sense of smell possessed by channel catfish make it one of the few species of game fish that can be readily caught during high stream flows in the spring, summer, and early fall. During these conditions the bona-fide catfishermen prefers to fish during periods of rising water levels. This method is common among catfishermen, but the exact reason for a feeding frenzy by the fish is not understood. Fish surely become more active during this time; however, the converse is true for falling water levels. Catfish usually become less active during falling levels and are less susceptible to the angler. During periods of stable or rising water levels nearly all baits will produce good catches of catfish. Use those baits that are most available under natural conditions.

One of the most popular catfish baits that is easy to store is prepared bait. As water temperatures warm to 70 degrees F and above, many catfish anglers switch to one of the prepared baits. This bait is most effective for pan-sized catfish during mid-summer -- June, July and August. Catfishermen seeking larger fish during this period use large-sized baits such as dead bluegill and frogs. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will attract their attention.

Tackle Selection


Tackle used to fish catfish is almost as varied as the baits. Lake anglers use relatively short rods. This allows the angler to fish many good holes without casting. Just drop the line near a likely spot with no more line out than the rod length. This provides excellent control of the bait for better placement and improves the chances of hooking a fish after a natural-like presentation. Ten-pound test line is recommended over lighter weight line because the bait is fished on the bottom and often near underwater snags.

The type of reel used makes little difference, but it is essential that it be in good working condition. If you are fishing for large fish, be sure to match the reel to the fish. Light duty reels are made to catch small fish and heavy duty reels have the power to land lunkers. Light tackle will catch more smaller fish but may not handle one of record class size. The thing to remember is that catfish may be in snags or heavy cover in the river and after the strike the fish may need to be "man-handled" a bit.

Terminal tackle is an important consideration when setting out after "old whiskers." The most important part of the terminal tackle is the sinker and hook. Catfisherman need not show concern about the sizes, shapes, and color of expensive lures, but hooks and sinkers, inexpensive as they are, are important. Always use the lightest weight necessary, and always use a slip sinker. The slip sinker rig allows a catfish to pick up the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. With any resistance on the line whatsoever, a respectable catfish will leave the tasty bait morsel in search of another. Always use a sharp hook. Hooks with bait holders on the shank are preferred by most anglers. Use sponges or plastic worms when fishing with one of the soft, prepared cheese baits. No matter which hook and bait you select, present it to the fish in the most natural manner, which always requires the use of a minimum amount of sinker or weight.

Hints for Better Catfish Fishing


Catfish, like all fish, are not randomly distributed, but are congregated in particular locations. Fishing success will depend on your ability to find these concentrations of fish.
  1. Light tackle catches more fish, but heavy tackle is required in snags and structure when catching large fish.
  2. Catfish can be caught year around.
  3. Use dead minnows or cut-bait in the late winter and early spring when the water temperature is between 35-60 degrees F.
  4. Use prepared cheese baits in the summer when the water temperature is above 70 degrees F.
  5. Cheese baits are most effective on fish 10 to 16 inches in length.
  6. Live bait is best for larger fish, those above 3 pounds.


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