For more information about catching blue catfish go to www.catsandcarp.com. While other types of fishing tends to shut down in the winter, big blue catfish bite the best the colder it gets. It was a totally awesome day. We’ve caught catfish in a number of ways including with our hands. Hope you catch a stringer full. The world record brown and black bullheads, in fact, came from lakes. Send us some pics if you do good! The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is the largest species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 165 cm (65 in) and a weight of 68 kg (150 lb).The typical length is about 25–46 in (64–117 cm). However, if he’s fishing for big catfish, he only may get 12 baits out of one shad. These cats are similar to their cousins, the channel cat, but different in a few ways. The great thing about a circle hook is that you don’t need to actively set the hook right when the catfish bites. Catfish fishing from the shore. Big River Blue Catfish Tactics: Mississippi River, Memphis. The best bait for big blue catfish is fresh-caught shad that is cut in half. When it comes to fishing in a river, one of the most exciting moments is catching a big catfish. Aug 1, 2016 - Big bad blue catfish! Some of the best blue catfish rivers in the world are tidal. Unlike Flatheads, Blues are happy hunting in open water as well as on the bottom, so play around with depths if you’re coming up dry. by Lee Keck . Look for them in the Mighty Mississippi, the Rio Grande, anywhere there's a rushing current and too much water to wade across. The Tennessee River, covering more than 650 miles in the southeastern United States, ranks at the top for expert catfish anglers. Most days are spent pursuing trophy blues, although he's also wise to the ways of the river's channel and flathead catfish. However, some conditions are just better than others for prime big catfish hunting. In fact, creel surveys from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation show that big blues (30 inches or larger) are caught at twice the rate in the winter as they are in the summer. Time of day can prove important for trying to chase big channel catfish in rivers. When Adams is jug line fishing for small catfish, he can get 20 baits out of one shad. Going For The Big Ones - Tips For Catching Blue Catfish. When I was 10 years old, I saw a magazine article with an angler holding a giant blue catfish and it nearly blew my mind. How to Fish for Catfish For this endeavor, you will need some heavier gear. James "Big Cat" Patterson of Bartlett, Tennessee, guides clients to blue cats on the Mississippi River around Memphis, Tennessee. If you are fishing on land or from a dock, I recommend a heavy or extra-heavy-action spinning rod at least eight feet long, with a reel in the 4000-size and up, loaded with fishing line from 30# to 50# test. I would argue the best time of year to catch blue cats is during the winter months. Focus on fishing TX waterways that have a high population of threadfin or gizzard shad. There is nothing quite like battling a big ole river flathead or blue catfish at the end of your line. Bait 'n' Rig Tricks For Catching Big Catfish In Rivers. Typically, flathead cat fishing slows way down when the water temperature drops, but the best time of year to catch trophy blue catfish is in January and February. Depending on where on the continent you are fishing, the most plentiful species will be Channel Cats, Blue Cats, and/or Flathead Catfish. For neutral catfish, try fishing the rig vertically across current breaks and eddies associated with rocks, riprap, brush piles, or a deep snag. Jan 28, 2020 - Explore Ruben Zaragoza's board "Blue catfish" on Pinterest. Dealing with the Winter Blues. Photos courtesy Maryland DNR . Tony Adams loves to catch big blue catfish. However, the best bait for blue catfish is the ones common to the area you're fishing. Blue catfish are a species of catfish that love to live in the big rivers. However, harvest for the commercial market does not depend on big Blue Catfish. In North America catfish-filled rivers are plentiful throughout, except for the extreme north. Photo courtesy of: Troy Hansen. Most of … The second best blue catfish bait is bluegills freshly cut as well. Size is also important as diets of Blue Catfish shift with size. People have stocked blue catfish into other watersheds too, expanding the fish’s range. “The worst conditions for fishing for catfish in the Mobile Delta Rivers are when the rivers are in flood.” Larry Scott tells us that big catfish in the Mobile Delta rivers never really leave, and the big blues and flatheads can be caught year-round. In a river, bends and confluences are the best places to look for big Cats. Want to catch catfish in a river? Graphite is not made to bend and flex like these other materials. If you’re fishing from the bank, surf rods 10 feet or longer are necessary to cast long distances and provide the most effective backbone. See more ideas about monster fishing, blue catfish, fishing pictures. This is the video for you. Big blue catfish love water with deep pockets and a strong current. Here are some tips on how to latch onto one of these whiskered inland giants. Catfish rods for big Blue Catfish are very different than many types of fishing rods. Use a 3 oz. How to Catch Blue Catfish. It's not just "lore" of the American South... the biggest catfish live in rivers. For aggressive fish, cast the rig upstream from deep cut banks and outside bends as close to the bank as possible. This keen smelling ability is one of the many challenges of finding and catching catfish in rivers. If you are planning to go on a Texas fishing trip, read these tips and increase your chances of catching a big blue catfish. by Brent Frazee. The slip bobber rig is phenomenal for catching big catfish on small to medium-sized streams and rivers as well as lakes. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. Guide Cody Vannattan knows that winter is prime time for catching big blue catfish at Missouri reservoirs Truman and Lake of the Ozarks. See more ideas about blue catfish, catfish, how to catch catfish. I caught some big catfish from the bank in just a few feet of water. Anglers often catch shad with cast nets and skipjack herring with rod and reel. You want the Depending on the body of water, a lake may contain some big specimens as well as plenty of smaller ones, and the subspecies can be varied. For trophy Blue Catfish I suggest an e-glass, s-glass, or composite blank. Your device does not support the audio. Blue catfish are caught on a variety of baits, but probably the number one best bait for blues is fresh cutbait. I generally go with a size 6/o circle hook which can handle some beast sized blue catfish. Now, if you are trying to catch big blue catfish in a river you’ll need to be using gear that’ll hold up to abuse. 1. The plan To Catch Catfish Hotspot: The Pool Hefty cats stack up in the heads, in the tails, and along the steep edges of deep pools on the outside of river … Large Blue Catfish are more likely to consume fish (most commonly …