Cat fish Fishing

So you want to catch the BIG CATS. Well, you have come to the right place. There is nothing better than the feeling you get while reeling in a big catfish. They’re strong fighters, they’re mean, they’re tough and they taste great!
To get started you will need a good catfish fishing pole, not a flimsy sissy pole either. You need something as tough as the fish you’re trying to catch. I use an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Rod and Reel. You can hook a big cat with any rod and reel out there, but you may not get them in the boat with just any rod and reel. When the big catfish take the bait and run, they run fast and hard, and sometimes they run under the boat. Which means that rod is going to be bent to its limit. Make sure it’s a good one. Nobody wants to talk about the one that got away.
Tackle…got to get the right tackle. It’s simple use the biggest strongest hook in your tackle box. I like 1/0 bait holder hook. They have barbs to help keep your bait on and the point is usually curved in just a little. You’ll be fishing on the bottom, so you definitely need to weight your hook about a foot up your line. It’s hard to say exactly how much weight because catfish are in lake, creeks, rivers and ponds. So whatever it takes to keep that bait on bottom or close to it will work.
Now that you have the right catfish fishing rod and reel and the right tackle, let’s talk bait. A lot of fishermen and women use the expensive stuff like Catfish Charlie's Wildcat Pre-molded Catfish Baits, but the best bait I found for catfish fishing is plain old chicken liver. The older and smellier the better, but fresh will work. It’s hard to keep on the hook until you learn a few tricks. I prefer to use old panty hose, cut them into small squares about 3X3 inches, lay a piece of liver on there and hook all four corners and you’re set. If you don’t like the panty hose idea you can tie the liver on to your hook with regular sewing thread. Just wind that thread around and around until you feel sure that the bait will stay on.
Okay you’re ready to fish. Find the deepest looking spot and toss your line. Hold your pole and wait. It won’t be long before big daddy cat comes along and takes your bait. When he does, you’ll feel him hit it and back away. Sometimes 2 or 3 times, but when he takes it you will know for sure. He will take off fast and hard. Let him go for about a foot or what feels like a foot maybe 2 seconds and snatch that lineup and back. He’s hooked! Start reeling when you’re sure he’s hooked good, you may want to let him run a little and tire himself out some. Big cats break lines. Now you should reel a little then pull up and back, reel a little then pull up and back until he’s in the boat. And you have caught yourself one Big Catfish.