Top 10 Cat Fishing Tips & Tricks You Need to Know!

Hooks:
A spring Treble hook is highly recommended for any cat fishing. It is very suitable for holding chicken liver or stink bait on the hook. Depending on the bait any hook will do the job. More information about Treble hooks can be found here.

Pole:
A sturdy large pole is what I recommend or maybe even a Ugly Stick. They specifically make poles for catching small & large cat fish. This will have to be something you ask about at your local tackle shop.

String:
This all depends on the size of the cat fish you are trying to catch. I always recommend anything over 20lb to 50lb test. The smaller the line the easier you can lose your line. I have seen very large cat fish brought in on small line, but this takes a lot of skill & patience.

2. Knots:
The only knot I recommend learning how to do is the Polymer Knot this is one of the strongest knots known to mankind. It is very easy to learn to do also! Here is a link to instructions on how to do this knot. This knot can be easily done with little or no light at all & a great way to add multiple hooks to your line. More information about Polymer Knots can be found here.

3. Bait:

Type:
There are many types of cat fish bait on the market from Shad, Blood, Stink, Dough, or even Chicken Liver. I personally have had my best experiences with fresh Chicken Liver. It's always good to come equipped with different kinds of bait just in case the cat fish aren't biting.

Scent:
Experiment with different flavors of stinks or blood baits. Some times what works good in one part of the country just don't work well in another?

4. Location:

River, Creek, Dams, or lakes are to name a few good places to fish for Cat Fish. I have had the best luck with Large Cat Fish at the mouth of dams. My brother & I pulled out over a 80lb+ Cat Fish with this method. The only thing that is not fun is going to the bottom to actually get the Cat Fish.

Place:
Around logs & large rocks are some great places to try to catch Cat Fish. Another great place would be as said earlier in this article the mouth of a open river or a Dam. Find a deep hole can be good also if there is a family of cat fish down there.

Water Type:
I have personally always found luck with dark muddy waters on a cool day. Some people have had lucks in clear rivers or creeks.

5. Time:

My favorite time to Cat Fish is shortly after it gets dark. I have found this is the best time & usually the time when they come out to get something to eat.

6. Weather:

Type: A light sprinkle of rain is a great time to try to catch Cat Fish. Try to avoid thunder storms & lightning.

Temperatures:
I have never had good luck on hot days. Most of the times it's either early morning when it's cool or at night. Snow & Ice is a time I have never caught Cat Fish. So if you want to try that then good luck!

7. Noise:

It is never good to try to fish with loud noise or music playing. Try to keep it very quite while fishing for Cat Fish.

Distractions: Avoid people swimming or maybe kids throwing rocks in the water that could scare the fish. Maybe there might be too many boats. Use a good judgment while trying to catch Cat Fish.

8. Depth:

Shallow: Within three to five feet of water is what I usually catch my cat fish at.

Deep:
I have had friends go deep fishing with Cat Fish & they have had some good luck with it. Again I think it all depends on the location & time also.

9. Techniques:

Hook Placement:
My hook is placed above the weight about two feet usually, Leaving the weight at the bottom of the line & sometimes I add more than one hook. Please find your state laws & always abide by them when placing hooks & how many.

Hold Line:
A technique used by many Cat Fisherman. All you do is gently hold the line in one hand & wait for your line to pull. Usually a Cat Fish will take time to eat & play with your bait. Once you think the Cat Fish has swallowed the hook give it strong firms pull on the fishing pole.

Bobber:
I have never been made fun of for using a bobber & many set one on the line. Personally I like the hold line technique without the bobber. It's really all up to the fisherman with what he prefers.

10. Luck:

I am sure you guessed this one. Regardless if its beginners luck or just luck in general some people have better luck at catching Cat Fish. Don't worry odds are you will have your lucky day someday also.

I hope this Article has been helpful, Take Care & God Bless