Catfishing For Beginners

[mplspug]

The head is good! Just crush it a little so it gives off scent and is easier to inhale. Always try to get the guts out there too. I like cutting off just enough of the tail to open up the gut cavity. I then start the hook point through there so the guts are pointing up stream and don't fall out as easy. The little pieces of guts I think leave a stronger trail as they slowly wash out. When doing this use small/medium to medium size suckers.

[Hooliganz]

What size hooks are you using when using sucker head/torso for catfishing? I have some 1/0 circle hooks.

Is there any local stores that sell the larger 2/0, 3/0 hooks?

[mplspug]

I am not so good with the sizes unless they are in front of my face. I use circles, so that means any size that will be big enough to keep the gap obstruction free.

I don't know about Savage, but if you are in the Edina (For you Larry ), Richfield/Minneapolis area, or don't mind a little road trip, Moore's Bait has everything for your catting needs. Not sure about the Big Box Bait stores. You run the risk of being looked down on there anyway when you tell them what you are targeting.

[still floats guy]

Goldeye heads on the Red River are my personal favortie. I haven't been able to find a reliable place to catch Goldeye here in the cities. Oh well.

[ec30_06]

Most gander mountains have good sized suckers. I catch goldeye on the mn but they are always 15"+

[Grant Pearson]

Gimps in st. paul off rice usually has pretty good sized suckers. I've gotten them up to 11.5 inches from there before. Also, the bait store on 61 and county road J has decent sized suckers as well.

[BradT]

Question: can bullheads be used as cut bait for channel cats? I know guys use them for flatheads, But was curious if they would work for channel cats? Thanks for any info.

[AceintheHole]

Yes they can.

[ec30_06]

bullhead cut bait is very hard for the fish to steal so that is a plus. You need to change it evry 10 minutes or less before the blood washes out so that is one of the negatives. If fish are really biting they seem to eat most any cut bait.

[Hooliganz]

What is the avg time that you leave a cut bait on your hook before you change it out. like sucker cut bait for channels?

[Larry FlatCaster]

1-2 hours....

the fish are pretty sensitive... and can sense the bait.

[crazyice]

I change mine every 30 minutes at the longest. I just feel the fresher the bait, the more bites. I have had times when the channels wanted nothing but fresh cut.

[fishinJohn]

Any recommendations on baitcasting reels that have the clicker option? I thought Abu's were the ones to check out but I have not seen a clicker option on any of the current models.

[Travis1]

Does Moore's have bullheads? I'd like to try to get my first flathead sometime soon.

[mplspug]

Unless he got cleaned out, he does. Call ahead, but I am sure he has some in stock.

[DTro]

Does Moore's have bullheads? I'd like to try to get my first flathead sometime soon.

Bob is usually well supplied with Bullheads, but it wouldn't hurt to call before heading over there.

[DTro]

Any recommendations on baitcasting reels that have the clicker option? I thought Abu's were the ones to check out but I have not seen a clicker option on any of the current models.

Most every Abu 6500 and 7000 have clickers.

You mave have been looking at a smaller model?

[hanson]

Any recommendations on baitcasting reels that have the clicker option? I thought Abu's were the ones to check out but I have not seen a clicker option on any of the current models.

Abu Garcia 6500 C3 has a clicker, probably one of the most popular cattin' baitcasters around. Garcia 7000 C3 does as well and is a great choice if flatheads are your primary target.

Shimano Tekota, Calcutta both have clickers as well.

In a reel's specifications, a "clicker" is typically referred to as a 'line out alarm' or 'bait alarm'.

[fishinJohn]

The description doesn't mention it on the site for the C3 6500 or other C3's. Same story for C4's, Record's, EXT's, Trophy's, 7000i's, and Big Game's. The only one mentioning the line-out alarm is the 7000i Syncro for $160.

The C3 description:

"The best selling baitcast ever! You'll love the smooth casting action of two stainless steel ball bearings in the Ambassadeur® C3. Fish with confidence knowing you have a stainless steel roller bearing to deliver the solid hooksetting power of Instant anti-reverse. Available in right and left hand retrieves. The Ambassadeur® C3 comes standard with a six pin centrifugal brake, chemical nickel coated levelwind system, and the new Carbon Matrix Drag™ System."

Think they dropped the feature or just omitted it from the description?

While looking around online I found a site selling mod kits to make several baitcasting models click, which is pretty cool.

I also saw a few good Cat videos on Nature Vision's site that show how they really school in good spots. They seemed much more active at 37 degrees than 35.

[fishinJohn]

BTW thanks for the tips on circle hooks, I used some for the first time and landed my first fish, hooked right in the corner of the mouth. It's a fun way to fish and helps you avoid oversetting the hook like I have done with regular hooks. Especially when nothing is there and you just risked losing the bait.

[ec30_06]

Every abu 6000, 6500, 6600, 7000 and up have clickers. Lots of other brands do to in the larger line capacity models. Basically any reel designed for trolling has a clicker as well.

[LUNKERS]

That's good advice... I've been almost solely fishing for cats for nearly 8 years( I'm 25) and primarily fish for only trophies, even though it may take weeks or months. I have never kept a catfish, and I barely even like to remove it from the water. Fishing for HUGE cats in Minnesota is much different than just fishing for cats. There's a reason they live so long...

[LUNKERS]

That's good advice... I've been almost solely fishing for cats for nearly 8 years( I'm 25) and primarily fish for only trophies, even though it may take weeks or months. I have never kept a catfish, and I barely even like to remove it from the water. Fishing for HUGE cats in Minnesota is much different than just fishing for cats. There's a reason they live so long...

[xdreamhonda]

so could i just go and fish for a bunch of small bullies and hit the st croix by stillwater and cut up these small bulllies and be somewhat successful at catching some flatties?

[hanson]

so could i just go and fish for a bunch of small bullies and hit the st croix by stillwater and cut up these small bulllies and be somewhat successful at catching some flatties?

I would say no.

Now if you didn't cut the bullheads up, but instead used them alive, your chance will go up a lot. However, just using a large live bait like a bullhead is not a surefire way to connect with a flathead, its a good start but its not a slam dunk. Location really does matter. When you combine a good spot, good bait, and proper bait placement at that spot, thats when things get really exciting.