May 9 Fishing: What would be the best idea for my 9 year old grandson to be guaranteed to catch fish? He is really hoping for Blue Catfish. We are close to Colorado Springs in...

tbpacker Loc: Colorado Springs, Colorado

What would be the best idea for my 9 year old grandson to be guaranteed to catch fish? He is really hoping for Blue Catfish. We are close to Colorado Springs in Colorado. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

JohnC Loc: Columbia, MD

Chicken Livers or any smelly meat

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

TBPacker: Sorry to disappoint you, but there is never a time to be guaranteed catching a fish. The more hours one spends with a line in the water does increase the odds of probability. That's why it is called fishing, not "catching"!

Please go back to your profile page and add your location for permanent reference. There will be others along who live in CO and can help with choosing a location, bait, etc. Just Sayin...RJS

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

tbpacker wrote:

What would be the best idea for my 9 year old grandson to be guaranteed to catch fish? He is really hoping for Blue Catfish. We are close to Colorado Springs in Colorado. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.colorado.com/articles/10-places-fish-family-colorado

tbpacker Loc: Colorado Springs, Colorado

I understand that there are no guarantees but we would even consider a charter to get him a big fish.

JohnC Loc: Columbia, MD

Also, catfish generally like to dine between dusk and dawn, so evenings or very early mornings work best.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, you will increase your chances by probably double if you hire a guide. If an experienced guide fails you don’t have a chance! Just sayin...RJS

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Pueblo Reservoir is where the Colorado state record blue cat was caught. Make sure it's open. This pandemic has got a lot of. places shut down. If there are blues in there, chances are there are channel cats also, and they don't get as big, but can easily go 10 pounds or so. Chicken livers probably the easiest bait to get your hands on. Channel cats love em. I've never fished for blues. Do yourself a favor and buy a cheap pair of panty hose. Cut squares and wrap the liver in one, wrap it shut with magic thread. Keeps the littler fish from stealing your bait. Big fish - big hook. Use a 2/0 or 3/0 at least. Use a Carolina rig. Cast it out and let it set. Move around every twenty minutes or so. Have fun. Be sure to post photos if he catches one.

Rutinbuck Loc: Haysville, Kansas

Get you some night crawlers and go catch some bluegills and put them in a bucket with an airator to keep them alive. Then go fishing and put a live one on hooked behind dorsal fin and cut another one in half and put on a hook. Circle hooks work best. Cast them out, sit back and wait for a bite!

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

JohnC wrote:

Also, catfish generally like to dine between dusk and dawn, so evenings or very early mornings work best.

That’s, exactly, true everywhere I’ve fished for cats. 👍

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Rutinbuck wrote:

Get you some night crawlers and go catch some bluegills and put them in a bucket with an airator to keep them alive. Then go fishing and put a live one on hooked behind dorsal fin and cut another one in half and put on a hook. Circle hooks work best. Cast them out, sit back and wait for a bite!

Big cats are predators and they do love live bait, but make sure that the live fish you're using are legal. In California it's illegal to use any "sport fish" as bait, and bluegills are considered a sport fish. Check your regs.

RANDALLIRELAND

Blue catfish can be pretty big and might be too much for an 8 year old beginner. My grandpa thing is taking the grandkids fishing for the first time. I suggest visiting a locally owned sporting goods store. Many have recent fishing reports posted and employees who fish frequently. Ask them where you should take your beginner 8 year old, what is biting, and what kind of bait and rig to use. Bluegill are an excellent bait for large blue catfish, so catching bluegill is part of the process. Good luck and have fun.

JRK227 Loc: Cedarburg, WI

Cut bait. Chunked cross cuts and fish heads work.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

tbpacker wrote:

What would be the best idea for my 9 year old grandson to be guaranteed to catch fish? He is really hoping for Blue Catfish. We are close to Colorado Springs in Colorado. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve only fished Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, South Dakota and Idaho for cats. Blue and Channel cats. All of those places are consistent for bait. Night crawlers will catch them in all places I’ve been. Cut blue gill has worked in all the places as well as live blue gill in Colorado. The other places prohibit the use of live fish for bait but I know they work. Mormon crickets are something a Catfish won’t leave alone if you have access to Mormon crickets. They are available in the wild in Oregon Washington and Idaho after May until about the middle of August. I’ve only seen Mormon crickets in Wyoming once but that was 40 years ago. Hope any of this helps. Night crawlers just about dark and through the night work for sure. Good luck.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

RANDALLIRELAND wrote:

Blue catfish can be pretty big and might be too mu... (show quote)

Great advice. The grand kids will enjoy catching the bait far more than the cats. If illegal for bait, just forget the cats and catch the bluegill. If cats are a must, go find some bullheads. Numbers, not size is the key at that age. Ten or twenty 3 inch fish is fare more fun to a youngster than one big cat. Use a bobber (float) if possible. Visual stimulus is hard to beat at that age. RTKF