Possible to get catfish in the dead cold? It's going to be in the high 40's for the next few days, any advice to catch em in the cold? The 3 common types at my local lake are bass...

FS Digest

It's going to be in the high 40's for the next few days, any advice to catch em in the cold? The 3 common types at my local lake are bass, gars and catfish. Could I set a dead shad on a hook and let it sink to the bottom and wait?

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by man_of_sand_1252

Mr.Wood-E Loc: Franklin, LA

That would be your best bet in my personal opinion. Try to find a hole if you can, they are probably deep.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

FS Digest wrote:

It's going to be in the high 40's for the next few days, any advice to catch em in the cold? The 3 common types at my local lake are bass, gars and catfish. Could I set a dead shad on a hook and let it sink to the bottom and wait?

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by man_of_sand_1252

I catch catfish year round and with the same technique. Nightcrawlers. My biggest issue is finding nightcrawlers in the winter. In a small pong the catfish will bury themselves in the mud in the winter but big reservoirs and rivers I don’t see a difference according to the weather. Many times in the Columbia and Snake rivers catfish is about all I catch in the winter outside of a few small mouth bass.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Catfish hunter wrote:

I catch catfish year round and with the same technique. Nightcrawlers. My biggest issue is finding nightcrawlers in the winter. In a small pong the catfish will bury themselves in the mud in the winter but big reservoirs and rivers I don’t see a difference according to the weather. Many times in the Columbia and Snake rivers catfish is about all I catch in the winter outside of a few small mouth bass.

Is that what you use most is night crawlers?

Mr.Wood-E Loc: Franklin, LA

ranger632 wrote:

Is that what you use most is night crawlers?

My step dad uses grass shrimp in our area. They tear them up. If you can get some, try that. Just a thought.

tactical Loc: East Tennessee

I second night crawlers. I've got a bait box that I put night crawlers in for the winter weather. You have to keep them fed but not too much for they will die from protein poisoning. Another bait to use is what the catfish feed on in your area, skip jack, sun fish (blue gills here), mullet, and something a lot of fishermen laugh about, chuck of chicken. I've been catching them in deep holes in low 40 water temperature. Good luck & tight lines.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Mr.Wood-E wrote:

My step dad uses grass shrimp in our area. They tear them up. If you can get some, try that. Just a thought.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

ranger632 wrote:

Is that what you use most is night crawlers?

Yup. When Mormon crickets are available, which is May through August where I am, I use those. Catfish love a good Mormon cricket snack. As do Sturgeon. I’ve never had a problem catching catfish with a glob of night crawlers in a big hook. If you know where they are they’re easy to lure in with a nightcrawler. I’ve fished with guys that use chicken livers, cool-aid soaked chicken parts, “Texas Stink Bait” you name it and I’ve outfished them most times with $3.00 worth of night crawlers from the bait shop. I’ve found a little bit of movement sure helps. Cut bait doesn’t work too bad for me but I need to move it a little so I thing live or something that’s moving a little is the key. Live blue gill are the best but that’s not legal in most places I’ve been. If I put a dead one on I get nothing.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Catfish hunter wrote:

Yup. When Mormon crickets are available, which is ... (show quote)

I have good luck on dough bait and chicken but will try a pole on night crawlers, easier. Thanks for the tips.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Ask WV Mike
I swear that guy could catch fish in a puddle in the middle of WalMart parking lot.
Seriously , he posted a pic of a nice stringer a couple weeks ago and it was cold where he was at