| Whenever we think about fishing for catfish, | | | | over forty fish an hour, there is still something to |
| most of us get these mental images of warm, | | | | be said for skill and patience, in selecting your |
| sunny weather, bare feet, cane poles, and a | | | | spot, baiting up, and playing on a level field, |
| generally summery outlook on things. So, when | | | | without a pile of electronics and machines to |
| we start talking about icefishiing, no one ever | | | | remove all hope for the catfish. After all, the |
| mentions catfish as a possible quarry. | | | | sport of fishing includes both finding the fish, and |
| However, factually, lots of catfish are taken | | | | the actual fight, once you set your hook. It just |
| through the ice each year, and some species, | | | | takes more nerve and determination, on the ice. |
| especially Blue Catfish and Channel Catfish, are | | | | Regardless of your approach, you'll need the usual |
| actually fairly eager biters in the cold water. So, | | | | sturdy gear for cats - a strong rod with a decent |
| the issue, really is one of first deciding to get | | | | spinning or star-drag reel, good braided or |
| yourself outside, and do some icefishing, and then, | | | | monofilament line, proper terminal rigging, and |
| of setting up your rig to do the job. | | | | some nice, stinky bait. If you want to use a more |
| There appear to be two "schools" of icefishing | | | | conventional icefishing rig, a flag float or tip-rig will |
| thought (pardon the pun), where cats are | | | | work OK, but remember the size of the fish you |
| concerned. The original, old-school, lazy one, is that | | | | are after - these kitties are going to be a tough |
| of finding a nice, comfy-looking spot that at least | | | | fight, and handling them without a rod is even |
| appears to be a likely hookup point for a decent | | | | tougher. |
| fish, drilling a hole in the ice, and sitting next to | | | | As far as bait goes, smell is even more important |
| your fire tub, or in your "fish house" (tent on the | | | | in cold water, than in the warm months, as the |
| ice), and enjoying the outing, as much as the | | | | scent doesn't spread as fast, or present as |
| catching of any fish that might happen by. The | | | | strongly in the water, so the more potent the |
| second way of seeing things, is that each outing is | | | | bait, the better. Small dead fish are still an |
| a competition for a record volume catch, and as | | | | excellent choice, especially for Blue cats. |
| such, the fish must be militarily tracked down, | | | | Puncturing the bait, or dipping it in some stinky |
| cornered and exposed, and then taken by the | | | | adjunct, may be another possible improvement, |
| bucketload. | | | | to really get the scent going. |
| For sure, a scientific and tactically-planned | | | | Some anglers feel that the color of the bait is of |
| approach to your outing will probably yield the | | | | importance in icefishing for cats, due to the |
| most fish. However, this viewpoint also requires | | | | reduced spread of scent in the cold, but in deep |
| the most equipment, as its proponents work | | | | water, it's quite dark, and catfish are known to |
| among perhaps two dozen holes in the ice, and | | | | have weak eyesight, so the importance of this |
| track the fish from spot to spot with sonar fish | | | | factor is open for discussion. In nature, cats eat |
| finders, while racing to the next hole on | | | | fairly dull-colored, smelly food, so, give 'em what |
| snowmobiles, and attempting to "head off" the | | | | they want. With smelly, natural bait, the only |
| fish at each hole as they move. | | | | other issue is where to fish it, assuming the fish |
| While the top producers in this "sport" can bag | | | | will take it, if they find it. |