| Choosing catfishing tackle depends strongly on the | | | | or spin rig on medium-sized rivers and lakes with |
| time of year you intend to fish, as well as what | | | | bait or even lures (though these would not do as |
| variety of catfish you intend to target. In most | | | | well as live bait). Also try light gear in the summer |
| circumstances, catfish fishing doesn't require a lot | | | | for smaller species, not weighing in excess of |
| of specialized gear. In fact, you can be a little lazy | | | | eight pounds. |
| and still land a small catch or two with these | | | | This light catfishing tackle method can be |
| creatures. | | | | accomplished often without a boat. In the heat of |
| They are opportunistic feeders and will bite on | | | | the summer, it can be enjoyable to cool off by |
| just about anything with a pungent smell that | | | | wading out into the water (perhaps a small river, |
| excites their senses. After all, most catfish find | | | | stream, or even a neighborhood pond) with some |
| food based on their sense of smell as opposed to | | | | light spinning tackle. Your gear is limited, needing to |
| sight, so this is the most important part of | | | | fit into a shirt pocket or small shoulder bag that |
| choosing your bait. | | | | won't get in your way. |
| Currently in the United States, only two types of | | | | Use a light-action rod that is around six feet in |
| fish are more popular among anglers than cats - | | | | length and a spinning reel spooled with 6- or |
| black bass and panfish. Therefore, the sport can | | | | 8-pound test line. Take a small box with No.1 to 4 |
| be quite competitive. To assure yourself a good | | | | hooks, a split shot, and a few bobbers. Just about |
| catch, be sure to know what type of catfishing | | | | any kind of bait can be used with this catfishing |
| tackle is going to produce the best results. | | | | tackle - try crickets, grasshoppers, chicken livers, |
| You can opt for a heavy 8-foot baitcasting outfit | | | | night crawlers, and minnows. |
| with 30-pound line for catching catfish weighing in | | | | For ease of carriage, you may want to bring |
| excess of 40 pounds, or you can aim for a | | | | minnows in an aerated bucket floated from your |
| catfish in the range of three to fifteen pounds | | | | belt, leaving your hands free to work. You may |
| with a typical bass fishing rig using 10- or | | | | opt to use a small sinker weighing about an ounce |
| 20-pound test line. | | | | with a snelled hook a foot or two above it as an |
| This would be accomplished by either a baitcasting | | | | alternate catfishing tackle for light days. |