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