How To Catch Catfish Through The Ice
Keywords: catfish fishing, fishing
Ice fishing is a fun way to spend the winter, especially up in the frozen northern states and Canada. Ice fishing for catfish is an especially big challenge for a hearty cat-fisherman. Those cats are still there, way down under the ice, and they still need to eat! Most ice fishers find that when they score, they score big. You have a good chance of catching a huge blue cat who’s hanging around at the bottom waiting for the ice to thaw.
There are several challenges to ice fishing for cats. First off, catfish are less active in the winter time. This means you really have to find out where they are, and get your bait right in front of them. This is one reason why many ice fishers like to go for catfish in farmed ponds. In the winter time, you have to know exactly the deepest spot in the lake, and with a man-made pond stocked with cats, it’s easy to find out.
For a regular lake, you’ll need to probably take some samples unless you know the lake inside and out. With ice fishing, it’s not as simple as just picking up and moving to another spot if they aren’t biting. You need to know that it’s a good spot before you start fishing. One way to do this is to drill a few holes and use a depth finder to find the deepest spot. The very bottom is where the big cats will be lurking.
For bait, you can always go with whatever you use during the warmer seasons. During the winter, catfish are mostly eating grub worms, so if you really want to increase your chances of catching a fat cat, go with something like that.
The main thing is to put your hook right on the lake floor, and leave it there. Don’t move it too much, just let it sit, and when he bites, the fight begins!
Good Catfish Ice Fishing Gear
Because we’re dealing with the depths here, it’s always good to have a rod with an extra sensitive tip. It will be really tough to tell when you’ve got a bite, especially for first time ice fishers. You also want a rod that has some serious backbone. You’re liable to catch a big one, and he’s not going to want to come out of that hole in the ice!
You’ll also need things to keep warm. Don’t try to be a tough guy. Get some hand warmers, a nice bucket to sit on, a good heavy coat, and keep in mind that you’re going to be spending some time out in the cold. Also take an ice auger, ice picks and a sled if you are going way out on the lake. The ice auger is needed to cut through the ice. Ice picks come in handy for a variety of things, and the sled can be used to haul stuff out onto the lake and back.
If you really want to go all out, invest in an ice shelter. You can get your own ice fishing house, complete with a propane heating stove, that you can flip up and take back down when you’re finished. The disadvantage of an ice shelter is that it’s tough to move around, and it can be a pain if you want to try a different spot. On the other hand, it can keep you toasty warm and maybe keep you out on the ice longer. Tell your wife it’s for your own safety, and I’m sure she’ll go along with it!
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Go to www.askcatfishfishing.com for more information on ice fishing for catfish.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Popular Walleye Fishing Rods Reviewed (1)
This lighter weight option allows for more ease in use. The overall design of a Fuji reel seat allows for comfortable gripping and increased stability when casting and retrieving a line.
Informative Ways To Get Organized Financial Planning (2)
Other options including a chartered financial consultant and chartered retirement planning counselors are wonderful help for financial and retirement planning but don't have as extensive a range of information at their disposal.
Would You Hire A Carpenter Who Never Measures? -- Progress Through Measurements Of What To Work On (3)
As measured by what customers cared about, deliveries were deficient almost half the time. What was going on? It turns out that those little errors across hundreds of aspects compound and can cumulatively hit the customer hard.
Your Informative Guide To Taking Care Of Your Business By Paying Online Taxes (4)
If you're not sure what category you fall into when it comes to online taxes, you might want to keep track of receipts of purchases that might require sales tax to be paid in the future, just in case.
Easy Steps To Paying Payroll Taxes (5)
Payroll taxes have two names - pay as you earn and pay as you go. For the majority of us, we already know about pay as you earn payroll taxes.
Types Of Start Up Businesses (Part 1) (6)
In the sole proprietorship structure, the founder of the company takes in all the profits and has all the decision-making power. Needless to say, organizing such a company is also an easy task.
Insurance Against Stupidity (7)
Most people would agree these days that using a mobile phone whilst in control of a vehicle is also inherently stupid. With its huge risks to concentration and the amount of cases that have come to light of people losing their lives whilst partaking in this activity, it's not surprising that it has now been made illegal.
Changes In The Hotel Industry (8)
It seems that people's demands are getting more and more extreme. A few years ago I did not mind going out and picking up bunches of flowers for guests or providing a glass of champagne in the room freshly poured and perfectly chilled.
Why Should You Switch Over To A Digital Camera? (9)
Then there is the preview screen - which is an LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, which shows you what the camera would see at any given point if you wish to take a picture.
Where Should You Invest In Real Estate (10)
8. Fewer properties are getting on the market. 9. Demand for properties is increasing because buyers are able to qualify at the low prices. Buyers stage 2 only happens after the local government is starting to attract new business into the area.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
How To Find The Most Affordable Car Insurance (1)
If you can afford the initial outlay, this is sure to save money. Lastly, Insurance companies charge more to insure vehicles they consider risky, such as fast sports cars, cars with few safety measures, or cars prone to theft.
The Right Golf Gear For The Game (2)
For those who prefer a walking game, there are several lightweight models and designs available that are strong and user friendly. These are designed to carry just the basics, and allow for the versatility of a walking game with the ability to carry clubs with greater ease.
Cooking Food Outdoors (3)
You also need to know how to take care of yourself when you are out there, so it is vital to know how to cook in order to maintain your intake of nutritious food.
Combine The Best Of Today In New Ways To Outperform Competitors' Bests Tomorrow (4)
Who are the favorite sources for authors, writers, and editors? 3. What organizations have been described as being excellent in these areas? 4. Who do experts say is the best they've ever seen?
How To Find The Best MS Project Training In London (5)
The potential MCT must pass several examinations and provide proof of experience to receive the certification and must maintain these proficiencies in order to maintain certification. Certified instructors bring breadth and depth of knowledge to MS Project training in London.
More People 'Concerned About Damaging Credit Rating' (6)
Such a loan could be useful for an increasing number of consumers, after a recent report by Datamonitor indicated that more people are to struggle with their money over the remainder of 2007, following the global credit crunch.
Discover The Most Important White Water Rafting Tips For Beginners (7)
First of all, you'll want to select a white water park or white water river that caters to beginners. This way, you'll feel comfortable in the raft with your instructor, and you'll know that you'll have someone there to give you white water rafting tips every step of the way.
Are Your Measurements Making You Look Bad? (8)
Why was I effective then? 7. When was I ineffective? 8. Why was I ineffective then? 9. How much time am I spending on time wasters?
The Latest Federal Rate Cut - Another Attempt To Bolster The Real Estate Market (9)
By responding only when it appears like everyone else in this troubled financial climate, they don't fully understand what the fallout could do to the larger economy. If you are interested in investigating the Austin real estate market www.escapesomewhere.com Escapeso can help in your search.
See What South African Life Is Really Like In Oudtshoorn (10)
The one distinguishing feature of Oudtshoorn is that it is home to the world's largest ostrich population. Ostriches form the backbone of this town's farming industry, and there are a several notable show farms where visitors can go to see and learn about these fascinating creatures.