Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Catching Bass on Top Water Frogs

Oh boy, I could talk all day about catching bass on top water.  One of the reason I live is for fishing top water for bass.  There are a few different lures I use when top water fishing but one of the main ones I use is a top water hard plastic frog.  There are a ton of different frogs that work well but let's look at some good ones.



BooYa Pad Crusher - Bull - I have used this frog plenty of times and it has always worked well.  I usually use thiis type of frogs in our lakes or in private ponds for the best success.  I have caught bass over 8lb on this frog and still use it today.  One thing I usually do is shorten the skirt on the frog to give the fish more feel for the frog itself, you lose less fish this way.




5 Hollow Body Top Water Frogs

I usually buy this on amazon here. These frogs work really well in lily pads and heavy brush.  They won't get stuck in heavy cover but they will get the bass's attention!  Always keep one of these frogs in your tackle box.

Team Catfish Video Blue Catfish

Team Catfish are renowned for their ability to catch catfish and once again they have proved it in this video of catching blue catfish:


Catfishing March 17th using Stink Bait

Ok guys, a lot of people have been asking me about catching catfish and using stinkbait to catch them well here is your proof.  I took off an hour early at work and got to the fishing hole around 5pm and fished till 7pm and this picture here is the result:


Ohio River Blue Catfishing Video

Here's a video of a guy catching some Blue Catfish in the Ohio River.


Catching Catfish in March is it Too Cold? Video!

Check out this video of these guys catfishing in march in the santee cooper area of SC.  Is it too cold to catch catfish in march? I think not... here's the video


Is March Too Cold for Catfish?

I have been asked this a millions times now so I figured I would touch up on the subject.  The answer is it depends on were you live.  For an example, here in SC the catfish are in deeper water at the beginning of march and are now moving into the shallows slowly as the water temperature goes up.  The bass are also starting to spawn for you bass fisherman.

March is usually the start of the spawn in the southern east coast states such as South Carolina and Florida.  In fact, I'm pretty sure the catfish are in the shallows in Florida because it has been warmer there this year.  Here in SC were going through days were it gets into the 80s and drops back down to the 50s the next day.

So, if you want to catfish the rest of march I suggest checking your water temperature before going.  If the water temperature is lower than 55 degrees, you will need to find points and channels were the depth is between 25 and 60+ feet.  If you are fishing for blues, I would suggest using oily cut bait such as shad or herring.  If the water temperature is above 60-65 degrees, the catfish will move into shallow water so get your stink bait ready and find shallow water (6-10ft).  Check out my previous article for tips on how to catch channel cats: March Channel Catfishing

Monday, March 16, 2015

The Easiest Way to Catch Channel Catfish in the Spring

Channel catfish, in my opinion, are the easiest type of catfish to catch once the water has warmed up some. I usually keep track of the water temperature with NOAA weather. Generally, channel cats will start going into the shallows when the water temperature reaches 60-70 degrees. So, make sure you keep any eye on the water temperature and remember that whatever temperature it is, it will essentially be warmer in shallower areas.

As far as bait, channel catfish will eat anything oily and stinky. In the past few years, stink bait has really become very common for catching channel catfish but it is very easy to use and is almost irresistible to them. I usually either use sonny's stink bait which can be bought at anglers and I order Team Catfish Secret 7 Stink bait on Amazon (click the link to be taken to the product).  You can also use hotdogs, chicken liver, shrimp, and cut bait but stink bait is going to be your best bet.

The thing about stink bait is that when the water temperature gets warmer, the stink bait will sort of liquify and spread a stench around in the water.  In fact, a little secret that most people don't know is that when you first get to the fishing hole it is always best to throw the stink bait out in the spots you will be fishing and reel them back in a couple times to get the smell going in the area.  Also, if you are in a boat you can drift with the stink bait and the fish will follow the smell until the get to the bait.  I was drifting with 2 poles once and I had one on the line and it got to both baits before I could get it in the boat, that is how powerful this stuff is.

Also, if you are going to use stink bait hooks I would recommend using the worm type hooks like this: stink bait hooks.  These are the only type of hooks I use and the stink bait stays on them very well.  Don't use tube baits that have big holes.

When using stink bait, find a good flat spot on a lake, river or pond and position the bait were a channel might be or just try to find the deepest spot around you. 


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Some Stinkbait Tips for Catching Catfish

I recently found this video of some tips to softening up the stinkbait in colder weather (you don't use stinkbait in cold weather, this is just when you have an overcast day and the stinkbait wont liquify).  Very good tips in this video!


Massive Topwater Strike on a Frog Lure

I was searching around YouTube the other day and come across this video.  I think this guys makes his own top water frog lures but man I would have really loved to see this fish in the boat.


Tips on How to Catch More Bass during the Spawn

One of the best times I have throughout the year is when the bass start to spawn and are very territorial.  In fact, here in SC they usually start spawning around the end of March and beginning of April.  When Bass are in the spawning period, they usually find a place to stay in shallow water.  One thing a lot of professionals will do before a tournament is scout shallow areas and just look around stumps to see were the fish are hiding.  Also, I’ve seen people in tournaments sight fishing and when they spot a nice one, will sit there for over an hour just trying to catch it.

When fishing for bass during the spawn, you will have the most luck using soft plastic baits or jigs and fishing really slowly.  Remember, these fish are spawning and while they are hungry, they aren’t hungry enough to go after a fast lure.  Also, you want find stump fields and cypress trees to fish around as these are good areas for bass to spawn.

When I’m fishing for spawning bass I usually will use a very light bullet weight with a soft plastic worm or baby bush hog from zoom.  Using a lighter bullet weight will let the lure sink slower and if you can throw right on a stump or cypress tree, you are almost guaranteed to get a bite.  Always remember, when bass are spawning they might not be very aggressive when they bite, so even if you feel just a slight tug, set the hook.


Just remember, when fishing for spawning bass, you will need to have a lot of patience.  The patience is needed to find the fish and to catch them because they aren’t very aggressive and they are not easy to locate.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

280lb Huge Catfish Caught in Po River, Italy

The catfish was reportedly caught in February 2015.  It weighed in at 280 pounds which is 127 kg.  The name of the fisherman that caught this monster goes by the name of Dino Ferrari.   Ferrari would not tell exactly where he caught the monster because he didn't want to reveal his honey hole.  Here’s a video of it:


Some Tips on How to Catch Bream

If there is one fish I really love to eat, its bream.  I usually cut the heads off, gut them and scale them and fry them exactly like that.  Bream fishing is probably the most common type of fresh water fishing.   Let’s talk about what you will need to catch bream.

The first thing you will need is either a bream buster, cane pole, or really light rod and reel with 5lb test line.  You don’t want to use a heavy line because you won’t be able to cast out very far.

When fishing for bream you really only have 2 options, you can fish for them with artificial lures or live bait.  Both options will work well, I usually do both.   When I bream fish, I usually use crickets, worms, or bread with a bobber and split shot weights.  Believe it or not, small pieces of hot dogs work pretty well too.  I also bring an assortment of small jig heads and jigs.  One artificial lure that I won’t leave home without is a beetle spin.  As far as the color of the artificial lures, it really doesn’t matter but you want brighter colors in muddy water.  You can also use a bobber with a jig about 2 foot down and just ease it back to your or let it sit, they will hit it.

Make sure to always check your fishing regulations as each state is different when it comes to how many fish you can catch per day. I usually don’t keep anything smaller than the size of my hand.

Monday, March 2, 2015

5 Fishing Tips for Beginners

If you are reading this, I'm guessing you are a beginner angler wanting some fishing tips? Well, you have come to the right place.  Let's talk about them:

1.  Fishing Gear

When it comes to fishing gear such as rods, reels, line, etc. you get what you pay for.  Don't go with the cheap stuff when it comes to rods and reels because cheaper rods will break easily and plastic reels will bind and crap out quickly. Also, get a feel for the different types of reels such as open faced reels and bait casters.

2.  Fish Different Areas

Let's face it, there are just some spots were the fish are not.  I have fished MANY different places in lakes, rivers, streams, sewers, etc and you have to test different waters and find out were the fish are!

3.  Time of Year

Certain types of fish are active in certain parts of the year.  For an example, bass fishing is usually rough in December and January when the water is cold, but salt water fishing for red fish, trout and sheep head seem to be better in the colder months.  Some fish such as bass and catfish tend to spawn when the water temperature starts to rise from the colder months and go into shallow water.  Don't waste your time fishing for something that isn't biting!

4. Patience

Patience is a virtue.  I have tried to have more patience over the years because there are some days when you aren't going to catch anything.  Sometimes, you just have to keep on fishing and don't get discouraged if you don't catch anything.

5.  Lures

In order to become a better angler you need to know what lures to use depending on the fish you are trying to catch.  For an example, when bass fishing you can use anything from soft and hard plastic artificial lures rather than live bait but if you are fishing for bream, you might want to use live bait instead.

A Big Catfish Caught in a Little Boat!

This guy had a really tough time.  I commend him on his efforts for catching this monster in such a little boat!


What is the Best Stinkbait for Catfish

What is the best stink bait for catfish?  Well, that depends.  Most people use stink bait to catch channel catfish and like mentioned before, they will eat just about anything smelly.  Essentially, you can open up a stink bait and determine if a catfish is going to like it or not.  Here are some factors to determine whether a stink bait will be good or not:

1.  Will it Stick to the Hook?

Some stink baits are made in the form of a tooth paste looking container.  These types of baits are softer than baits that are made in a jar and will most often be too liquified to use on a hook.  They do make carriers on the end of hoods to squeeze the bait into but I have used them and haven't had good success with them.

2.  Does it Smell?

Listen, I have smelled a few different types of stink bait and they all smell but the ones that take your breath away when you first open the container are the ones that are going to catch the fish.  I personally use Secret 7 and Sonny's stink bait because they are commonly sold in my area.

3. Is it Cheap?

Different stink baits range in price and some stink baits can be extremely expensive.  In fact, a lot of people have been finding about about stink bait in the last few years and I have seen the prices increase in the stores dramatically.  Well, I will switch to a cheaper brand if I have to because they are essentially made in the same way.  Go with the cheap stuff as long as it's smelly enough!

I hope this has helped brighten your horizons to the different kinds of stink baits and hopefully will help you catch more and bigger cats!

What are the Best Baits for Catfish

One of the many reasons people catfish is because its really simple.  All you have to do is bait a line and wait until the pole bends.  The only problem is figuring out the best baits to use.  Basically, different types of catfish will eat different things and we will talk about the channel, flathead, and blue catfish and what they like to eat.

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish are probably the easiest species of catfish to catch because unlike the flatheads and blues, they will bite on just about anything oil or stinky.  The most common baits that people use to catch channel cats are minnows, worms, chicken liver, cut bait, shrimp, hot dogs, and stink bait.  Personally, I almost always use stink bait when I'm fishing for channel cats because the smell drives them nuts.  The only problem with stink bait is that it is messy and most of the time the catfish will inhale the hook so you may have to cut the lead and sting on a new hook.

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish are almost always caught at night.  They like to feed at night and very seldom feed during the day (although they have been caught during the day).  When fishing for flatheads, I usually will use live bait fish.  usually bream or bluegill will do nicely just make sure that you're allowed to use them as bait in your state.  Large pieces of cut bait also work very well for flatheads.

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish are my favorite because they fight harder and most of the time are my biggest catch.  Blue catfish usually bite on live bait and large pieces of cut bait.  Make sure the cut bait is an oily based fish for best results. Always use heavier rods and reels when fishing for blues because most of the time you will catch some big ones. 

How to Catch Catfish in Cold Weather

Catching catfish in the winter time can be frustrating and many people don't even bother trying.  The thing is, you can catch catfish in the winter time, you just have to know where to go and what bait to use.

The first thing to know about catfish is that they are warm blooded.  When the water temperature decreases, the tend to drop to deeper water between 20-50+ feet.  Don't waste your time drifting through spots that are 20 feet or less because 90% of the time they won't be there.  Also, catfish tend to not feed as much during the winter time so the bite can be pretty slow.  When the water temperature reaches between 40-50 degrees the bite will get better in deeper water.  I always monitor the water temperature and usually go into deep water when the water temperature is close to 45-50 degrees.  Once you get to 60+ degrees, that's when they will move into the spawning phase.

When fishing for catfish in cold weather, you have a few options when it comes to bait.  There has been a big controversy over using frozen cut bait but I personally use frozen bait such as shad or herring when there is no other option.  Fresh fish is always going to be the best option but you want to put the fish in some water for a few days and let it rot a little bit or bury it for 2-3 days to get it ripe.  Catfish love stinking stuff.  A lot of people have asked me if stink bait works in the winter time and I tell people that I don't use it because stink bait is spread around by the heat in the water and when the water is cold the smell doesn't travel that far (I always use stink bait when the water temperature gets up in the 65+ range).  So, use cut bait, rot it out if you can, and cut it into 1" pieces (I usually don't use the tail).

When you are fishing for catfish in deep water you can either drift fish or anchor out.  I usually will drift in cold water to find the catfish and once I find them I will drop anchor just to see if there are any more bites, then continue drifting.

As for gear, when you are fishing in deep water in the winter time you have a chance at catching some big blue cats.  You want to have medium to heavy action rod and reels (I usually use open faced and bait casting reels).  As far as line, I would go with anything from 30lb to 50lb test line.


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