Catfish

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From the Field—Frequent In-Fisherman Master Angler Award winner Alex Foster of West Albans, West Virginia, hit it big on an…»

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“This is where you’re born and bred to be a paylaker,” says James Reed, proprieter of Catfishermans Paradise in Camden,…»

Flathead catfish are arguably the most bodacious fish in North ­America. A freshwater Sasquatch of sorts, flatheads grow to over…»

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To most catfishermen, chumming means scattering fermented soybeans, wheat, or milo around a covert to attract catfish or to stimulate…»

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Make all the jokes you want about the foul, disgusting smells, but the late winter and early-spring bites associated with…»

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I’ve tried baiting with mussels on the Tennessee River. I’ve used fresh mussels and even scooped up some of the…»

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When rivers flow frigid through leafless landscapes, the world goes by slowly for channel cats and flatheads. While flatheads can…»

The stream sections I remember vividly, having walked them and fished them for more than 40 years, stretch beyond reality…»

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That makes a good catfish rig? Most ­catmen would say it depends on the ­situation—you’re better off with a fixed-sinker…»

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Selecting the right circle hook and rigging is critical when using livebait presentations to entice big flatheads. When used properly,…»

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For anglers fishing from shore below dams and along the banks of big reservoirs, the ability to cast long distances…»

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Years ago, no catfish angler worried about fishing in 114 feet of water. Probing depths of 100 feet or more…»

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As always with these species, there’s so much more to write about, so many important matters transcending regional boundaries. Here…»

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  “I hope we can get up in here and get a few fish before the tide goes out,” said…»

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The attention of those who follow the goings on in the catfishing world turned to Buggs Island Lake, Virginia, this…»

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  What for many decades was an imprecise, sometimes random quest for catfish has, for the finest anglers, evolved into…»

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Catfish Rigs   Sometimes, simple really is better. All through high school and into college, friends and I focused a…»

The scene may be different, but presentation principles play out just the same as in wilderness settings.

Catfishing In Town             Welcome to the urban jungle, constructed of concrete, steel, and glass.…»

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Misconceptions about catfish   Folktales, old wives’ tales, cock-and-bull stories, and prejudices lie at the heart of many misconceptions about…»

Of the big three catfishes—blue, channel, and flathead—blue catfish, although the least studied, have been considered the most mobile.

Blue Cats on the move.   Recreational anglers’ interest in catfish is surging, and fishery biologists are responding with stepped-up…»

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Better Catfish Photos   Digital cameras have dramatically improved our odds of taking good fish photographs. Whether you use a…»

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Flatheads In Shallow Water & Deep   Battling trophy river-run flatheads means tackling sheer mass and brute strength. Add current and…»

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Catfish Boats   If you want to start a good-natured debate among serious catfish anglers, ask them “What makes a…»

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  Combine the nose of a bloodhound, the eyes of a hawk, and the hearing of a bat, and you…»

Illustrated by Larry Tople

Ice Fishing   Some of the most memorable fish are those that barely make it through a big hole. Three…»