Do catfish bite when is cold

Most people who catfish know that as the spring water warms up so do the fish, but do most people understand why? The why is really quite simple, fish are cold blooded and catfish are a warm water fish. This means that the catfish prefers warm water conditions so moving from cold water to warm water increases the food requirements to live for a catfish and hence increases their need to feed to stay alive.

When the water temperature is less than 40 degrees a channel catfish only requires one to two percent of his body weight one time per week to survive. Putting that in perspective for a two pound channel cat only needs to eat about a half once of food one time per week about a fathead minnow.

When water temperatures exceed 70, metabolism will rise exponentially as water temperatures rise eventually reaching the need to eat up to six percent of body weight per day to survive and grow. That is roughly 28 times more food required to live and grow with just a 30 degree variance in water temperature. This need to feed is a big part of why catfishing gets better and better as spring progresses.

With this in mind during the early part of the catfish season April thru June the catfish will eat 30 to 40 percent of their yearly required food. This is a lot of feeding needs to be done in a short time providing a great advantage to anglers. Now that we know what a channel cat needs live in terms of food we have to catch them. It is widely known that in the springtime catfish being the opportunistic feeders that they are will scour the shallows feeding on dead fish and other critters that have died during the long winter and washed up.

In areas where the rivers and lakes freeze up for long periods of time and some winter kill occurs this will be more prevalent that in areas where everything stays open for the majority of winter. Catching these cold water catfish can have sort of an art to it. In normal years the best way to locate fishing areas is look for snag piles or shallow areas where these dead and decaying morsels of food wash up.

Some of the best spots like this would be where there is direct sunlight to warm the water a bit during the afternoon sun. Just this tiny increase in metabolism can spur a feeding frenzy.

There are a few baits that work well in this situation. Many people say they like manufactured stink baits, but there are also many options for natural baits. First is walking the shoreline picking up dead and decaying fish from the winter kill.

While this is a horrible process to collect and get on the hook it is matching the natural food to the water at its finest. Bob has spend most of his childhood fishing with his father and now share all his knowledge with other anglers. Feel free to leave a comment below. Ask anyone who's been in a hostile environment, and they'll tell you that you can never have too much safety gear.

Keeping safe while ice fishing is all about managing your level of risk. With the We all want to gain that advantage over the fish we catch, and what better way than to time our visit so that they are most active? The best time for ice fishing is either early in the morning or Skip to content When is it too cold to fish for catfish? It can actually be cold to fish! Once you decide on a location or spot to fish on sonar, drop bait throughout the area. Winter catfish set-up on a SeaArk Procat with a dozen rods cast with shad and perch degrees around the boat while anchored.

This might require multiple rods, varied depths, or both to cover your bases in this location. Keep the bait as still as possible. You can do this by keeping your lines tight or using a Carolina rig set-up to keep bait suspended and stationary.

If you are fishing by boat and do not know where the fish are located, try drifting. The key is to slow the boat to less than 0. Drift socks can help slow your speed. If you are not sure where to drill your first hole or what location target first, look for spots where the river makes a sharp turn or where a point protrudes into a lake.

These are the locations where the current cuts into the edges creating deep holes where the catfish like to hide. Areas with a slow current over those holes are optimal. You can use GPS or topographic maps to locate the tip of a turn or point that may be hidden beneath the ice or below the water's surface.

Drill holes into the ice along both sides of the tip or turn. Drill more holes on the end and a few more up on part of the flat. You can use a fish finder to locate schools of cats or just cover your bases with multiple rods and tip-ups. Fresh bait is always best, so planning ahead ensures that you are adequately stocked when you set out for your day of fishing. Go out during the week to catch panfish like shad, bluegill or skipjack. Keep the bait in a bag in the refrigerator.

Dawn Debski with a pound blue catfish on the James River in Virginia. Cut bait into smaller pieces than you would for other times of the year as the cats do not require as much food for winter feeding. Keep food sources native to the location that you are fishing. If you are venturing to a new location, go in a day or two early to catch the native bait sources that you need. It seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many outings are cut short because anglers do not dress properly for the conditions.

Due to the longer periods of time that you will spend fishing for cold weather cats, proper layering is essential. These are the ones that brought me my biggest catches, so they are definitely worth your time to check them out. Both of these reel options will perform more efficiently with a thick monofilament or a braided fishing line. The most recommended baits to use for catfishing in cold waters are cut baits of shad, bream, and shrimp.

There are also other types of catfish baits that you can easily make from home such as dough baits, dip baits, and punch baits. Dough baits are the most popular type of homemade catfish. Dough baits are usually made using flour and water with additional ingredients added for scent. These baits need to be prepared ahead of time as they need to sit for some time to get them to the right consistency. They also have a very strong smell. Dip baits are named this way because you dip the hook or rubber bait into the bait to coat them.

Here are some pro tips you can utilize to increase your chance of catching more catfish in cold weather:. Locating warmer areas of water will always lead you to the catfish because they are desperately seeking out the warmest possible areas of water they can find.

You can top them with a protective outer layer that is wind-proof and water-resistant. Avoid wearing cotton materials as they tend to absorb more water and consider investing in a hat, thick gloves, wool socks as well as comfortable boots.

Catfishing in the Winter will require you to have more patience. That is because the fish will be more so, try to give your bait some time underneath the water surface and stay patient. The best time of the year to catch catfish would be during the months of March, April, and early May. However, catfish are active all year round so you will have no problem catching them regardless of the time if you have the right gear.