How to make a catfish snack with your own hands

Som - a predatory, rather insightful inhabitant of water bodies. For successful fishing, you need to know not only its habitat and habits, but also choose the right gear and master the fishing technique.

How to catch catfish? To achieve success when catching a predator, you need to take into account many different points: what is the water temperature, barometer pressure, at what time the fish feeds most intensely.

Increasingly, anglers have begun to use hooks as high-quality equipment, easy to make gear, but multifunctional and effective. In the absence of bottom vegetation, the fish is self-hooking and, when fishing, successfully swims to the landing net.

Experienced fishermen have noticed that the fish go well on bait with feeders, in the manufacture of which you can use ordinary wire mesh.

Frogs and pieces of greasy poultry with the smell of burnt meat are suitable as bait. Filled feeders with an attached sinker sink to the bottom, the bait crawls out through the holes made or is gradually washed away by the current.

Simple baits work great and you can catch quite large individuals, up to 35-40 kg. The main thing is skill, although of course, some nuances and secrets still need to be taken into account.

Tricks for catfish

Beginners are interested in knowing where to start when arriving at the shore and wanting to catch catfish:

1. Choose a fairly quiet area , shallow and with clean water, so that the arranged gear remains safe during the absence period.
2. Install several at once at night, up to 2-3 snacks.
3. It’s good to go through the places first with an echo sounder to choose the right place when arranging gear.
4. Fill the feeders with bait , be it pieces of meat, frogs or crayfish.
5. It is better to cast the baits closer to the edges , where the fish are most likely to stay. At the same time, ensure that the bait remains motionless in the places where the catfish are located, and adjust the tension of the tackle to the desired depth.

Subtleties of catch fishing

Those who are going to catch catfish on a turbulent river, where there is always a strong current, should know some features.
Here, a fishing line with a relatively short fishing line is best suited - from 2 to 5 meters with a diameter of up to 1.5 millimeters. It is better to cast this tackle during the current directly under a steep bank. It is advisable that a leaning tree grow in the casting area to provide shade. Since insects constantly fall from it into the water, it can become a good source of food not only for catfish, but also for barbel, black belly, chub and other river inhabitants. If the place for fishing is a calm pond, then in this case a fishing line equipped with a fishing line with a diameter of up to 0.4 millimeters and a length of up to 50 meters is perfect. Since when fishing in calm and clear water it is important that this equipment is inconspicuous, such parameters will be the most successful.

The size of the hook is selected depending on the size of the catfish that live in a given reservoir, and it must be large enough to bait bunches of crawlers or mole crickets on it. The cast needs to be cast by hand, and you must first reel out about thirty meters of fishing line and lay it in rings on a flat section of the shore. When all the equipment for catfish is prepared and thrown, all that remains is to wait for the bite. It is determined by the guard installed near the reel. The catfish bite is very strong, sometimes the guard even flies away and then you have to look for it for a long time.

Two types of donkey

It is necessary to take into account the conditions and features of the terrain when choosing one or another type of donkey, which can be with or without a rod.

When using the first option, the rod must be strong, and the equipment must be of sufficient quality to withstand strong gusts of catfish. The individuals are quite large.

The fishing rod, in turn, must be equipped with:

• a durable reel with fishing line sizes up to 1 mm, capable of supporting hefty creatures;
• leash up to 0.15 mm in diameter;
• a sliding stationary sinker weighing up to 150 g when fishing in shallow depths with low currents;
• bait that is held and does not become soggy;
• a suspended weight of up to 1 kg to hold the feeder in one position. A stone wrapped in rope will do;
• hooks , strong and sharp. Often two are used at once by placing one behind the back of the bait, the other behind the pelvic fins to avoid reducing the risk or accidentally leaving the fish off the hook.

Many anglers prefer to use bottom casting rods. They are expensive, but high quality.

A donka without a rod is appropriate when fishing in the current, i.e. just for a throw, when using which much attention is paid to the fishing line. It should be strong, preferably made of a nylon cord with a sinker tied to the end, and large hooks to the tackle, taking into account the size of the bait, as well as the weight of the intended prey.

When fishing from the shore, the line is firmly attached to stakes driven into the shore. When fishing from a boat, you will have to hold the tackle with your hands.

It is better to fish with donka, regardless of its type, on rivers near the edges and holes at the outlet. Deep places are preferred for catfish; they love to search for their prey. In hot weather they hide under snags or bury themselves in the mud. It is better to fish at night when catfish become more active.

DIY catch for catfish

We have already told you how to make a donka with your own hands. Here we will give an example of a catch for catfish.

The hook is suitable for catching catfish as a simple and budget option and is easy to make yourself. Of course, this particular predator is convenient to catch with a spinning rod and reel. When using hooks when hooking catfish, you cannot avoid numerous gatherings.

Casting at night can be inaccurate; the line often gets caught on snags and you have to first clear the area or cast constantly. However, when made correctly, the zakidushka is convenient in some cases. This bottom tackle is easy to use and does not require special skills, unlike spinning fishing.

So, to produce it you need:

• prepare a wooden board measuring 20x25 cm;
• fishing line up to 2 mm thick;
• leash up to 0.6 mm in diameter;
• weight up to 150 g;
• a couple of hooks.

To collect:

• make a cut in the middle on the short side of the board to obtain a reel;
• reel in fishing line up to 60 m;
• attach a sliding sinker to the end, a blind one - a little higher;
• leash up to 0.7 m long;
• string hooks number 8-10.

As a casting, you can use a bottle instead of a reel, which will serve as an inertia-free reel when casting. So the snack is ready. Before use, all that remains is to fill the tied feeder with complementary food: singed pieces of poultry, skins, animal offal or pieces of liver

Necessary tools and materials for making a zakidushka

Casting a catfish with your own hands is quite easy to do. To make this device yourself, you will need certain tools and materials:

• Hacksaw
• Drill
• Sandpaper
• Glue
• Foam rubber size 25:1, 5:1 cm
• Wooden board 20 by 25 cm
• Fishing line (2 mm thick)
• Leash (diameter 0.6 mm)
• Sinker (150 g)
• Several hooks.

This is all you need to make a catfish bait.

Casting for catfish - preparing equipment

Catfish tackle is primitive, but nevertheless requires some preparation:

1. For the reel , weld several pieces of wire to the pin, sharpening all sharp edges with a file.
2. Wind the fishing line around the motive , attach a sinker to the end, and a little higher (after 10-12 cm) the lead and hooks.
3. The tackle will not be effective without being equipped with fasteners and a swivel, which are quite durable and capable of holding the weight of fish up to 60 kg.

The catfish is cunning and strong. Often, to fish it out, the use of force is required. It takes more than 40 minutes.

It is important to assemble the equipment correctly:

• attach the reel firmly to the rod;
• wind the fishing line (you can take braided or monofilament);
• secure the sinker, string the weight onto the cord;
• hang hooks.

Catching catfish using a hook

When using a bait, it is better to choose a place deeper on the river, preferably near a dam, thickets of vegetation and edges. To achieve success when catching catfish, it is better, of course, to fish in places that are familiar or recommended by experienced fishermen.

Catfish readily go for fragrant bait, animal bait: liver, carcasses of fried or smoked meat.

It is advisable to start fishing at sunset, so that before dusk you can have time to set up your gear. Of course, when fishing at night you can’t do without a flashlight, other lighting, or electronic alarms.

It’s better to place several (up to 4) hooks at once , attaching a different bait to each.

Catfish bite at sunset, so everything should be ready by this time. You need to keep an eye on the odds and ends.

It is better to strike voles slowly, but you need to strike more powerfully only when strong resistance appears on the water. After making sure the fish is hooked, reeling in the reels should also be smooth.

The fish is strong and weighty, capable of completely exhausting a fisherman when trying to escape under the first snag nearby. It will take endurance and patience when fishing.

When pulling the fish to the shore, you need to hold the fishing rod firmly in your hands. The catfish will resist. You should kill him, then the prey will soon appear on the shore and, of course, will please you.

Fishing Features

How to make a snack is already clear. But it is also interesting to learn how to catch catfish correctly in order to catch it accurately.

There are several rules to follow:

• First, a quiet, shallow place is selected;
• It is better to catch catfish at night, using several hooks;
• it’s good if the fisherman has an echo sounder, it will allow him to find the most favorable place;
• Now you should fill the feeder with bait and throw it, while adjusting the tension of the fishing line in depth.

In order to catch fish, you can certainly use bite activators, bait with pheromones, and sensitive equipment. Since catfish bite more often at night, you need to take flashlights with you, as well as a variety of alarms.

If there is a bite, do not rush to hook. You need to use force after the catfish has begun to resist. If it becomes clear that the fish is already on the hook, then you need to smoothly begin to wind the reel. Sometimes the fight with prey can last more than 40 minutes.

It is better to catch such fish from the shore. Hunting from a boat can be dangerous, as the predator is quite strong and can throw the fisherman off. Before throwing bait, you should carefully inspect the gear: it must be intact and strong. The coil must not jam.

Fishing will be successful if the bait is correctly selected and collected, a suitable place and bait are determined. The main thing is to have patience and endurance.

Bait for catching catfish

As already mentioned, catfish prefer animal baits with the smell of burnt meat. Large specimens go well with mussels, double-sided shells, which can be collected from the bottom in advance, and only their hard parts should be put on the hook.

Successful fishing using worms, mole crickets, and leeches. You can put up to 5 pieces on the hook at once with their suction cups cut off.

Small fish are caught on May beetles, live worms, frogs, and grasshoppers. Also suitable for live bait are small crucian carp, perch, and pike fry by stringing small crucian carp onto hooks. The main thing is that the bait moves. You can burn mice and game by cutting them into smaller pieces.

Catching catfish with a bait donkey

Hello dear fishermen! My next article from the series “Who, where, how and what to catch.” This article will focus on catching fish such as catfish. Catfish is a river giant , perhaps the largest freshwater fish that can be found in our rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Of course, you will say that there are many ways to catch catfish, but in my article I will tell you about catching catfish with bottom tackle, namely with a bait-casting donk. This article will discuss issues such as the choice of gear, which is an important factor in success when catching this river giant, and I will also tell you about promising fishing spots and baits that work best for catfish.

So, let's begin.

You should probably start with choosing gear . When choosing a rod to be used in the tackle, special attention must be paid to its strength, since catfish are a very strong fish and cause a lot of problems for the angler when fishing. First you need to decide on the size of the catfish that will be caught. This is very important, since the choice of reel, the choice of fishing line, the choice of rod, as well as the choice of hooks and bait will depend on its size. Let's just say that most often, at least in the places where I fish, I come across catfish up to 30 kilograms, and even then, such a catfish is already a trophy. Of course, on the Volga, such catfish are not considered a fish, since there are trophies weighing 100 kilograms or more, but they, as a rule, are caught only with quok. When choosing a fishing rod and all other components of the tackle, we will proceed from the condition that the weight of the catfish will be no more than 30 kilograms. A fishing rod for donkey-throwing must have a large test, since fishing will be carried out at great depths and in a strong current and, as a result, loads of 100 grams will be used. To catch catfish, I use an inexpensive fiberglass spinning rod with a test weight of 100-250 grams and a length of 2.4 meters. The safety margin of this spinning rod is enough to pull out a larger catfish, the main thing is not to rush. Fishing line is also a very important parameter . As the main line I use braided fishing line with a diameter of 0.28 mm. But besides this, I use a leash made of mono fishing line, I don’t know why, but if I don’t use a leash made of regular fishing line, the number of bites decreases, despite the fact that the fishing is done in the dark. I use a mono line with a diameter of 0.4 mm on the leash. The safety margin of a mono fishing line with a diameter of 0.4 mm is enough to easily pull out a catfish up to 15 kilograms, but by demonstrating all your fishing skills, you can pull out a larger giant. The reel when catching catfish with a cast-on donk must be high-torque, powerful, with a large, voluminous spool and a size of at least 3,500 thousand. It should have at least 150 meters of cord wound on it, so that when fishing for a trophy catfish, you have the opportunity to release the line to it in order to avoid breakage of the tackle or rupture of the cord. All connecting links, that is, swivels, carbines, winding rings must be powerful and reliable. They also need to be chosen carefully. We will talk about the choice of hooks a little later, since its choice depends on the bait used.

We've talked about gear, now it's worth saying a few words about promising fishing spots. Regarding promising places, I can say one thing - always look for catfish at a depth of 4 meters or more, in places where the so-called breakers (churning water) form, under steep banks, snags, but catching it there is not so easy. You can determine where a catfish stays by its characteristic splashes during its nightly outing to hunt. At night, you can also catch catfish at shallow depths. So, let's proceed directly to the description of the fishing process itself.

Catfish is a nocturnal predator , so fishing will be carried out in the dark. Gather all the gear you need in advance, don’t forget to take a flashlight, you can’t do without it. Through trial and error, determine the hole where you think the catfish might be standing. It is best to arrive at the fishing site in advance; in the summer it gets dark late, so I always arrive at the fishing site somewhere around 8 o’clock in the evening, sometimes, when fishing in places where there is a lot of fishing pressure, I have to occupy a catching hole almost in the morning . When you arrive at the place, first of all, lay out all the gear, everything you need for fishing next to you, so that you don’t have to look for tongs or other small items in the dark. I do not recommend fishing with more than 4 donkeys, because when fishing, the catfish will definitely confuse them, and you may lose the long-awaited trophy. You need to throw different baits on all four donks. Fishing begins from the moment it is completely dark and continues until the sun begins to appear on the horizon. You can use absolutely anything to catch catfish. But I have 4 favorite types of bait that have never let me down.

Bait number one: crawler. The crawler is the most universal bait for catching any fish; very often large bream are caught on it, which is a little difficult when hunting for catfish. On a single hook number 12, I put from 2 to 5 worms to form a large moving bunch, which will attract fish.

Bait number two: black leech . I also put from 2 to 5 pieces on a hook of the same number, after cutting off the suckers with them.

Bait number three: river shell . Here I use a double hook, since this bait is voluminous and fixing it on a single hook is not so easy.

And finally, bait number four: fried sparrow , of course, this is not entirely humane, but what can you do... As a rule, the largest catfish are caught with this bait, while small catfish, up to 5 kilograms, are usually caught with the worm. So, you have equipped all 4 hooks with bait, thrown them into the hole and all you can do is wait. Just don’t sleep under any circumstances, otherwise you may lose your donkey. In general, fishing with a bait donkey is very interesting; you can’t predict what kind of catfish you’ll catch next time. And so, the tip of the rod was powerfully pulled into the water, but do not rush to hook, let the catfish swallow the bait well, wait about 30 seconds, then you need to make a powerful, very powerful hook. The struggle began, the rod bent into an arc, the line stretched like a string, but it felt as if it was a hook. This is a sign - there’s a trophy catfish on the hook, don’t rush, keep the line taut, you can tap on the rod blank, and soon the catfish starts moving like a courier train, which is almost impossible to stop. Release the fishing line, and under no circumstances try to pull him towards you at such moments. He can bait about 30 meters, then calm down, and then pull him towards you, but not with a reel, but with a rod, lifting him up, and then sharply lowering him down, quickly reeling in the fishing line. Such a struggle can continue for a very long time... but now, the catfish has already appeared near the shore, and now... it’s already in your hands. The adrenaline is off the charts, and you are overwhelmed by this feeling, the feeling of victory over the river giant. Catfish bite, as a rule, for a short period of time closer to sunrise. During this time, you can catch several specimens. Happy catfish fishing!!!

Fishing technique

The technique involves throwing up to 4-5 pieces of gear at once with your hands . To avoid snags, it is better to choose a quiet place, without cliffs or drops nearby, preferably with trees leaning into the pond, from which various insects also feed into the water and that’s all - this is a source of food for this fish.

When casting baits, you need to unwind the line up to 30 m, fold it in rings on a flat surface, tie the tackle (preferably behind a tree) or to a peg on the ground, pressing it down with a cobblestone. Sharp and strong bites when catching catfish cannot be avoided.

When fishing, you need to make sure that the fishing line does not wrap around snags, and carry out the wiring slowly. Increase the intensity only when pulling the fish ashore. The catfish will resist and break out. To avoid getting hurt on the fishing line while fishing, it is better to wear protective gloves on your hands.

Type of catfish bite

The strength and power of this ruler of the river kingdom is noted by everyone who dealt with him. Of course, this greatly affects the biting process.

Article on the topic: Trolling catfish

After the catfish has caught on the hook, it begins to try to escape into some kind of shelter with the help of sharp and strong ones, after which it begins to press with all its weight, trying to survive with all its power.

When biting a catfish, it is important to remember that you should not rush and give in to emotions. Do everything carefully and calmly, this is the only way you can achieve success in this difficult matter.

Features of seasonal fishing in spring, summer and autumn

1. spring , preferably in May, at lunchtime and when the water is sufficiently warm. It is good to catch catfish on a nod near the holes, from where the predator emerges after hibernation and begins to ply the nearby warm waters.
2. In summer, the bite is successful near pools and shallows in the depths. Mostly predators are based near quiet pools in the late afternoon when the heat subsides. Fishing is preferable at night. Catfish willingly go for a fish jackpot or a fried frog placed in a snack. It’s better to fish in the summer with a donka. Thread a different bait onto each hook. When using crawling live bait, it is advisable to cast the gear as far from the shore as possible.
3. In the fall, catching catfish is not only easy, but also especially exciting. With a decrease in the temperature in the river and the onset of cloudy days, the fish begin to feed heavily and do not go far from the places they have lived in during the summer. Prefers to hang out next to carp, bream, and chub. But in the autumn it is better to catch catfish early in the morning or during the day, in shallow water. The main thing is to remain silent. Extraneous noises will quickly scare off sensitive fish.

Still, when catching this predator, you need to take into account a simple algorithm:

• choose the right place for fishing;
• depending on the season of the year and water temperature, fish at an acceptable time of day;
• take into account the time and water pressure when the fish are most active;
• use live bait , preferably with a scent;
• fish on the bottom and closer to the holes , from where catfish prefer to go aground and to river beds, at night at shallow depths;
• choose places with calm currents . The fish is bottom-dwelling and does not tolerate excessive splashes of water.

When and where to catch catfish in spring

Traditionally, spring is the best time for fishing, both for catfish and any other fish, because the aquatic world is just waking up from winter icing, the water rapids are diverging. And some types of fish begin seasonal migration and spawning. I worry the least about other fish now, all eyes are on the ruler of the reservoirs, the catfish. The most suitable time for fishing is considered to be in the morning , when the sun is just rising, it all depends on the month, but it is recommended to start at 4-5 o’clock.

For those who do not like early rises, it is possible to go in the afternoon, when the sun warms up the water well. The best time is considered to be when it begins to get dark, because catfish are hunters, and they begin to hunt most actively closer to night. If in the morning you should look for catfish in river holes, then in the evening he tries to stay closer to the shore in order to catch his prey.

Deep and dark holes are considered the usual habitat for catfish , but if there are a lot of them in the river, then it obviously won’t be found in every one.
In such a situation, you can try to find it in each one, but if we are talking about large rivers, then a season may pass until all the holes are tested. You shouldn’t rely on blind luck in this matter, so here are a number of tips to quickly and efficiently determine the habitat of catfish:

1. You need to look for the deepest and darkest places .
2. Catfish love hard and clay bottom .
3. Catfish will give preference to a house with “interior decoration”, so you are looking for old koryaks , fragments of trees , and so on.
4. Catfish are very rarely located in areas with abundant vegetation, so this is excluded.

These tips are by no means universal for all bodies of water, but they will help save time on searching, so it’s worth listening to them. If you find a suitable place, but there are no catfish there, then there is no need to despair, you should try at another time of the day (if you caught it in the morning, then come in the evening). The fact is that catfish can change several places in a day, which is why they are considered so elusive.

Video on catching catfish on a donk in the spring:

Behavior in early spring (March, April)

Early spring is a good time to open the fishing season and, at the same time, hunt for catfish. But this period (from March to early April) has a number of disadvantages. The most important thing is that when the water warms up, catfish begin their active hunting, which means that wintering aggregations break up into small groups. With such compositions, they begin to plow the reservoir in search of food, which makes them more difficult to detect. The second disadvantage is not strongly related to fish, but concerns the situation on the surface of the water. Melting ice, and in some regions very slowly, interferes with fishing, which is why most fishermen prefer to wait until the second half of April to thoroughly begin catching catfish that have already calmed down.

Catfish behavior in May

In winter, catfish fall into deep hibernation, and with the first rays of the spring sun they begin to wake up.
The awakening is by no means gradual; as soon as the ice crust melts off and the water begins to warm up normally, the activity of the catfish increases sharply. Their large groups break up, and everyone looks for their own prey, but by the end of April their activity decreases, and the regime begins to take on a measured pace. And just in May, the ideal time comes to spend your time catching catfish, and not searching for its habitat. In May, catfish behave relatively calmly, especially in the morning and in the first half of the day, when the water is just warming up. At this time, you need to look for it in holes, snags, and so on. But closer to night, when the water warms up well, the catfish becomes more active. You should no longer look in the usual pits, but pay attention to the habitats of the small fish on which it feeds. Of course, it becomes more difficult to find the place, but thanks to the increased activity, the chance of a bite also increases.

Useful tips

1. When making snacks, you need to use only durable materials.
2. As bait, it is recommended to take those that will be firmly held on the hooks.
3. The fishing line needs to be reeled in with a reserve ; it can come in handy when baiting fish. Catfish are often found in large sizes.
4. between the leashes so that there is no overlap of the fishing line when two hooks are brought closer to each other.
5. If necessary, you can lower the bait to the bottom. It is better to attach small and light weight sinkers to the leashes.
6. Catching catfish from a boat is dangerous. When fishing, it can throw a person out of the boat, since its dimensions are large and its tail is powerful. Still, it’s better to fish from the shore.
7. Before casting, you need to thoroughly check the gear so that there is no jamming of the reel, and the fishing line is strong and not frayed.
8. You shouldn’t rush into cutting , you need to show patience and endurance. Fish only after several powerful bites, but make the hooks strong, often the fish strongly resists. Her behavior is unpredictable. You never know what you can expect from her at the last moment. The main thing is that the catfish goes under the snag, because it can drag away all the gear with it.
9. The fish loves silence , and when it lies on the bottom, you can tap it with a stick or make noise with the rod whip on the side of the boat. This way the catfish will leave its home faster.

Fishing for catfish is exciting and effective, regardless of the season or time of year. In summer it is successful at night, in autumn it is no less interesting during the day. The main thing is not to rush when fishing, drag the prey towards you gradually, try to tire it out. Catfish can reach up to 70 kg and above, so it is wise to fish together.

Fishing for catfish, if properly made and used, is quite successful, given the nature of the fish, its habitat, and a certain algorithm of rules for fishing.