Fishing For White Catfish

A beginners guide to catching white catfish

By Rick Seaman

Nov 7, 2024

Tips For White Catfish Fishing

Beginners

White catfish fishing for beginners and novice anglers. Includes tips which can be used while fishing either from a boat or while fishing from the bank.

Basic White Catfish Tackle For Beginners

Rod. Start with a 6' or longer, medium to medium heavy action rod that will work for smaller cats as well as larger fish. When catching catfish, you could hook up with a giant on any cast.

Reel. Baitcasting reels and spinning reels both work for the vast majority of catfish fishing conditions.

Line. Begin with 14# to 20# monofilament line. Pay a little extra and get decent quality line.

Catfish fishing basics video.

Basic Baits For Beginners

Earth Worms. Worms from the garden can be used to catch white catfish in most lakes and rivers. Live worms are also available at most bait and tackle stores, including Walmart.

Sliding Sinker Setup. One of the most effective rigging setups for catfish fishing is the slip sinker rig. Slide a heavy slip sinker up the main line, then tie on a stout hook baited with catfish bait.

3 Important Tips For Beginners

Tip 1. White catfish prefer to hang hold around sandy bottoms, adjacent to creek channels.

Tip 2. Fishing from a boat allows anglers to reach water not accessible from shore. However, fishing for catfish can be done from shore and can be even more rewarding for those who like to adventure out along the shore.

Tip 3. Use good knots and re-tie anytime the knot or line has been nicked or frayed. Always use sharp hooks, if they are dull replace or sharpen them

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Intermediate Anglers

White Catfish Tackle For Intermediate Anglers

Rods. For longer casts and more powerful hook sets, choose a 6' or longer, medium, or medium heavy action rod. As a second rod choose a 6' or longer spinning rod in medium action. Shimano, Bass Pro Shops, G. Loomis, Fenwick, Lew's and Abu Garcia, among others, all make a variety of quality rods in varying price ranges.

Reels. Baitcasting reels work best for the vast majority of catfish fishing conditions. Spinning reels are also popular with whit catfish anglers. Shimano Curado, Abu Garcia Revo, Lew's Mach Crush, Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Series and Daiwa Fuego are popular choices, and there are many others.

Line. Line choices include monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided line - sometime in combination. Braided line with a monofilament or fluorocarbon tip can be an ideal setup, depending on conditions. Use an alberto or albright knot to join lines. Monofilament line is least expensive and offers some stretch, to help landing fish. Braid does not stretch, so be careful not to rip hooks from the mouth of fish.

Additional Bait Options For Intermediate Anglers

In addition to live worms, experiment with the following baits to improve your chances for success.

Live Bait. Crawfish, sunfish (where legal) and baitfish all attract white catfish. Use a sliding slip sinker setup.

Cut Bait. Fish of most any species will work well for cur bait, especially species that reside in the particular body of water. Shrimp, chicken guts and an assortment of prepared catfish baits can also get white catfish to bite.

Prepared Catfish Baits & Dips. The choices are endless. Each one mixing a variety of scents that are designed to appeal to the smell and taste of cats.

5 Important Tips For Intermediate Anglers

Fishing Reports. Read current fishing reports and catfish tournament results from the lake you wish to fish, also review these reports and results from this time last year. Learn how to gain maximum knowledge from fishing reports.

Lake Maps. Contour maps identify creek channels, flats, ledges, drop-offs, and depth variations. This information can help you plan your time on the water, well before you head to the lake.

Focus On Finding The Fish. White catfish travel around the bottom of the water column in search of food. Any type of cover becomes a good holding spot for white cats, providing an opportunity to ambush food as it flows or swims by. Look for rocks, logs, stumps and undercut banks.

Keep Baits Selection Simple. Catfish are not very picky, and will eat anything that smells like food. Live bait (where legal), and cut bait are the primary options for catching bigger cats.

Use Multiple Baits. Once you locate an area holding catfish, try a variety of baits, and experiment with scents to see which entices more bites.

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Record White Catfish

World record: 19 pounds, 4 ounces

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Experienced Anglers

Advice For Serious White Catfish Fishing Enthusiasts

Study the life cycle of white catfish, their annual migrations, daily movements, and food sources available in the lake you plan to fish. Our focus here is to assist beginner and intermediate anglers. For those wishing to take the next step, there are a multitude of options for growing your knowledge of fishing for white catfish.

Fishing Clubs & Tournaments. You can join and participate, with or without a boat, and learn from some of the better anglers in your area.

Time On The Water. Experience is the best teacher. Spend time locating the fish and experimenting with a wide variety of baits and techniques.

Gather Information Online. Read information on your local Fish & Game Department website. Review websites offered by expert white catfish anglers, fishing organizations and local fishing guides. Some highly regarded websites covering white catfish fishing include Team Catfish, Tangling With Catfish, Take Me Fishing For White Catfish, and Learn To Catch Catfish.

Have Fun. Fishing for white catfish can be very rewarding. Be diligent, but enjoy the process. Fishing is a life-long journey, and you can learn something new every day you spend on the lake!

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Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired bass tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".

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