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flathead catfish

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The process of classifying catfish lakes is no exact sceince but general guidelines are used to help you locate such catfish types like channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish at different seasons of the year. The classifying process is not an exact science because there is not a lot of scientific data that has been collected about catfish like other game fish species. Fortunately there is some data that has be collected about the channel catfish, and we will use some of that history as reference for our article today. Our article today will focus on the different types of catfish lakes.

There are three parts to classify catfish waters. When you classify catfish waters for bait fishing you compare the type of lake, structure, the lakes location, and seasonal movements of a particular species of catfish such as channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish. If this sounds like a bit of work it is. To be a very good catfish angler it does take a bit of practice and trial and error just like any other sport. For example your best pro athletes spend hours in the weight room and with conditioning to get ready for the next season. The ones that prepare the best perform the best, it’s no different with fishing for catfish, or any other fish species for that mater.

Before we start on the different lake classifications lets talk briefly about the idea water temperatures for channel catfish, blue catfish and flat head catfish. This information is vital when you are preparing to identify ideal bait fishing for catfish waters. The ideal temperature range for all catfish is between 75degrees to 80 degrees. When the water temperature rises to 75degree all catfish will start their spawning. This will occurs at different times, depending where the catfish waters are located. Typical spawning periods for Florida are the months, of April, May and June. The catfish spawning times for Alabama and Georgia are May and June. In Texas and Oklahoma catfish spawn between May and June. In Kentucky and Tennessee the spawn will happen between June and July. In Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa The spawn of catfish will occur in June and July. In Ohio The cats will spawn over a three month period between July to early August. In Minnesota and Wisconsin you can expect the spawn to be between July to early August also. Manitoba Canada will have a spawn of catfish between July and August.

The following information about the types of catfish lakes is to be used as a guide only so you can classify your local cat fish hole and lakes around you. There are no two lakes that are exactly alike but fortunately lakes do fall into three basic categories which are oligotrophic (young lakes), mesotrophic (middle aged lakes), and eutrophic (old lakes). Some lakes such as oligotrophic lakes will not hold any catfish and can be eliminated them from you catfish lake classification list. Understanding the idea temperature range for catfish is a key factor when you start to learn the catfish water classification for bait fishing. All baseline data will be developed based on knowing this information first. Catfish will react differently when the water temperature moves below or above their ideal temperature and you will be predicting their movements and feeding patterns based on this information.

To classify a lake into one of the three lake classifications listed in the last paragraph there are some specific factors you need to consider such as how many game fish there are compared to the number of bait fish, the amount and type of aquatic vegetation, and other critical structure habitat factors. This information will be used in combination of seasonal movements to determine where catfish will be located and what type of catfish bait to use when you go bait fishing for your particular species of catfish.

I want to thank you for reading my article about Classifing Catfish Lakes. Have a great day and the the best of luck to you on your next fishing trip

Check out Mark’s website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about Classifing Catfish Lakes

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Click Here To See Old School Catfish Fishing Secrets From 12 Backcountry Catfishing Masters!

Flathead Catfish in reservoirs is not a natural occurrence. Although bait fishing for catfish in reservoirs is booming today because of original stocking and migrations of native river catfish into the reservoirs. Reservoir building during the 1950’s, and 1960’s and still today, has opened up a vast water areas for catfisherman. The original habitat of channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, and white catfish have always been in the river systems of the United States and they still thrive there today.

Reservoirs are water impoundments that get their water supply from rivers that have been dammed. These new water impoundments vary in shape, size, depth, water color, productivity, and potentially many other characteristics. The catfish populations as well as other species come from the migration of the species from tributary feeds, you can bait fish for catfish such as channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish in some reservoirs, but just about all the reservoirs in the USA hold very good populations of channel catfish.

Reservoirs have abundant structure in reservoirs so you need to do your home work to catch catifish in these catfish fisheries. To catch catfish you need to understand the reservoir you intend to fish. It important you get your self a Topographical maps of the reservoir. They can normally be obtained from The army core of engineers. Many times local bait shops also have maps. Also paying attention to the catfishes food chain is important. For example reservoirs almost always hold large populations of shad. If you can find the shad schools you will locate some blue catfish, and channel catfish. Normally flathead catfish don’t follow the shad schools. One key indicator there are shad near is multiple birds flying around. This a good way to locate shad schools for bait fishing for catfish. If you are looking for trophy catfish then reservoirs are where you need to fish. Blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish grow extremely large in reservoirs. Catching a blue catfish over 30lbs is not uncommon.

Another key factor to catch catfish in reservoirs in understanding where the original series of channels were located. Catfish will remain a river fish instinctively even in reservoirs even in reservoirs. There will be good populations of channel catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish living in structure that is close to the original creek and river channels.

To catch flatheads locate areas near the original river channel or original creek channels. Flathead catfish are not a roaming catfish like the blue catfish. If you intend to go bait fishing for flathead catfish you will need to find there location. These fish will not move far.

To catch blue catfish in reservoirs head to areas that have current flow, and to where the shad schools are located. Blue catfish do not hold as tight to the original channels as do flathead catfish, but the will still be located in these areas. If you are going bait fishing for blue catfish you can use live catfish bait or dead cut bait, the blues like either. Their favorite food sources are oily schooling fish such as threadfin shad, gizzard shad, and skipjack herring. If you can locate the shad schools in reservoirs you could have a outstanding day of fishing.

To catch channel catfish in reservoirs you can fish anywhere in the reservoir where there is adequate catfish habitat. If there is a better spot for channel catfish on a reservoir it would be far up small tributaries adjacent to the main reservoir. They are like the blue catfish and they will feed on live baits such as shad and crayfish, mussels or cut bait. If you plan to bait fish for channel catfish through line just outside the current in structure areas channel catfish are like flathead catfish and do not prefer to stay in current.

I want to thank you for reading my article about Catching Blue Catfish. Have a great day!

>Check out Mark’s website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about Bait Fishing For Catfish

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