Identification

• Channel catfish do not have scales; their flesh is smooth, dark and sometimes spotted. They have cat-like whiskers on their face called barbs, used to feel and taste the area around them as they move. Channel catfish can grow to be 50 lbs.; the largest cat fish caught (in 1964) weighed 58 lbs. Normally channel catfish weigh around 2 to 4 lbs.
  
  

Geography

• Channel catfish live in rivers, reservoirs, lakes and ponds. They like to live on or near the bottom of the body of water. Catfish usually rest during the hotter time of the day and become active at dawn, dusk and throughout the night. During winter, in parts of North America that get very cold, catfish will semi-hibernate by settling down into the muddy bottom of deeper waters. They will not feed as much during the cold season.
  
  

Function

• Channel catfish don't have to see what they are eating; they don't even have to see the food to find it. They use the feelers (barbs) around their mouth to feel and taste all around them as they prowl the bottom for food. Channel catfish have keen senses of smell and taste, with taste buds all over their body. There nostrils are equipped with a very high concentration of receptors for smelling food; even if the food is buried in mud, they will find it.
  
  

Types

• Channel catfish love to eat anything--the smellier the better. They have been known to eat some of the strangest baits, like bar soap, for example. They like meat, crickets, worms, crawfish, small fish, minnows, frogs, shrimp, liver and hot dogs. Channel catfish don't stop there, and will eat dough baits that are made by mixing flour and water, then adding blood, dead fish pieces, garlic, meat or cheese in any combination. Prepared dough baits can be bought; they are normally called "stink bait." You can also buy or make a rotten sauce or cream to rub or dip bait into.
  
  

Considerations

• When fishing for channel catfish, a heavier pole should be used, with heavier test line. A treble hook works well--a triple or three-point hook with heavy lead weight to hold the bait on the bottom and no bobber. A catfish pole can be rigged to have two treble hooks, one higher up on the line than the other, and both baited to increase chances of catching catfish. You could be surprised and have two on the line at the same time, though it can be hard to know a catfish is on the line, especially when night fishing. There are bells that can be put or tied onto the tip of the pole that will let you know when something is playing with your bait. Bait should be well-pressed into the treble hook, as channel catfish are skilled at stealing bait. You want to fish or cast out into the middle of the body of water, as catfish are not usually near the shore. After casting, let the bait sink to the bottom, then tighten the line and wait for a pull or bell to ring. Try to set the hook rite on the bite, so if they tug, you tug back. It is a lot of fun to catch channel catfish, and with the right bait they are sure to find you.