Fishing is one of the most relaxing sports anyone can do, and catching catfish for a fish fry is the ultimate in satisfying the primal urge to hunt for and feed one’s family. Fishing from a riverbank is different in many ways, from fishing from a boat, and fishing for catfish requires some innovative choices.
So, how do you catch catfish from a riverbank? Fishing from a riverbank requires a distinct set of skills and equipment than fishing from a boat. While there is no special technique for catching catfish from a riverbank, there are several things to consider, such as:
- Choosing the right spot on the bank to fish
- Using the correct rod and reel
- Choosing the correct bait
This article will explore all three considerations plus much more information to make a fishing trip for catfish more exciting and successful.
Choosing the Right Spot on the Bank to Fish
Going fishing for catfish is more than just packing a rod and reel and heading to the nearest river. Fishing for catfish also involves choosing the right spot on the bank of the river where catfish are likely to be swimming.
Prime catfish holding areas include:
- A shore clearing near a river’s outside bend
- An area beside a levee
- A gravel bar adjacent to a deep hole
- Under covered areas such as under a bridge or overhanging branches
- Near cement structures such as a pump house
If the angler doesn’t receive a bite within thirty minutes, then they should move on to another. Hungry catfish will be found eventually in the areas described above.
It is vital for anglers to remember when fishing on a riverbank to always make sure they have permission to fish in the spot they choose. Some fishing spots may be located on private land, and they will need to speak to the owner. Always obey no trespassing signs because not doing so can bring a hefty fine or a visit from the wildlife officer.
Using the Correct Rod and Reel
Every fisherman will tell you that choosing the right fishing gear to use to fish with is just as important as where you fish. The best fishing pole is a rod that is at least 7-feet long and made with a composite of six stainless steel/ceramic guides. The length of the pole and the guides help control the power and distance of casting and keeps the line off the water. These rods are found easily at any fishing gear outlet or online and, when cared for will last for many years of fishing pleasure. You can check one out here on Amazon
Many fishermen also state that the best reel and line to use is a 6000-size spinning reel spooled with 150 yards of the fluorescent-orange 20-pound test line. One can also use 200 yards of 20-pound test braid. See it here on Amazon. Other anglers do not agree about the weight or color of the fishing line, but we’ll discuss that more in a minute.
The combination of a great reel with a strong reel with a strong test line will tame even huge catfish for those who cannot or are not fishing in a boat.
Choosing the Correct Bait
Catfish are bottom feeder fish that hunt using their senses of smell and taste. Because they inhabit the muddy water at the bottom of the river where visibility is almost nil, they respond better to bait than to lures.
Truthfully, just about anything that has a big smell or taste will do as bait to catch catfish. This includes things that range from the mundane to the bizarre. The more mundane list includes:
- Shad
- Nightcrawlers
- Chicken livers
- Dip bait
- Dough bait
- Crawfish
All the above bait options are easily used for fishing for catfish from a riverbank. Below find some helpful information about each of these types of catfish bait.
Shad
Catfish love to eat large carrion, and a nice chunk of dead shad is just what they are looking for. Few baits offer the hope of a huge catfish catch than the head of a shad on the end of their hook. Channel catfish, which feed on riverbeds, love to feed on shad.
Shad also makes great bait for riverbank fishing because they make a natural bait that looks as though it belongs in the water and are easily obtainable by fishermen. If, however, the angler cannot obtain shad, then minnows make a great substitute.
Shad should be loaded onto a hook in chunks or strips with the size of the meat being determined by the size of the catfish the angler is fishing for. The most efficient way to cut up a shad is to slice off the head and tail and across the body to create strips. (Source: Game & Fish Magazine)
There are several methods to use to have good success at catching catfish using shad with the most popular being to use a Carolina rig with a large barrel weight to hold the rig to the bottom of the river where catfish feed. Lines are spread along the shore in cast downstream from the head of a hold in rivers.
Nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers lead the pack in the best bait to use to catch catfish. They smell natural and taste wonderful if, let’s say, you’re a catfish. Generally speaking, the bigger and fatter the nightcrawler, the more success one will have with fishing with them. Catfish do not care how nightcrawlers are strung on a hook, so fishing with them is fail-proof, however, using more than one is insurance in case the catfish takes one off the hook.
Using a float (bobber) that suspends the hook and nightcrawler just barely off the bottom is an overlooked method for fishing for catfish. A float also allows the fisherman to move the bait around to various locations and are under cover where catfish love to feed.
For a family trip to fish for catfish, nightcrawlers are ideal as children can quickly learn how to string worms on the hook so that they don’t come off. Another benefit of fishing for catfish from the riverbank with earthworms is that the children can obtain the nightcrawlers by searching the ground during or after a good soaking rain where they can be picked up off the ground.
Chicken livers
Chicken livers will bring catfish swimming from a large area to find a fisherman’s hook and grab the bait. In fact, catfish find chicken livers, with their smelly meaty odor, to be irresistible. Chicken livers typically do not bring many huge catfish to the angler, but channel cats up to ten pounds love them and increase an angler’s chances of catching one enormously.
The problems involved with fishing with chicken livers from a riverbank is that while they will remain on the hook initially, they sometimes will come off during casting. Also, chicken livers toughen after being in the water only a few minutes and thus lose their odor.
The best way to defeat these problems is to use treble hooks with a small piece of bait wrapped into the hook. This wrapping allows the bait to be placed in various places on the hook to hold it on when casting.
Chicken livers work well in rivers for channel cats where the currents are not too overpowering because heavy currents will rip the livers from the hooks before the catfish get the chance to locate and hit on them.
Dip Bait
Dip baits are a foul-smelling alternative for bait when catching catfish from a riverbank. While dip bait can be purchased from manufacturers, it is also made from well-guarded secret recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Wherever an angler purchases it, dip bait makes an attractive tidbit for catfish that they find irresistible.
The consistency of dip bait is crucial with a soft texture so that it breaks up gradually in the river water, but solid enough that it doesn’t wash off the hook quickly. Dip baits work best in areas where there is a current because the moving water carries the smell downstream as it breaks up, leaving a trail of odor leading back to the hook. This means fishermen who want to catch catfish in the river from the bank need to chum their bait in the water upstream from where they are fishing from the bank.
Dips do not stay on the hook, so fishermen buy catfish worms, tubes with holes in them, or rubber worms to hold the bait initially but to release it gradually into the water. Most are outfitted with pre-rigged treble hooks on leaders.
Remember to keep the dip in the shade during summer days as it will get thinner in the heat, and that will keep the bait from easily being placed on the hook.
Dough Bait
Dough bait is a versatile bait that can be made from a myriad of different recipes, including those using cheese, the cereal Wheaties, corn, and any number of things. The trick is to form a dough ball from the smelliest and most stinky ingredients possible to attract catfish.
This bait is especially lovely to use when fishing from a riverbank for catfish if put into the water on a treble hook and placed near the bottom of the river.
The greatest challenge of using dough bait is keeping it on the hook. There are many suggestions as to how to maintain dough bait on a treble hook, but the best suggestion we’ve gotten is to place a small netting, such as a bit of hairnet, around the dough ball before tossing it into the river.
Crawfish
One greatly overlooked bait for catching catfish from a riverbank is the use of crawfish. All major species of catfish feed on crawfish with channel cats absolutely loving them. In fact, crawfish rank among the best baits for fishing in a river.
To use crawfish for bait, place the crawfish on the hook and bounce live crawdads near the bottom in the current. Dead crawfish will catch the most channel catfish, but live ones will also attract other types of catfish.
A live crawfish is hooked through the base of the tail and from the bottom up. Some anglers prefer removing their pincers, but catfish could care less whether their tidbits have them or not. Fishermen using dead crawfish often pinch off the head and string the body on the hook inserting it onto the hook from the tail and impaling the crawfish.
While some bait stores sell live crawfish, anglers may wish to hunt and catch their own in a nearby stream or creek using either their hands or a crawfish trap baited with chicken.
12 Great Catfish Baits
Uncommon and Unusual Bait to Catch Catfish from the Riverbank
When discussing the bait used to catch catfish from a riverbank, one cannot forget to speak of the unusual and sometimes bizarre bait that some fishermen swear by. They include but are not limited to:
- Spam
- Ivory Soap
- Canned dog food
- Spoiled shrimp
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- Green Apple Bubble Gum
The following is a discussion of these unusual fish baits and their effectiveness for catching catfish from a riverbank.
Spam
Channel and flathead catfish absolutely love Spam. The biggest reason is probably because of Spam’s strong odor that does not lessen in the water plus its high-fat content. Many swear that, whatever the reason, Spam as a bait will catch a big catfish.
Ivory Soap
One may think fish would hate the taste and smell of soap, but apparently not so when it comes to Ivory Soap. The reason why catfish love the stuff is not clear, but using soap is known to catch some pretty large catfish.
One reason catfish may love Ivory Soap so much may be due to two factors. One, the soap is soft and thus disseminates its odor into the water well, and two, Ivory Soap, has a strong and distinctive odor that carries through the water and draws the fish to it.
One important consideration is that using soap in the water as bait might be illegal in many areas due to the polluting of the water, so it is best for anglers to check out the rules and regulations for their area.
Canned dog food
Canned dog food can be used to attract catfish in many ways. The best way it is used as bait is to walk along the riverbank upstream and place some in the water in a line leading straight to the angler’s pole and hook. Catfish will follow the odor, and because dog food has such a strong odor, they will get caught by the awaiting fisherman.
Once the catfish has located the origin of the smell of canned dog food on the end of the hook, it becomes an irresistible urge to bite.
Spoiled shrimp
When cocktail shrimp goes bad it hasn’t gone to waste as it makes excellent catfish bait. Channel and flathead catfish alike will enjoy it and will follow the foul smell straight to the angler’s hook. Actually, the more spoiled the shrimp is the more catfish like it as they are carrion feeders.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
From this point on, we will be discussing some rather bizarre options for catfish fish bait. While Kentucky Fried Chicken isn’t all that bizarre, one must admit it is a very unusual treat for catfish to dine upon.
Kentucky Fried Chicken has a strong odor underwater, and catfish cannot help but be drawn to it. It’s high-fat content as well makes Kentucky Fried Chicken a marvelous choice.
Besides, taking a tub of the chicken to the riverbank to fish for catfish is an enjoyable way to incorporate dinner on a Sunday afternoon and make new memories for the family.
Green Apple Bubble Gum
This is a very unusual use for the sugary treat, but it’s strong flavor instantly draws catfish. Channel catfish have an evolved sense of smell and are considered the prime catch of those anglers who intentionally seek them out from a riverbank. There can be no doubt, but that green apple bubble gum emits a strong odor, so channel cats go crazy for it.
Most green apple bubble gum is prepackaged, making it an easy bit to use and transport and is not as smelly or messy as most other baits. The fisherman can either chew a piece for a bit and then place it on the hook or put it straight on the hook. Either way, the fish will come looking for the delicious smell.
Choosing the Proper Line to Fish from the Bank of a River for Catfish
While the subject of what line is appropriate for catching catfish while fishing on a riverbank, the following paragraphs will include a deeper discussion of the subject.
While fishing for channel cats in rivers in the United States, twelve to seventeen-pound test line is appropriate. However, if the angler fishes for catfish that run from fifteen to thirty pounds, it is highly recommended they use a thirty-pound line. If, for some reason, the fish are even larger than heavier lines might be required.
There are basically two types of fishing line used to catch catfish:
- Monofilament Line
- Braided Line
Monofilament is the most popular fishing line and is found about anywhere one might buy fishing gear. It is also very inexpensive, strong, and abrasion-resistant. However, monofilament line will break easier than other types when it becomes snagged on a tree or branch.
Braided line has no stretch, and it sets a hook immediately when an angler pulls back on the fishing rod. It is smaller in diameter than monofilament line and is ideal for drifting and thus is not ideal for fishing for catfish from a riverbank. The greatest downfall of the braided line is because of its bigger diameter it can damage the rod eyelets and make breaking the line when the angler becomes snagged much more difficult. (Source: Midwest Outdoors)
Choosing the Correct Hook
Knowing the distinct types of hooks that are available for fishing in a river from the bank will help anglers enormously to understand what type of fish and how big of one they can catch.
There are three hook types used in angling for catfish from a riverbank:
- Bait Hooks
- Treble Hooks
- Circle Hooks
Bait Hooks. Bait hooks come in assorted sizes, styles, and lengths and are ideal for attaching a squirming nightcrawler. Bait hooks are also the most commonly used hook and what most people think of when they think of fishing hooks.
Treble Hooks. Treble hooks are called that because they consist of three hooks, each with its own point. The three hooks provide excellent bite coverage for using dough bait or other kinds of bait that are difficult to keep on a regular hook.
The treble hook is extremely effective in keeping the fish on the line once the fish has taken the bait. It is vital that anglers check to make certain that treble hooks are allowed in the body of water they wish to fish in.
Circle Hooks. A circle hook is a circular shaped hook with a sharp tip on the end. The shape of this hook makes certain that it will only catch onto a fish’s mouth and will hook without much pulling on the part of the angler. A circle hook is less fatal to catfish because it is nearly impossible to swallow, thus greatly decreasing the deaths of the fish.
Deciding the Time of Day to Go Fishing for Catfish
Deciding whether to fish for catfish from a riverbank in the daytime or night is an important consideration. It all matters what type of fishing and bait the angler wishes to utilize. If they are fishing with the family, it would be better to fish during the day. If, however, the fisherman wishes to fish solo or with one or two other anglers, then night fishing would do the trick.
Whether fishing in the daytime or at night, catfish are caught all the way around the clock.
Fishing for Catfish in the Daytime
Fishing in the daytime for catfish can be an extremely successful venture and make for hours of pleasure for either a solo angler or a fishing family. The trick is to remember that during the daylight hours, catfish prefer deep water along a river channel, and because of this, fishing for catfish in the daylight hours means knowing the river well.
Fishing during the day is also much easier when fishing from a riverbank for catfish as you can see what you are doing and where the deeper water might be located.
Packing up the kids and going out to enjoy the summer weather with the family is a wonderful way to spend time together and make memories that will last lifelong.
Fishing at Night for Catfish
Catfish are nocturnal animals who prefer to feed on dead fish and any other type of food they might find on the bottom of the river during their night of foraging. For this reason, fishing for catfish is normally done at night, but that certainly does not rule out catching them in the daytime, and fishing from the riverbank is ideal for nighttime fishing.
Catfish usually like to go into shallower water during the nighttime hours when it is dark, and this is where anglers will tell you to put in a line. Finding a spot where the water is shallow, near a downed tree or covered area, and in water that is not swift-moving is ideal for catching the big ones.
The best times of year to fish at night for catfish are in the spring and summer when food is plentiful in the river. That is because catfish are ravenous eaters and will devour anything they find in the water during these times of years, including the bait of an awaiting angler.
Understanding the Danger Involved in Fishing for Catfish
Many novice fishermen believe that catfish sting with their whiskers; however, this is not true. Catfish whiskers are soft and pliable thus. They are harmless. The true area of concern with handling a catfish is the barbs on the dorsal and pectoral fins.
The dorsal and pectoral fins, located behind the head on each side and on top of the fish behind the head, are tipped with very sharp spines that can cause pain when they puncture the skin of a fisherman’s hand. The spines contain a venom that causes swelling and increases the blood flow to the area of the puncture.
It isn’t the large catfish that are pulled from the river one needs to be the most careful with, although they too deserve to be handled with caution, but the small catfish. This is because their spines are small and sharp as needles.
Although the puncture and venom are not harmful to humans, they are extremely uncomfortable, and can the puncture site may become infected, thus leading to the need for medical attention. Just be careful.