Catfishing with shrimp is a simple way to turn an ordinary grocery-store bait into a legitimate catfish offering. Raw shrimp can be fished whole or cut into smaller pieces, works well on basic bottom rigs, and is especially useful when channel catfish are the target. You do not need live shrimp, an elaborate marinade, or…
A 6000 vs 8000 reel comparison looks simple until two actual reels are placed next to each other. An 8000 sounds like it should automatically be much larger, stronger and better suited to big fish, but fishing reel sizes do not work that neatly. The number is primarily a manufacturer’s size designation. It can give…
Bass fishing from shore does not mean settling for whatever fish happen to swim within casting distance. In many lakes, ponds and rivers, some of the most useful bass habitat is right beside the bank. The challenge is approaching it correctly. Shore anglers often make their first mistake before the lure even hits the water:…
Finding a few worms while digging in the garden is easy. Finding enough when you actually need fishing bait can be a completely different story. If you want to know how to get earthworms out of the ground, the biggest factor is not how hard you dig. It is choosing damp ground where worms are…
Why are tiger nuts banned on some carp waters when they are sold everywhere as fishing bait? The simple answer is that tiger nuts are not universally banned. They are a perfectly legitimate carp bait on many waters, while individual fisheries and angling clubs prohibit them completely or place restrictions on how they can be…
Choosing between a chatterbait vs spinnerbait can be confusing because the two lures occupy much of the same territory. Both are moving reaction baits, both use metal blades to create attraction, both can cover water quickly, and both can catch predatory fish in surprisingly similar conditions. But they do not behave the same underwater. A…
Do fish hooks dissolve when they are left inside a fish? Not exactly. Fish hooks are made to survive water, abrasion and the pressure of fighting fish, so the idea that a hook simply “dissolves” can be misleading. Some fish also get rid of retained hooks before the metal has completely corroded. Others can carry…
A baitcaster can be an excellent reel for catfishing, especially when heavy rigs, strong line and larger fish are involved. Here is how to choose, set up and fish one properly.
Choosing between a flat bottom vs V hull boat is really a choice between two different sets of strengths. A flat-bottom boat is normally at its best where the water is shallow and relatively calm, while a V-hull becomes increasingly valuable as waves, wind and boat wakes become part of the equation. For anglers, that…
Good fishing tips for catfish should help you make a few decisions before the bait ever enters the water: which catfish you are targeting, where that fish is likely to be, what it is likely to eat, and how to present the bait effectively. That matters because channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish do…