| Channel cats are the most studied species of catfish, | | | | temperatures rise above 50 degrees channel catfish, |
| but compared to other game fish studies the amount | | | | blue catfish and flathead catfish will begin to move out |
| of data available is minimal. Most of the data that is | | | | of there deep holes looking for the years winter fish kill. |
| available about channel catfish's seasonal movement is | | | | This is an ideal time to use gizzard shad and skip jack |
| based on just a few rivers, lakes and reservoirs that | | | | herring as your catfish bait. All catfish species will be |
| have been watched closely. | | | | aggressively eating the deed fish kill, even the flat head |
| One factor that remains constant when you are talking | | | | catfish who normally feeds primarily on live bait fish, |
| about seasonal movements of catfish is the fact that | | | | such as bluegill, perch, and other catfish and forage |
| the length of daylight effects all species of catfish. | | | | fish. |
| Some species such as the channel cat are effected | | | | The pre-spawn period is when the channel catfish will |
| more then other species such as the blue catfish and | | | | start it's migration to smaller rivers, and tributaries to |
| flat head catfish. Actually the length of day effects | | | | look for food and to find good spawning areas. In lakes |
| small organisms and all animals up the food chain to | | | | or reservoirs this migration may be to the mouth of |
| include game fish. The intensity and length of light | | | | any incoming creeks or rivers into the lake or reservoir. |
| effects drives the yearly migration and spawning and | | | | This time of you're a good catfish bait would fresh |
| feeding patterns of channel catfish, blue catfish, and | | | | mussels and large live creek chubs and large shiners. |
| flat head catfish. If you can learn these patterns you | | | | The main difference between the pre-spawn and |
| will enjoy more productive channel catfish bait fishing | | | | early spring period is that the channel catfish's |
| trips on a regular basis. | | | | metabolism is increasing and they are becoming more |
| The channel catfish's movements can be analyzed by | | | | active so they are aggressively looking for catfish bait. |
| using a very good the catfish calendar that the In - | | | | As the water temperatures rise to 75 degrees catfish |
| Fisherman developed. This calendar can be obtained | | | | such as the channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead |
| by purchasing their book In - Fisherman Critical | | | | catfish enter the spawning period. Channel catfish will |
| Concepts. Basically the calendar divides North America | | | | spawn for over a month so bait fishing efforts will not |
| into the Southern range, The Mid range, and the | | | | be effected. Channel catfish are extremely active and |
| Northern Range. The calendar has ten periods which | | | | aggressive during the spawning period. A good catfish |
| include catfish pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn, | | | | bait would be cut baits such as gizzard shad, soured |
| pre-summer, summer peak, summer, post-summer, fall | | | | mussels, or creek chubs. |
| turnover, cold water, winter. Each of these periods is | | | | The settling period includes the post spawn and the |
| posted on the calendar through all months of the year | | | | pre-summer periods when water temperatures rise to |
| in all ranges, so you can predict where catfish will be | | | | about 80 degrees and above. The channel catfish has |
| and what kind of catfish bait you can use in your local | | | | the same activity level and feeding patterns during the |
| area. Or if you are planning a trip to catch a mess of | | | | summer as they do during the spawn period and your |
| catfish out of state you can use the calendar to pick | | | | bait fishing methods and catfish bait can remain the |
| the best time of year. | | | | same. As the water levels start to drop the channel |
| The winter period includes the cold water and winter | | | | catfish will start their move to deep water areas down |
| periods. This period is classified as long periods of time | | | | stream or deeper areas on a lake or reservoir. They |
| that the water temperature is below the normal range | | | | will still feed aggressively during the night hours in |
| for catfish. Channel cats will continue to feed during | | | | shallows but move deeper during the daylight hours. |
| this period but they won't be as active when | | | | The summer period which includes summer peak, |
| compared to other times of the year. If you plan on | | | | summer and post summer periods occurs when the |
| going bait fishing to catch some channel catfish at this | | | | water temperatures rise to 80 degrees and above. |
| time of your look for deep water holes that is where | | | | The summer period includes much of July, August, and |
| they will be holding for the winter. Temperature ranges | | | | September. Summer is the prime time to fish for |
| in the winter average from 32 degrees to 39 degrees | | | | channel catfish because they are predicable and |
| in Manitoba to 40 degrees to 50 degrees in Florida. | | | | actively feeding. You can continue to catch channel |
| The spring coldwater period arrives right after ice-out | | | | catfish while bait fishing using cut bait for your catfish |
| in the north and when the water temperatures in the | | | | bait selection. Some common bait fish to use for cut |
| south start to rise. Channel catfish will still be located in | | | | bait are gizzard shad, skipjack herring, shiners and |
| deep holes. Unlike walleyes, pike, and sauger, who | | | | creek chubs. |
| move quickly into their spawning period, channel catfish, | | | | As the cooling period starts channel catfish and blue |
| blue catfish, and flat head catfish do not spawn for | | | | catfish will head for deeper holes in rivers and lakes. |
| tow three more months away when water | | | | And will be less active as the whole cycle of life starts |
| temperatures rise to 75 degrees. When water | | | | over again. |