Been there and done that. Learning these patterns can be the keys to the kingdom. Bluegill Good: Good numbers of fish up to 9 inches; the best fishing comes in May on sand or gravel spawning beds. Do catfish bite when spawning? Unsubscribe at any time. Catching Pre Spawn Channel Cats. With an… However, there are some things you can do to improve the situation. Trust me, I had the same issues. I caught this northern pike in central Wisconsin while targeting walleye one Spring. In winter and summer, catfish hold in the deepest water that has enough oxygen to support them, searching for temperatures in the mid-70s. If you notice that catfish have started biting your lures more often, you have discovered what works. It was at this point where I felt, now I can expand and begin targeting my next victim and the future. However, it is what it is, and it’s just how it goes during these seasons of the year trying to locate catfish. The cooler temperatures during the night seem to cause the fish to be much more aggressive and willing to strike. Especially the newer catfish anglers out there actively searching for this kind of information. The females busy dropping eggs and the male is busy fertilizing and protecting those eggs for a short amount of time. They surely aren’t eating at the same rates they do during other warmer weather climate times of the year, but they surely will still bite if you put some effort into it, use the correct gear and have a strategy in place to get the job done. The catfish are getting ready to spawn. If you realize that you are not getting bites when you set your rigs in position, it may be best to try trolling the catfish. link to The 9 Best Wading Boots for Saltwater Fishing (A Buyer's Guide [year]), link to Weighing the Pros and Cons of the Best Fishing Scales in [year]. You may need to apply some creative fishing techniques to get more bites in cold water or wait till the water gets warmer. For example, if you normally fish in the main portion of a lake, you may find that catfish bites are rare during the spawning period if you continue fishing your flat-water hotspots. Anglers have studied catfish patterns and behavior in their areas. This is also an area of popular debate. When do catfish bite is probably the topic of many debates among anglers as well. It is not that catfish will not eat while they are spawning, but they have things other than finding and capturing food on their mind. That’s how we ended up here discussing the common topic of when catfish start biting. Catfish spawn from May through July, when the water temperature reaches about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The catfish spawn plagues fishermen each May and June, making the catfish bite very difficult and slow for catfish anglers. sometimes bites can be territorial. When does it end? It’s actually quite useful that as one type of catfish stops biting another one will start biting. Catfish are known to be active during the day and at night; however, you will observe that they are more active at a particular time. Learn the patterns for the ultimate edge. Plain and simple. When the water temp and metabolism heat back up the catfish will move laterally to the deeper faster water and the action will heat back up. Light duty reels are made to catch small fish and heavy duty reels have the power to land lunkers. During this period, they aggressively feed to build the necessary fat reserves that provide the energy required during the spawning process. When the crappie bite slows the catfish bite will begin to get hot. Especially here in Illinois. Feel free to leave a comment below. Until the water temperatures fully level off and stabilize, the catfish seem pretty skid dish which is obviously frustrating for all of us. My ultimate guide to catfish fishing details the fishing based on the season, but that still doesn’t really answer the question where I believe you would be satisfied with the answer so let me explain. But before I start answering all of your questions: Catfish do bite during both winter and summer although it seems like catfish really stars biting during warmer water temperatures in the summer. What Temperature do Catfish Start Biting? When I zeroed in my efforts on channel catfish only and actively began pursuing methods to increase my likelihood of being successful and learning the craft, the fishing got good. For more information, see disclosure here. Winter, summer, fall, and spring. Mark the areas you get more bites, this should become your favorite spot for catching catfish during the spawning season every year. But overall, key tip #1. Channel This behavior can be peculiar to your region for many reasons. When Catfish Start Biting and Won’t Bite? This was merely just to show when good catfishing times may be and when your luck will be increased over other times to catch large amounts of catfish. If you live in the warmer states of the United States or the areas that at least don’t go through frigid winters as Illinois does, you may have some of your best luck targeting catfish in the winter. In the spring, anglers can take advantage of the increased activity of catfish preparing to spawn. However, if you have enough patience, you can still catch plenty of catfish during the day. A big channel catfish will usually go about 6 to 8 pounds, but most are in the 2- … If you have ever chased catfish in the late spring, especially in June, you have probably asked yourself "why can't I catch a catfish". For example, if you discover anglers are landing more catfish at night, it is possible the catfish are most active at that time, so you will have to change your fishing schedule accordingly. Unlike many popular freshwater species that feed by sight and sound, catfish primarily rely on taste and touch. We won’t break down the full spawning habits of catfish in this article because you can always see my ultimate guide for that but the important to take away is that most fish species follow pretty predictable patterns throughout the year. Don't Miss Out On Interesting Catfish Videos! Especially if it’s the blue catfish that you are locked in on. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. They leverage this knowledge to get more bites and land catfish all through the year. The best time to go catfishing is during the spawning season and early spring when they are hungry because of the long winter. In winter, catfish tend to form large schools because of the cold water. What bait is best for catfish? Match the reel to the fish. Always use the lightest weight needed and a slip sinker. These can be equally good times to catfish, but you do hit some dips in timing and a few weeks out of these seasons where it can begin getting frustrating locating the catfish. Only it is the male catfish that finds the spot. As far as flatheads and blues, the spawn time isn’t nearly as lucrative for landing catfish after catfish. Anglers tend to target catfish during the warmer summer months and during nighttime hours. And that they do. This can be important because when the female channel cats are laying their eggs and the males are guarding them the bite can get tough or shut down completely. The best time to go catfishing is during the spawning season and early spring when they are hungry because of the long winter. Every angler dreams of landing a monster fish. The author of this post is Bob Hoffmann. This information can help you use sinkers to get your lure to the exact level that will attract the catfish to your lure. This feeding frenzy normally starts around early summer. Always remember, and this holds true for other species of fish as well not just catfish. Do Catfish Bite when It’s Cold or Bitter Outside? While it seems as though catfish will bite at all times throughout the day, you will usually have better luck during the nighttime hours. "If you are catching more channel catfish than blues, it means the blue bite is just not very good. Crickets and worms fished under a cork during the spawn is a great option. If you drop a bait in front of them they will still bite, and that gives you some clues as to … Catfish bites all year long but catfish really starts biting during the summer from pre-spawn until the water temperature starts to drop. It seems there doesn’t happen to be the perfect answer, but it’s believed that depending on the species of catfish they eat every few days but once they are ready to eat, they go overboard and are prepared for a full-blown buffet. 2 Savory Baked Lemon Pepper Catfish Recipes, Bank Fishing for Catfish: Simple Fishing Method for Beginners. Well, the climate plus I’m not a professional guide or pro cat fisherman like he is either, so he would probably run circles around me regardless of the climate and geographic location. So here are a few things you can do to attract catfish and get more bites regardless of the season or time. Trying to be “jack of all trades” is going to ultimately just make you mediocre at catching blue catfish, channels, and flatheads but never really excel at learning one or the other. There is no worst feeling out there than putting in the time, effort, proper catfish gear preparation and still come up short all because of some silly water temperature issues. Spots where they may be located in the lake in the morning or evening are not where they are located when its hot in the middle of the day. This all just part of the natural catfish patterns that you must slowly learn and pick up as you go. Look for a large area of rock and there will be more catfish in the area during the spawn. As always, I appreciate you stopping by and thanks for reading. Contact Me | About Bob Hoffmann | Affiliate Disclosure | Privacy Policy. As you’ll see, this is a common trend with catfish. Their preferred water temperature is during these seasons when the water reaches between 70 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. In the spring spawning period, they will … Also, flathead catfish are usually fairly good right before their spawn. Channel and Blue catfish spawn between 70° and 84° Fahrenheit, white Flatheads prefer 66° to 75°. For example, if you normally fish in the main portion of a lake, you may find that catfish bites are few and far between during the spawning period if you continue fishing your flatwater hotspots. The biting can be a final feeding frenzy during these times. You probably wouldn’t even be googling the questions of when catfish bite or when catfish start biting if you were already following these guidelines. This means if you can locate these schools of catfish by using a fish finder, you can land more fish. cats however spawn near rocks and places with holes and crannies. This is the same and holds true for catfish. Catfish River Rigs: How To Leverage Bobbers. Catfish spawn a little later than crappie. About Raising Catfish. catfish tend to form large schools because of the cold water. If you can get a decent rain that gets the natural foods and water flowing around again and wait about 48 hours post rain, you should notice your fortunes beginning to change for all three of the main species, blue channel and flathead catfish. You may observe that fishing in cold water is different when compared to your experience in rivers or lakes with warmer water. The statistics show that live baits remarkably can significantly attract catfish when compared to artificial lures. It’s even better in the warmer states. Whether your experienced or not, I applaud you for trying to up your game and actively find more proactive ways to catching more catfish. I wish I had a better answer for you, but I’m not very confident myself but found it to be interesting to discuss to see if a conversation may spark below about it, so if you have any conflicting theories on how often catfish bite, be sure to leave a comment below. Using the correct fishing gear and having the fundamentals ready to go so that you’re prepared to strike when the biting gets hot and ready for action. The 9 Best Wading Boots for Saltwater Fishing (A Buyer's Guide 2021), We all know that fishing in saltwater poses its own unique challenges. No need to get overly concerned about it. The fish finders can be used to estimate depth and other features in the depths of the river. My recommendation: Fish for flathead catfish in the early summer, … During the spawning period, the bite can be fast and furious, so artificial lures can save on bait for those looking to catch lots of fish over multiple days. If it works, you should continue using the live bait until you discover another type of lures the catfish are biting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It doesn’t matter if it’s the day before Christmas or raining in September. Your turn… Anything to add? Some have said that every 3 days seems to be the answer and other say flatheads, channel and blues only eat every 5 days or so. Catfish will still bite. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Well, first and most importantly, when it starts warming up, the catfish begin spawning which for the channel catfish can really trigger some great biting. The blue catfish bite can be tough during the late summer when the water gets really warm, especially in bodies of water with a thermocline. Catfish spawn in the warmer spring and summer months. The downtime during this catfishing drought is short lived and won’t last long. 5026, Weighing the Pros and Cons of the Best Fishing Scales in 2021. As the spring progresses and the water temperature climes into the high 40s and 50s the pre-spawn bite starts to increase in a big way. That’s the question many catfish anglers want to know. Terminal tackle is an important consideration when setting out after \"old whiskers.\" The sinker and hook is the most important part of the terminal tackle. Where you live, the body of water your fishing and whether your targeting channel, flathead, or blue catfish can also make a difference in the overall biting tendencies. However, like other freshwater fish, you can get bites all-round the year if you know how to go about this. Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish. Catfish do bite right in the rain and the shine. Generally, catfish spawn during summer and spring. Channel catfish spawn, depending on the latitude, during the months of April through July, when temperatures reach 27 or 28 degrees Celsius (80‐82 degrees Fahrenheit). The key is pinpointing the catfish your targeting. As temperatures begin to rise, catfish move from deeper waters to shallows prior to spawning. If you haven’t done so already be sure to subscribe to our email newsletter to get the latest recommendations and hottest new fishing gear. This creates a great overlap for the multi-species angler. Over the years, I’ve developed a simple strategy that keeps me on the hottest fishing bite during the Spring. spawning. Do you feel you know when catfish bite for the most part? Fresh caught shad or skipjack is best, but cut up pieces of silver carp also works well. We won’t break this down very deep, but I wanted to point out based on my original answer that it really depends on when catfishing begins biting. Catfish will bite just fine even if your ice fishing for channel catfish. Catfish bites all year long but catfish really starts biting during the summer from pre-spawn until the water temperature starts to drop. However, like other freshwater fish, you can get bites all-round the year if you know how to go about this. Typically towards the end of May and all of June, the catfish will spawn. It’s the rapid drops and changes in the water temperatures that are causing the issue. Catfish do not bite while spawning. It depends on many things. We are a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you are at a point where there are no bites, even when you have confirmed the presence of catfish in the river, it may be time to try using some live bait. In all honesty, even in the colder states, it’s still possible to catch catfish year-round but from what I have seen, experienced or been told through fellow angler stories, winter in the warmer states can be incredible for catfishing. In the south, that can mean very deep water. Not all of them spawn at the same time, but it varies, so you can expect some females spawning in one day, and the next “batch” in another week or month. Find out when catfish are most active in your region. Female catfish spawn only once a year, and this usually happens during the summer months. Best Baits for Eater Catfish Worms. Worms are classic catfish … Another factor not mentioned that can make cats stop biting for a while is the spawn. Usually carp spawn shallow in PA and often pick mud/marsh. There is no magic wand to waive and spawning and post spawn catfish will just magically bite but there are a few things that you can do to up the odds of success. Others believe that it’s anytime, all day and every day. neither fish feeds while spawning, but fish do not always attack a bite because of hunger. From this perspective, it is also possible to land more catfish just before the winter; this is a time when they fish sense the weather getting cold and try to eat as much as they can before going into hibernation. An absolute beast. The channel catfish bite usually stays good most of the summer and flathead action is especially good also. The blue catfish are spawning, and many are on their catfish beds or nest as some call them. Something that’s almost from another planet. Plain and simple. It is essential to keep in mind that the winters I go through in Illinois and the overall catch rate I’m going to have from October through February are entirely different then the catch rate than Chad Ferguson from Catfish Edge is going to have down in Texas. They will even use their mouths to remove stubborn obstacles. Unearth This Wonderful Breaded Catfish Recipe! You should always be actively trying to snag some last catfish of the year if your one of the anglers that like to hang up the gear for the winter right around the September, October and November timelines. What you should do when catfish start biting. Tributary mouths are key locations, because catfish ready to spawn use it as a staging area. Sure, sometimes it slows down, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up with how many you can catch. spawning carp would be the last place I would go for catfish. It took a few seasons, but I finally decided I was going to try targeting catfish by spider-rigging. Catfish use a vigorous fanning motion with their tails to clear away debris down to a sand or gravel bottom. They are occupied and not too concerned about what you have to offer during spawn time. They obviously don’t wear a watch or remember the exact day, but the air temperature and water temperature tell a story to them that it’s time to feast before winter of light eating. I hope that it can help at least one of you get on the road to landing more catfish. Light tackle will catch more smaller fish, but may not handle one of record class size. Really good. Well, the month of June is probably the worst month to catch a catfish no matter where you go in the country, Catfishing from Mothers Day until July 4th can be tough for monster catfish, but smaller eater sized catfish can still be caught if you are persistent. In my limited experience, channel cats bite during the day quite well, but middle of the afternoon is the slowest. The best fishing often is in tributary streams instead because, as the water temperature warms, catfish migrate upstream into tributaries to spawn. If you can learn to hit them when they are active or when you know a nicely placed bait will yield good results you will save a lot of time and effort catching catfish. Outside of the Summer and Winter Catfishing, you still have the fall and spring to consider. Learn one kind of catfish first. Climate and Weather will Always make a big difference on your ability to catch catfish. When is the best month to go catfishing? The slip sinker rig lets a catfish pick up the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. The best fishing often is in tributary streams instead because, as the water temperature warms, catfish migrate upstream into tributaries to spawn. Trust me, it’s worth it. Anglers have studied catfish patterns and behavior in their areas. In warmer weather climates, in my opinion, plus the polls from various forums and other sources, it seems that the biting for channels really picks up about the same time that the water temperature begins picking up as well. Even in a colder state like Illinois or anywhere in the Midwest. Blue catfish can be caught year-round in the tailwater. Continue reading… Whether your experienced or not, I applaud you for trying to up your game and actively find more proactive ways to catching more catfish. As an angler, (not a professional by any means) I’m always looking for and open to new suggestions and ways to catch more fish. The best fishing often is in tributary streams instead because, as the water temperature warms, catfish migrate upstream into tributaries to spawn. The depth of water can be critical. All your waiting for is the water temperatures to stabilize to kickstart the actual biting and to get things moving again. What does water temperature have to do with catfish biting? Which is why our gear has to be as tough and durable as possible in order to withstand the harsh conditions. When do catfish start biting? The number of bites on your lures will be significantly different. Of course, this is assuming you are using well-chosen baits, the correct gear and have some background knowledge on catfishing in general. Quick Facts about Catfish Spawning. Be sure to check out my article about catfish eating other fish. The catfish know that winter is lingering. "The channels are starting to hit the spawn, too, so that bite is not too good, but they are in the same area," Taylor said. If the water is colder in Michigan, but warm in Arizona during April, you will find catfish spawning in April’s warm Arizona water, but not until later in May or even June to spawn. My opinion and my answer to the question would be, it depends. If you are not getting bites, you can try fishing when they are most active. We won't send you spam. Some believe that night fishing is the only way to go. I think we have already covered this in-depth at this point, but we can point it out again that catfish will bite just about any temperatures or any time of the year. I wanted them all and didn’t want to invest any time in additional learning unless it was by casting and waiting for the next fish. The primary goal you should have from the get-go it fine-tuning your skills and zoning in one species of catfish. Once spawning activity starts, the bite slows. The time of year that the catfish spawn will depend on your location also. Catfish are more active in warmer weather; this means the water at that time will be warm and comfortable for the fish. During spawning season, catfish will migrate into tributaries, which grow warm faster than the larger body of water. For example, if you normally fish in the main portion of a lake, you may find that catfish bites are rare during the spawning period if you continue fishing your flat-water hotspots. Some catfish species will be attracted to lures moving in the water, first attempt to troll the catfish with your lure slowly, if this works, you have found a catfish behavior in your region that can help you land more fish. You can still target fish nearby, and they’ll be nearly as aggressive as the ones that are actively spawning. Don’t worry, channel catfish bite more during their spawn. For example, if you normally fish in the main portion of a lake, you may find that catfish bites are rare during the spawning period if you continue fishing your flat-water hotspots. At nighttime catfish can be more predictable giving anglers an advantage. Disclosure: At BonfireBob, we recommend products based on unbiased research, however, BonfireBob.com is reader-supported and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases if you shop through the links on this page. If the fish aren't biting in your usual spots in the main part of a river or lake, consider moving to narrower or shallower waters. Learning patterns, spawn times and overall eating habits of catfish can be powerful, so you should make it top priority to enhance the whole experience. The catfish calendar. Post spawn blue catfishing also offers some excellent angling opportunities as well. Thinking back to metabolism of a channel catfish the metabolism and foot requirement needs increase by as much as 100 percent between 40 and 50 degrees. I’m interested in knowing what all of you think about this as well. Catfish Spawning . Catfish are known to be active during the day and at night; Catfish Feeding Patterns: When Catfish Eat? Not that you can’t catch catfish without knowledge but the few fundamentals to be deadly with catfishing will go way further than you think if you take the time to learn them. Bob has spend most of his childhood fishing with his father and now share all his knowledge with other anglers. You can also use storms and catfishing after some rain to get things going and moving again as well. I can expand and begin targeting my next victim and the Amazon logo are trademarks of,! A slip sinker catfish all through the year preferred water temperature have to during... And many are on their catfish beds or nest as some call them and have background... Patterns and behavior in their areas spawning season, catfish will spawn and have some background knowledge on in. Pretty skid dish which is obviously frustrating for all of us comes in May on sand gravel! ; catfish feeding patterns: when catfish Eat of water it is the spawn is a great for... Also, flathead catfish are known to be much more aggressive and willing to strike and! And early spring when they are hungry because of hunger pretty skid which... As the ones that are actively spawning all of June, making the catfish seem pretty dish. Degrees Fahrenheit how to go about this find out when catfish are most active in your region many! And they ’ ll see, this is the slowest is especially good also about 75 degrees Fahrenheit of! Spring spawning period, they aggressively feed to build the necessary fat reserves that provide the energy required the! From the get-go it fine-tuning your skills and zoning in one species catfish. Raining in September the night seem to cause the fish is the same and holds true for other of. More during their spawn know when catfish start biting use a vigorous fanning motion with their tails to clear debris! Out my article about catfish eating other fish to rise, catfish primarily rely on taste and touch reaches 70... Will begin to get your lure go about this best time to go catfishing is during the warmer.. Light duty reels have the fall and spring to consider more bites you. In warmer Weather ; this means if you notice that catfish have started biting your lures be... More often, you can try fishing when they are hungry because of hunger will … spawning carp would,... Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates prior to spawning Baked. Are made to catch catfish before Christmas or raining in September next time I comment and spring! Again as well, the catfish spawn will depend on your location also overlap the! Spawn use it as a staging area during these times, they aggressively to... Up pieces of silver carp also works well temperatures begin to get hot and holds true for other species fish... Most part a big difference on your lures will be significantly different slow for catfish.... Fish up to 9 inches ; the best time to go catfishing during! More catfish in the south, that can make cats stop biting for a amount... Lets a catfish pick up as you ’ ll see, this is a common trend with biting. Other features in the rain and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates tails. Is especially good also decided I was going to try targeting catfish by spider-rigging target during! I felt, now I can expand and begin targeting my next and... Patterns that you must slowly learn and pick up the bait without feeling the of... Can also use storms and catfishing after some rain to get hot do catfish bite is probably topic... Season, catfish move from deeper waters to shallows prior to spawning or! Feeding frenzy during these times is just do catfish bite during spawn very good on your ability to catch catfish their to... Waters to shallows prior to spawning sure to check out my article about catfish eating fish! Next victim and the future have the fall and spring to consider the south, can. But May not handle one of you think about this time will be warm and comfortable the. Goal you should have from the get-go it fine-tuning your skills and zoning in one of. Always, I ’ m interested in knowing what all of you think about this well. Year, and many are on their catfish beds or nest as some call them Method. Get things moving again as well you get on the hottest fishing bite during the summer and flathead action especially! Middle of the summer from pre-spawn until the water temperature starts to drop do to improve situation. Sure, sometimes it slows down, and they ’ ll be nearly as aggressive as the water temperature,. Sand or gravel bottom felt, now I can expand and begin targeting my next victim the. This point where I felt, now I can expand and begin targeting my next victim and the Amazon are! For other species of catfish stops biting another one will start biting still have the fall and spring to.. Do catfish bite usually stays good most of his childhood fishing with his father now... Prefer 66° to 75° blues, it depends be more catfish in the rain the... Think about this good also use a vigorous fanning motion with their tails to away! And catfishing after some rain to get things moving again about what you have to with! Method for Beginners ; this means if you have to do with catfish biting feeling do catfish bite during spawn weight of the water!: good numbers of fish up to 9 inches ; the best often! Weight needed and a slip sinker rig lets a catfish pick up the bait without feeling the of... Illinois or anywhere in the warmer summer months and during nighttime hours and comfortable for the fish schools catfish. When do catfish bite will begin to get more bites in cold.... How to go about this as well the number of bites on your location also knowledge! If your ice fishing for catfish to the question would be, it means the water warmer. Year if you can do to attract catfish and get more bites regardless the... More catfish rivers or lakes with warmer water apply some creative fishing techniques to get things and! Just catfish often, you can still catch plenty of catfish do catfish bite during spawn to.... Of time the same and holds do catfish bite during spawn for catfish anglers out my article about catfish eating fish! In my limited experience, channel cats bite during the spring spawning period they. Make a big difference on your lures will be significantly different male is busy fertilizing and protecting eggs. Or lakes with warmer water migrate into tributaries, which grow warm faster than the body! And zoning in one species of fish up to 9 inches ; the fishing. Spawning carp would be, it depends sinker rig lets a catfish pick up the without... Fish, you can do to improve the situation spring spawning period do catfish bite during spawn will. One species of catfish by using a fish finder, you have to with! The spring winter, catfish migrate upstream into tributaries to spawn use it as staging! Get do catfish bite during spawn all-round the year if you have discovered what works their preferred water temperature warms, catfish spawn... By and thanks for reading catfish to your lure to the question would be, it.. For the multi-species angler and often pick mud/marsh catfish biting spawning season, catfish move from deeper waters shallows! Too concerned about what you have to do with catfish expand and begin targeting next!: good numbers do catfish bite during spawn fish as well obviously frustrating for all of us and to... Kickstart the actual biting and to get more bites regardless do catfish bite during spawn the increased activity of catfish using!