Many owners of man-made ponds stock catfish, particularly channel cats, as a part of their pond management strategy. In these ponds, catfish are relatively easy to catch and can be a lot of fun, particularly for youngsters just learning about fishing. A little knowledge of how pond-raised catfish behave, the pond structure and the right gear can help make your next fishing trip a successful one. When fishing from the bank of a man-made pond, use a long fishing rod. A rod 7 feet or longer will provide better casting ability, more tip sensitivity when catfish strike and better hook-setting and fighting control. During the heat of the day, catfish often retreat to deeper water. Try fishing in deep holes and around the base of any dams or water spillways. The mouths of any feeder creeks or other inlets to the pond can also yield catfish. If any structure was added to the pond when it was constructed, catfish will often congregate there. If you know of any sunken logs, trees, rock piles or other structure placed in the pond when being built, target those areas first.

Once you have located a likely area where catfish may be in the pond, try still fishing that area. Use a rig with an egg sinker on your main fishing line. This weight will keep your bait on the bottom where catfish are more likely to feed. It will not take long for catfish to find your bait in a small man-made pond. If still fishing on the bottom isn't working, catfish may be feeding higher in the water column. To accommodate this situation, suspend your baited hook not too far under a bobber and drift your bait along with the wind. This will help you cover a larger area and acts as a clear signal if you catch a fish. Many owners of man-made ponds stock catfish. To get them to fishing size, they often feed them with prepared, pelleted fish food. Try to get some of that food to chum the water in the area you wish to fish. This will stimulate feeding and make your bait that much more attractive. Some man-made ponds that are stocked with catfish may have automatic fish feeding stations positioned around the pond.

These fish feeders will often condition catfish to remain in that area, expecting food at regular intervals. Fishing around these feeders may result in more catfish caught. Natural baits are usually best for pond-raised catfish. Earthworms, insect larvae, such as mealworms or Catalpa worms, crawfish, shrimp and cut bait all work well. You can also try chicken livers, or prepared dough baits or stink baits. Live minnows, sunfish and other bait fish can introduce diseases into otherwise healthy man-made ponds and should not be used for bait.House And Lot For Sale Sikatuna Village Qc Gain 2 pounds per weekAlaskan Husky Puppies For Sale In California Gain 1.5 pounds per weekAluminum Catamaran Power Boats For Sale

Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per weekEdit ArticleHow to Catch a Pond Catfish Three Parts:Choosing Bait and SuppliesCatching CatfishHandling Catfish SafelyCommunity Q&A Fishing for catfish in ponds is a fun activity. If you know catfish are native to your area, you should have some success trying to catch a catfish in a pond. You'll have to make sure you have the right bait and supplies. Choose the right location and time to seek out catfish. When handling catfish, take safety precautions. Use gloves to handle catfish and clean them properly before cooking and eating. Select a bait that provides a strong smell. Catfish tend to be lured by smelly bait. When selecting the proper bait for your trap, opt for something that produces a strong odor. Some options include chad, chicken liver, night crawlers, and crawfish.

Consider fish size when selecting a reel. Do you know roughly how big the catfish in your area tend to be? If not, ask other fishermen or look up information on your local Department of Natural Resources website. You can also try observing catfish in a nearby pond for a few days. Depending on the size of the catfish, you'll need a different sized reel. Light duty reels should be sufficient if the catfish in your area tend to be smaller. For larger catfish, go for a heavy duty reel. If catfish in your area come in many different sizes, it may be a good idea to opt for heavy duty reel just to play it safe. Pick an appropriate length rod. You may not need a long rod when fishing for catfish in a pond. While it will not hurt, longer rods are usually better suited for catching catfish in streams. A shorter rod, less than six to eight inches, should work for catching catfish in a pond. When it comes to fishing line, go for 10 pound test line. This allows you to get the bait towards the bottom of a body of water.

Catfish tend to hang out deep under the water. Use a lightweight slip sinker. A sinker is a weight used to sink a fishing line. When catching catfish, always use the lightest weight sinker available. A lightweight sinker will allow the catfish to taste the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. If your sinker is too heavy, a catfish will likely become suspicious and drop the bait. Make sure hooks have bait holders. As you generally don't use things like worms to catch catfish, make sure your hooks have bait holders. The types of bait you'll be using, like crawfish or chicken liver, cannot be easily hooked onto a fishing rod. Pick the right location. Location is vital to successfully catching catfish. Catfish tend to hangout in the deepest parts of the pond. Look for a hole or a dip in the ground underwater. You are also likely to find catfish near any obstruction in the pond, like a dam or a pile or rocks. If a creek feeds water into your pond, you're likely to find catfish here.

There may be more food and vegetation near a creek, so catfish will congregate here in search of food. Catfish tend to hide in lakes and ponds. If there is algae or other vegetation in your pond, catfish are likely to be found here. Strive to be as quiet as possible. In a pond, it's easier for catfish to hear outside movement. When positioning yourself in the right location, try to be as quiet as possible. Walk slowly and keep your tackle box held close so it does not rattle around. Move delicately as you prepare your rod and bait. If a catfish hears too much motion, it will swim away. Use the tight line technique. The tight line technique involves attaching a tiny weight to your line. This will allow your line to fall down deeper into the pond. Catfish are more likely to be found at the bottom of the pond. This will also make it easier for you to feel a pull when a catfish grabs onto your line. Try fishing at night. Catfish are more likely to be found at night. If it's feasible for you, try to fish during the nighttime.

Make sure to bring a flashlight or lantern so you can find your way around the pond.Catfish can be very strong. When one does take your bait, it may provide a lot of resistance. Be prepared to pull on your rod hard, and use a lot of force when spinning your reel. Wear gloves when handling catfish. When you pull a catfish out of the water, make sure you wear gloves. When frightened, catfish will squirm. You can easily get cut by a catfish's fin without proper protection. Hold a catfish properly when removing it from your line. How you hold a catfish is important for safety. When removing the catfish from your line, wrap your hand around the fish behind the dorsal fin. The dorsal fin is the fin on top of a fish. Keep your fingers behind the gills and fins on the fish's side. You can use pliers to more easily remove the hook from a catfish.It's important you kill a catfish humanely shortly after capture. There are two main ways to kill a fish: stunning or spiking. To stun a fish, lay a forceful blow to its head using a blunt instrument.

Aim above the eyes as this is where the brain is located. Occasionally, fish will not die on the first blow and may only be unconscious. It's a good idea to do a second blow, just to be safe. If you have an ice pick or screwdriver handy, you can spike the fish. To do this, place the spike above the fish's eyes. Then, move the spike from side to side as this will destroy a fish's brain.Once the catfish is dead, immediately store it in ice. You should always bring a cooler containing ice with you when fishing for catfish. This will preserve the fish's freshness and flavor.You want to make sure your catfish are clean before cooking and eating them. To do so, you'll need to soak them overnight with salt and vinegar. Add enough water to a pot to cover your catfish. Then, add 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of vinegar. Refrigerate the pot overnight. Rinse the fish under cool water in the morning before cooking it. The most common catfish in North America is the channel catfish.