Using The Right Catfish Bait On The Mississippi River
There are of course many different types of bait you can use to catch Catfish on the Mississippi River. Consider for a minute what a Catfish might normally eat in this habitat. The choices are many; the Mississippi River contains a very diverse habitat of fish and other forage for a Catfish to feed on.
Live fish would be my first choice of bait to use. Any sort of live fish will do, but I do like to follow two principles when selecting live bait. First choose a fish that is available or better yet abundant in the body of water you are fishing. The hardy white sucker that inhabits much of the Northern Mississippi River is a much better bait in Minnesota than it would be in Mississippi for instance. Fishing the Southern Mississippi River waters a large shiner might make a better choice. I like to catch my own bait when I fish the river. Using a minnow seine, cast net or baitfish trap I know the small bait I catch will be matched to the available forage. Do be sure to consult the laws of the state you are fishing. Different states have different laws concerning the use of each of these items.
You can fish live bait in several different manners. Sometimes I like to suspend my bait under a bobber and cast it into the water and let the current move it from spot to spot. This works best in backwater sections of the river where the current is not so fast. If the current is too fast it is not a good idea as Catfish are a bit sluggish and do not slam into moving baits with the same ferocity as many other game fish. As the current gets faster you need to put and keep your bait on the bottom of the river. This of course is accomplished by the use of a lead sinker. You should use a sinker that is large enough to hold your bait in one spot without moving. You need to select a sinker that allows you to put your line through it so the fish does not feel the unnatural weight as it samples you line.
A key concept you need to consider is the hook set. You need to give the fish time to take the bait deeply into its mouth. After it grabs the fish a Catfish will need to reposition it in its mouth so it can swallow it head first.
Finally there is an adjustment I like to make to live fish when I use them for
Catfish bait. I like to cut a small portion of the tail off. This accomplishes two objectives. First it gives the fish an erratic swimming motion that signals to your quarry an injured fish is in the area. Looking for an easy meal Catfish are more prone to strike injured fish. Secondly it causes a small amount of blood to enter the water. Catfish have an excellent sense of smell and can detect changes in the water as small as three parts per million.
Related Tags: catfish fishing tips, catfish bait, catfish fishing techniques, catfish fishing mississippi river
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on catfish fishing tips here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com/
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Learning to Play the Bean Bag Game
If you're looking for a new game to enjoy as summer turns into fall and being outside is more enjoy - Tips on Choosing the Right Vehicle
Probably the initial and most obvious step is to figure out what kind of vehicle you are in need of - Sandrail Dune Buggies. the Most Fun You Can Have With Your Pants on
Have you even been somewhere where you can find sand dunes, and dune buggies? Somewhere where the b - Peter Crouch - New Portsmouth Star
Premiership and sometimes England striker Peter Crouch was photographed relaxing aboard a sailboat j - The Best Training Environments for Tennis Players
Jim Courier once said on Academy Training - "The ideas for improvement came naturally to me while I - Field Hockey Sticks Right Length Shortening
This article describes a procedure by which a composite field hockey stick can be shortened to the r - Sports, Big Carp fishing Baits And Natural Feeding Exploitation!
Carp are very habitual and can be programmed as it were in or out of areas or swims as a direct - Gambling, Simple NFL Systems - #21 & #33: More Early-Season Betting Strategies
Following up on my article from this past May on the topic of handicapping the early portion of - Hobbies, Carp Fishing - Cyprindae Fish Secrets For Bigger Catches!
Many fish form the Cyprinid fishes group. Carp is one of the biggest of these; probably the most - Clay Shooting - Corporate Special Event Services
There are several outdoor activities organized as a part of corporate special event services. One
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Rainbow, Brown And Brook Trout
Maine fishing has Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. Trout are an important part of fishing tradition. - Gymnastics Floor Music
Over the last decade or two, gymnastics as a sport has undergone considerable changes in the way it - Texas Holdem Blinds - Understanding Blinds In Texas Hold'em Poker
Posting blinds is a very important aspect of the betting structure of Texas Hold'em poker. It keeps - Indoor Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters exclusively provide assistance to physically disabled people, who don't necessaril - Texas Holdem Tournament - Learn How To Run A Texas Hold'em Tournament
Texas Hold'em is a popular game, so next time you consider hosting a social function at your house w - The Nfl Channel And The Controversy Surrounding It
If you watch TV, and especially if you are a loyal spectator of the NFL Channel, you might have hear - Texas Holdem - How To Become Better At Texas Hold'em Poker
If you know the rules, if you know the game, if you know the odds, chances are you'll do well at pok - Essential Boxing Equipment For Every Boxer
When you are training to become a boxer there are a few very important pieces of boxing equipment th - Some Advice On How To Stay Motivated To Run
Staying Motivated to Run Do you have a hard time staying motivated to run? There are a lot of thing - NCAA: Three Good Coaches
There are coaches in each and every type of sport out there, and many of them are good at what they
