Hello Beginners,
Do you feel like you have no chance of catching fish? Are you still waiting for that first catch? well, luckily we have the Catfish. Yes the catfish, without a doubt the easiest fish to catch in toronto. But they re are ways of catching more catfish.
First let's talk about the species of catfish. There are thousands of species of catfish in the world. But the most common here in toronto are channel cats and bullhead cats.
Bulheads are smaller but you can catch a much greater quantity, Channels are much bigger but consider yourself lucky if you catch more than a couple.
Timing.
Like i said before catfish are very easy to catch and very forgiving. Timing isn't really essential, but there are better times than others.
Mornings
Catfish are quite active in the early morning
Noon
as the sun comes p the activity level drops dramaticly but you can still manage a couple
Evening
as the sun is abot to dissapear is the best time for. You can literaly see them jumping out the water.
Tackle
for catfish you can use any kind of rod you want, but its recommended to use a light action with a small reel for bullhead and a medium action and medium size reel for channel cats.
hooks. Hooks don't matter nearly as much as bait does but a not too small and not too big hooks fine. Just pick one that you think would fit in their mouths. If it fits theyll eat it.
for line i think a 10 lb mono or a thirty lb braid works fine.Just run a simple swivel hook weight rig. But keep in mind if you know where your fishing there are really big channels you might want to step up your gear. Thos suckers are strong. Hey you dont want to loose a fish of a lifetime.
Baits
The bait you use will determine if you catch fish or not.
the most reliable bait for bullhead are worms. you catch them everysingle time on worms. Now if you can get your hands on the compost worms (theyre smaller and smellier than nightcrawlers) then your in for it. Your going to be catching more bullhead than you can carry. But anything that smells and stays on a hook works. Ive even caught them with bbq chicken.
Now for channels theyre a little more picky. They generally prefer cut bait. I generally use cut sucker or any cheap fish i find at my supermarket. They sometimes take worms but rarely
So if you follow these very simple steps your maximizing your chance of catching fish and enjoying yourself. Catfish are great fish to catch not only for beginners but also for experienced fisherman
Cheers and hope you have fun and catch fish.
|
|
Catfish
Started by salmonfisher, Apr 12 2012 10:32 PM
12 replies to this topic
|
|
#2
Alfiegee
-
- Active Members
-
- 1,637 posts
Largemouth Bass
Posted 17 April 2012 - 09:42 AM
Hey salmonfisher, good call on the Cats. I have started targeting Cats more often the last few years after living near the harbor here in Hamilton. I found a nice quiet place in Cootes Paradise where I can get Bullhead and Channels all day long and another spot in the harbor itself where I caught 25 Cats in 7 hours one day 2 years ago ( ran out of bait and beer at that point 
). Here in Hamilton my bait of choice is 1 inch cubes of sardine fished on a circle hook about 3 feet below a float. The Cats will take your bait and sometimes swim around with it a few minutes before actually pulling the float down. Worms do work here somewhat, but there are so many gobies and other small fish that quite often your hook is stripped before a Cat can get near it.
The Grand between Caledonia and Dunnville can be very productive too. In the Grand the technique is the same, but we use live minnows or frogs since there is also Bass, Walleye, Pike and Trout (when in season.) One morning last year a friend and I caught over 30 Channels between 2 and 7 lbs.
On another trip last year a friend told us to try Jordan Harbor for Bass and Pike. We didn't get any. What we did get was loads of Catfish, my buddy got one that we estimate was 12 to 15 lbs, it towed our little row boat all over before I was able to net it.
I have to agree with you that Cats are great fun to catch and give you a good fight.
You may find this amusing. In Cootes a few years ago a Channel pulled my float under and as I set my hook, the line snapped at the float. As I retied I watched my float swimming around, it traveled 100 ft up the shore from where I was. As I started fishing again I noticed the float was coming back my way. After a few minutes it was in casting distance. It bit and I landed a 3 lb Channel and recovered my float and hook.
Alfie.
). Here in Hamilton my bait of choice is 1 inch cubes of sardine fished on a circle hook about 3 feet below a float. The Cats will take your bait and sometimes swim around with it a few minutes before actually pulling the float down. Worms do work here somewhat, but there are so many gobies and other small fish that quite often your hook is stripped before a Cat can get near it.The Grand between Caledonia and Dunnville can be very productive too. In the Grand the technique is the same, but we use live minnows or frogs since there is also Bass, Walleye, Pike and Trout (when in season.) One morning last year a friend and I caught over 30 Channels between 2 and 7 lbs.
On another trip last year a friend told us to try Jordan Harbor for Bass and Pike. We didn't get any. What we did get was loads of Catfish, my buddy got one that we estimate was 12 to 15 lbs, it towed our little row boat all over before I was able to net it.
I have to agree with you that Cats are great fun to catch and give you a good fight.
You may find this amusing. In Cootes a few years ago a Channel pulled my float under and as I set my hook, the line snapped at the float. As I retied I watched my float swimming around, it traveled 100 ft up the shore from where I was. As I started fishing again I noticed the float was coming back my way. After a few minutes it was in casting distance. It bit and I landed a 3 lb Channel and recovered my float and hook.
Alfie.
#3
Jerry31280
-
- Members
-
- 3 posts
Earthworm
Posted 17 April 2012 - 09:11 PM
Hi guys just wondering if anyone has had any luck using small carp as cut bait? also wondering if it's legal to do that here in ontario. I carp fish all year when ther're biting, but have taken a strong interest in channel cats. Anyway i have access to carp of all sizes and thinkin about filet a couple and freeze them for cut bait. They stink like a pike too so thats a plus. so when and where would a fellow start to look for channel cat movement this time of year? The water is still 42 in the st. lawrence so im wondering if they're still in deep holes.
#4
Alfiegee
-
- Active Members
-
- 1,637 posts
Largemouth Bass
Posted 20 April 2012 - 08:19 PM
Hey Jerry. I'm going to leave it to you to find out the legality of using carp for bait, but I'm sure it would work. Cats have an amazing sense of smell, where I fish in Cootes Paradise, you often don't know what is on the end of your line until you pull it out of the water, the water is brown. 3 inches of visibility. I like useing the frozen sardine cause I know they produce, they stink and I know they stink because I have to wash my hands in laundry soap about 5 times when I get home.Hi guys just wondering if anyone has had any luck using small carp as cut bait? also wondering if it's legal to do that here in ontario. I carp fish all year when ther're biting, but have taken a strong interest in channel cats. Anyway i have access to carp of all sizes and thinkin about filet a couple and freeze them for cut bait. They stink like a pike too so thats a plus. so when and where would a fellow start to look for channel cat movement this time of year? The water is still 42 in the st. lawrence so im wondering if they're still in deep holes.
Alfie.
#5
Igor
-
- Members
-
- 29 posts
Shiner Minnow
Posted 21 April 2012 - 03:30 PM
I would love to know more about Channel Cats..No one up here targets them or knows much about them..I would like to know depths,spwning cycles ,seasonal positioning..We catch the odd one in the spring fishing Lakers from 75 to 90 ft...what are they doing at these depths in the spring? do they hang at these depths often? ..Caught this on last yr around this time using a dead smelt on a drop shop sittin at 90ft in Georgian Bay around Parry Sound...any expert advice would maybe actually get me to occaisionally target them... <'(((>< fish on
#6
Guest_Blair_*
Guest_Blair_*
-
- Guests
Posted 22 April 2012 - 12:54 AM
I would love to know more about Channel Cats..No one up here targets them or knows much about them..I would like to know depths,spwning cycles ,seasonal positioning..We catch the odd one in the spring fishing Lakers from 75 to 90 ft...what are they doing at these depths in the spring? do they hang at these depths often? ..Caught this on last yr around this time using a dead smelt on a drop shop sittin at 90ft in Georgian Bay around Parry Sound...any expert advice would maybe actually get me to occaisionally target them... <'(((>< fish on
Channel CatfishCHANNEL CATFISH RANGE IN ONTARIO
modified from: Mandrak and Crossman (1992)
Typical length: 36-53 centimetres (14-21 inches)
Typical weight: 0.9-1.8 kilograms (2-4 pounds)
Ontario record: 13.2 kilograms (38.5 pounds)
Similar fish:
Brown Bullhead
Key Identifying Characteristics:
- Large, elongated fish
- 4 pairs of dark barbels around the mouth
- Back is pale blue, pale olive, or grey. Sides are lighter, often with black spots, and belly is grey to yellow to silver white
- Body lacks scales
- Tail forked, compared to the square tail of bullhead species
Distribution/Habitat:
- Channel catfish range from the prairie provinces of Canada to the Great Lakes and the Ottawa-St. Lawrence basins. It is typical of lakes and large rivers, such as Lakes Huron, Ontario, Erie, St. Clair, Simcoe and its drainage system to Georgian Bay, and the French, Ottawa and upper St. Lawrence Rivers.
- Channel catfish are found in a wide variety of warmwater habitats in both lakes and streams, and are not as closely associated with the bottom as bullheads and madtoms. Channel catfish inhabit cooler and swifter water than most of Ontario's other catfish. They often occur downstream from power dams where they find the fast water they favour.
- Fish for channel cats in deep holes below riffles as well as under drift piles or overhanging banks and other protected areas. Although channel cats are active feeders all day long, they are often active during low light periods (dawn and dusk) and even through the night.
- Still-fishing is the best bet for channel cats, although they will sometimes take spinners and small plugs. Try a live minnow, drifted beneath a small float. Or try slip-sinkers and bottom fishing
Common Baits:
- Crayfish
- Earthworms
- Large dead minnows
- Cheese
- Strips of cut herring or smelt
- Chicken entrails
Atlas of Channel Catfish
Waters in Ontario
http://www.mnr.gov.o...el02_198445.pdf
General Description
The channel catfish is the largest of the catfishes in Canada and has the following characteristics:
- a large, less rounded body than other catfishes with a large, long, wide head, which is flat to slightly rounded on top;
- a short, wide mouth with a broad, flat undersurface and 4 pairs of darkly coloured barbels;
- the back, top of the head and upper sides are steel-blue to grey;
- the lower sides and the underside are dirty white to silver-white;
- the fins are the same colour as the body and the caudal fin is forked (theonly catfish in Canada with a forked tail); and
- breeding males are often brighter blue in colour.
Distribution
The channel catfish is native to the fresh waters of eastern and central North America. In Canada, it occurs in the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, in southern Quebec, the Ottawa River and tributaries, all the Great Lakes except Lake Superior, all of Ontario at the level of Lake Nipissing and the French River to Lake Superior, and in the Nelson River system of extreme western Ontario and Manitoba. Of the Prairie Provinces, it is known to occur only in Manitoba and as far north as Lake Winnipegosis and the Little Waterhen River.
Habitat and Life History
The channel catfish is a warm-water species found usually in cool, clear, deeper water with sand, gravel or rubble bottoms. During the day, they are most often found in the protection of rocks or logs. Although they are mainly sedentary animals, channel catfish undergo local movements in lakes and into tributary streams to feed. Channel catfish spawn in late spring or summer and, depending on the habitat, they may or may not migrate into rivers or moving water at spawning time. Spawning takes place in secluded, semidark nests built by the male in holes, undercut banks, log jams or rocks. After spawning, the males protect the nest and fan and clean the eggs with their fins. The eggs hatch in about 5 - 10 days and the young lie on their sides in the nest for 2 - 5 days, after which time they swim to the surface and begin to feed. Like other catfishes, the male probably broods the young, after which time they disperse.
Food Habits
Channel catfishes feed on or near the bottom, during the day and at night. They feed on a wide variety of plant and animal material, which includes mayflies, caddisflies, chironomids, molluscs, crayfish, crabs, green algae, larger water plants, tree seeds, fishes and, rarely, birds. While feeding at night, the channel catfish uses mainly its barbels to search for food; however, it may use mainly sight during the day in its clearer habitat.
Economic Importance
The channel catfish is an important commercial fish in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, a challenging sport fish and an excellent food fish.
Fishing Facts
There is a hybrid between the channel catfish and the flathead catfish.
Aboriginal artifacts have always included the spines of this and other species of catfishes, which were used as awls for leather-work or needles.
Further Information
For further information, please contact your local DFO office: http://www.dfo-mpo.g...ctique_e.asp?#1
A Guide To Ontario Channel Catfish Fishing
By : Daniel Eggertsen
Submitted 2009-04-02 02:52:45
Fishing for catfish can be extremely rewarding if it is done right. Many fishermen get frustrated quickly when they do not catch any Catfish at first.
The key to being a successful fisherman is being patient and being prepared for a fishing trip before heading out. It is also important to conduct some research about the area that you will be fishing in before you start fishing. Too many novice fisherman head out on a fishing trip without preparing for the task at hand.
The Ontario Channel is a great place to fish for catfish no matter what time of year it may happen to be. The reason for this is that the Ontario Channel is the perfect habitat for the average catfish to thrive in. As a result, the populations of catfish in the Ontario Channel have skyrocketed to extremely high numbers. This is why many of the most experienced catfish fishermen have decided to fish on the Ontario Channel.
The fishing is great on this body of water, but many novice fishermen forget that it gets extremely cold. Preparing properly and bringing a warm jacket will be the keys to success for fishermen in this region.
Using the proper type of bait will aid you tremendously when it comes to fishing for catfish on the Ontario Channel. Tons of novice fishermen believe that the type of bait that the use does not matter. As a result they decide to buy any old cheap bait at a local tackle shop before heading out on a fishing trip.
Experienced fishermen realize that this is a big mistake and avoid buying any old average bait. By taking some time to get the best bait out there you will attract significantly more catfish to your rod.
Many fishermen are unaware of which type of bait to use. The fact of the matter is that the type of bait that use varies from fish to fish. The reason for this is that each fish likes to eat different things. When selecting a type of bait there are several things that you may want to consider.
You will want to find bait that resembles the foods that are naturally eaten by the fish in their environment. For catfish, this is any type of small fish that is high in protein as well as fat.
The average fisherman does not realize that the Catfish is actually an extremely energetic fish. This means that it requires foods that have extremely high energy content. Therefore, most Catfish like to eat foods that are high in protein and fat. This means that you will want to use bait such as smaller fish.
Small fish work well because this is the food that Catfish would eat naturally if they were out in the wild. There are two ways to obtain small fish to use for bait. One way is to buy them at a local tackle shop.
The other way to obtain these small sized fish to use as bait is to catch them live. You may think that this takes too much effort and will take time away from catching larger fish such as the Catfish. The fact of the matter is that this small investment of time will pay off greatly in the long run.
Live bait has been proven to yield significantly more fish than dead bait. The reason for this is that it makes the catfish believe that your bait is just another ordinary fish in the water. The catfish does not realize that it is actually attached to your hook!
Ontario Catfish Fishing
Lake Huron, the Spanish River and the North Channel are well known for big Channel Cats and Brown Bull Heads. Generally they are more active at dusk or at night. Guests, while night fishing for Walleyes, catch them without even fishing for them.
Ontario Catfish are an untapped resource. Residents almost never fish for them. They are availible in great numbers and taste fantastic. Some people say Catfish taste better then Walleye. There is no limit for catfish so it's a great way to bring lots of fish home for the big fish fry.
Catfish are easy to catch and give up a good fight. Just have a hook, slip-sinker and a worm and leave it on the bottom. The bigger Catfish are usually found in deep pools behind dams or at the mouth of rivers in conditions just like the mouth of the Spanish River. Catfish Fishing Regulations:
View Regulations for the Spanish River (zone 10 - Adobe .pdf) <li>View Regulations for North Channel & Georgian Bay (zone 14 - Adobe .pdf) (scroll down past zone 13 information. <li>View Big Map of North Channel
#7
Igor
-
- Members
-
- 29 posts
Shiner Minnow
Posted 23 April 2012 - 02:49 PM
Thanks ...that gives a little more insight to a fish I know little about....may try and target them a couple times this season and see if I can consistnetly get um....after reading that it throws a couple of places in mind I think they could be in some numbers... <')))>< Gl and fish on...
#8
Jerry31280
-
- Members
-
- 3 posts
Earthworm
Posted 24 April 2012 - 09:13 PM
Hey thanks Alfie, But i can't help wonder about all this legal bait stuff. I'm going to say this, the regulations guide for ontario suks when it comes to wanting to be informed. There is a reason i would like to be well informed. It's because i lost my drivers license 27 months ago and am a week from getting it back, i cant imagine how i would feel if i could't fish anymore you know what i mean?
My point, under GENERAL PROHIBITIONS – IT IS ILLEGAL TO:
Use live fish other than those listed as baitfish (page 10) for bait.
Therefore, i believe that if i take a sunfish and use it's fillets as bait im not in violation of the law. Would that be a correct assumption? I just don't want to break any laws, i even have my full detail attached to the rope on my minnow trap! Does anyone know the penalty for not having your details on your minnow trap? Or are we supposed to just see what happens to us when in violation of any of the many laws?
My point, under GENERAL PROHIBITIONS – IT IS ILLEGAL TO:
Use live fish other than those listed as baitfish (page 10) for bait.
Therefore, i believe that if i take a sunfish and use it's fillets as bait im not in violation of the law. Would that be a correct assumption? I just don't want to break any laws, i even have my full detail attached to the rope on my minnow trap! Does anyone know the penalty for not having your details on your minnow trap? Or are we supposed to just see what happens to us when in violation of any of the many laws?
#9
Alfiegee
-
- Active Members
-
- 1,637 posts
Largemouth Bass
Posted 19 May 2012 - 02:57 AM
Know exactly what you mean Jerry. I am also trying to get my license back after the government stole mine after a bankruptcy. You don't need to catch your own bait for Channels though. Store bought Sardines and Shrimp work as well as anything. And river minnows are the tops.Hey thanks Alfie, But i can't help wonder about all this legal bait stuff. I'm going to say this, the regulations guide for ontario suks when it comes to wanting to be informed. There is a reason i would like to be well informed. It's because i lost my drivers license 27 months ago and am a week from getting it back, i cant imagine how i would feel if i could't fish anymore you know what i mean?
My point, under GENERAL PROHIBITIONS – IT IS ILLEGAL TO:
Use live fish other than those listed as baitfish (page 10) for bait.
Therefore, i believe that if i take a sunfish and use it's fillets as bait im not in violation of the law. Would that be a correct assumption? I just don't want to break any laws, i even have my full detail attached to the rope on my minnow trap! Does anyone know the penalty for not having your details on your minnow trap? Or are we supposed to just see what happens to us when in violation of any of the many laws?
Alfie.
#10
RedCat
-
- Members
-
- 135 posts
Sunfish
Posted 24 May 2012 - 12:24 PM
I use shrimp or sucker in the spring and then once the goldeye run starts I start to use them fresh. You guys may know goldeye as shad, if you can catch shad small enough you may want to try them hole or live but they don't live long in my experience
#11
FishingNoob
-
- Active Members
-
- 3,358 posts
Rainbow Trout
Posted 24 May 2012 - 04:27 PM
I use shrimp or sucker in the spring and then once the goldeye run starts I start to use them fresh. You guys may know goldeye as shad, if you can catch shad small enough you may want to try them hole or live but they don't live long in my experience
Thanks.
#12
BillChair
-
- Members
-
- 2 posts
Earthworm
Posted 26 May 2012 - 01:16 PM
It is illegal to use carp for bait...whether it be live or dead, whole or halved....and as for using sunfish filets....again illegal....no use of any game fish live or dead......also no use of live alewife....another name for the gizzard shad, or shad as you you will....kill it and cut it and you are good to go...not sure as to why, freshly dead is just as dangerous as fully alive if it has a virus.....not sure why anyone would suggest that oldeye fish are shad....they are not....2 very similar fish, but at the same time very different....shad are herbivores and have a black spot near the gill, mooneye are omnivores and have no distinct spot....the only reason I know all this is because of 2 reasons....first, I have done extensive online research on this subject...yes it is actually there for the reading, just need to search very hard and very specifically, as it was hard to find.....and second, my friend sent en e-mail to the MNR a few months ago asking clarification on whether he can use sardines, smelt and anchovies as bait for Northern Pike.....answer was only commercially harvested and purchased through a grocery or fishery....if you are only going to use it as bait for catfish, I honestly would suggest you just catch your own baitfish and cut it, or buy shrimp, it actually does work well, although I have only caught bullheads with it, and only worms for channels here.....but I have yet to use cut alewife as they are not readily caught in my creek, need to go for short drive to get them
Houston
Houston
#13
RUSTY420
-
- Active Members
-
- 670 posts
Perch
Posted 30 June 2012 - 11:13 AM
I ve been fishing channel cat on the trent severn water way for years. Always found they are biting the best between 930 pm and 2 am. Best bait i have found is the big minnowa from bait shops. Biggest they got 6 to 8 inchs. let them sit in sun all day and get ripe. Cut 2" off bottom of fish . throw out off dock with sinkers and just wait. Wont take long to hook into a monster channel cat. Also caught some absolutly massive Gar pike like this as well.
|
|
