Can you catfish in January?

Over the course of the year, just for catching catfish in the winter, I accumulate left-over bait such as sunfish and creek chubs in a hopefully unnoticed corner of our freezer. Catching catfish in cold weather can be slow but very rewarding to those willing to brave the cold.

Can you catch blue catfish in the winter?

Of all the catfish species, blue cats handle the cold the best and are the easiest to catch during the winter. I would argue the best time of year to catch blue cats is during the winter months. To best fish for winter blue catfish, use large cut shad or herring with an 8/0 or 10/0 circle hook. Use a 3 oz.

Where are blue catfish in the winter?

Deep water holes of any structure type are always a good spot in the winter because catfish seem to stack into the deep water wintering holes, making them easier to locate. Mouths of tributaries: Tributary mouths are pretty much a year-round hot spot.

How cold is too cold for catfish?

How Cold is Too Cold for Catfish Fishing? When water temperatures dip below 50 degrees, catfish become lethargic and migrate to deeper waters and drop-off ledges for cover and protection. While they’ll continue to feed, fishing success will drop off.

Do catfish go dormant in winter?

No, catfish do not hibernate in the winter. They are not grizzly bears. The only action or behavior a catfish will display that can lead to this impression is the hot aggressive biting just before the colder months and just before daylight if you’re a night catfish angler.

How deep are blue catfish in winter?

Indeed, some of the biggest blue cats in the world are caught each winter in just such places at just this time. The 40- to 50-foot depths of the Cumberland, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Ohio rivers are some traditional blue-cat hotspots.

What is the best bait for catfish in the winter?

Skipjack heads, white perch heads and large gizzard shad heads are excellent choices for big bait feeding frenzy that happens in many catfish waterways. Once it get colder, into late December and January, the catfish bite can slow down and the catch rates can really go down.

Are winter catfish docile?

They are pretty docile during the winter but can really emerge and feed aggressively on warmer days. What is this? If you want to learn how to maximize your winter catfishing success, you need to read this how-to guide.

Are blue catfish active in the winter?

On the other end of the spectrum, blue catfish are very active during the winter. In fact, some of the biggest blue cats are caught during January and February. Blue catfish, due to their size and metabolism, have a distinct predatory advantage over most baitfish in the winter. Even on really cold days, blue cats will hunt.

Is winter a good time to catch a catfish?

Winter offers excellent fishing for blue and channel catfish but the flathead bite can be difficult. Many flathead cats are often caught in the Winter but very few savvy catfish anglers will target them during this time.

What is the best time to fish for catfish in Texas?

Winter is the absolute best time here in Texas for catching big monster blue catfish consistently and is also easy to produce excellent numbers of blue catfish and channel catfish that are “box” fish. Winter offers excellent fishing for blue and channel catfish but the flathead bite can be difficult.

Where do Blue Cats go in the winter?

In general, blue cats remain fairly active feeding all winter long. In rivers, they’ll also be the most likely to leave wintering holes and venture into shallow flats at the first sign of an increase in air temps. Of all the catfish species, blue cats handle the cold the best and are the easiest to catch during the winter.