Catfish Equipment and Gear

Catfish Gear: Driftmaster No-Drill Rod Holders By Keith “Catfish” Sutton   When you’re chasing big catfish, good rod holders aren’t just convenient accessories. They’re an important part of the fishing system. Whether you’re anchored over a deep river hole, drifting a flathead rig along a bank or suspending live bait over deep structure, you need […]

The author’s Kingfisher guide boat on the water and working. Durick runs eight rods at a time for customers, with everything in it’s place to facilitate efficient fishing.   Rigging a Catfish Boat Story and photos by Brad Durick There is no wrong way to rig your new or new-to-you boat. There are ways to […]

Today’s electronics give catfish anglers an unprecedented look at underwater structure and fish. But as experienced anglers know, the real test comes when that technology helps put a catfish in the boat.   Technology for Finding and Catching Trophy Catfish By Rodney Crimm Finding where trophy catfish hide and feed is the first step in […]

What’s Hot from ICAST 2026 By Capt. Richard Simms The annual show of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, wrapped up July in Orlando, Florida. It is known as the largest fishing tackle show in the world, typically featuring every new fishing product made, so far anyway. While there weren’t [...]

Some kids dream about catching a monster catfish. At the Big Cat Youth Fishing Tournament, those dreams just might come true.   Young Anglers: Ready to Catch a Big Cat? Source: Alabama Wildlife Federation   August is National Catfish Month, and young anglers in Alabama have a chance to prove their fishing skills in the […]

Catfish Gear: B’n’M Poles’ Freedom Series Rods Subtitle: Recognizing the sacrifices of our military veterans   Freedom is preserved by those few who are willing to sacrifice everything to protect it. At B’n’M Poles, every employee is a veteran or the family member of a veteran, and the company’s new line of Freedom Rods was […]

At the Madison Area Take Kids Fishing day, many youths got to fish for the first time, and approximately 45 union volunteers were available to assist. (Photo courtesy of Union Sportsmen’s Alliance)   Take Kids Fishing Day Hooks Wisconsin Families Source: Union Sportsmen’s Alliance On a Saturday that began with rain forecasts, Wisconsin families instead […]

Catfish Gear: Power-Pole MOVE ZR:  Built to Hunt Fish Without Spooking Them   When you’re fishing, boat control isn’t just helpful. It’s everything. Whether you’re working a breakline, holding on a brushpile or staying locked in on a group of fish you just marked, precision and consistency make the difference between a slow day and [...]

Catfish Gear: Tattle Flag Tips By Nick DeShano, COO, Off Shore Tackle Using the Off Shore Tackle OR12 Side-Planer with a spring-loaded Tattle Flag system is an excellent way to spread lines and detect light strikes when catfishing. This setup is highly effective for trolling or drifting along flats, river edges and ledges, allowing you […]

Gafftopsail catfish often show up in state agency surveys of shallow-water species. The fish are opportunistic and feed on live or dead items from the top of the water column to the bottom. (Credit La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries)     Gafftopsail Catfish: Saltwater Bad Boys Are Fun in a Pinch by Alan Clemons […]

One Angler’s Trash Fish Just Might Be Another’s Treasure by Debbie Hanson Once a member of the “trash can slam,” the feisty sail cat is enjoying a new level of respect.   If gafftopsail catfish could talk, they’d likely borrow late comedian Rodney Dangerfield’s catchphrase, “I don’t get no respect!” Historically, saltwater cats have rarely […]

Anietra Hamper and paleontologist Jean-Pierre Cavigelli and Tyler Greenfield, Tate Geological Museum Collections Assistant, searching for fossils on Casper Mountain. (Submitted Photo)   Fish Finds: Uncovering the Origins of the Catfish Family Tree by Anietra Hamper How evolutionary biologists are using nearly 50-million-year-old fossils for insight into the origins and evolution of catfish.   Staring […]

I mostly fish the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers. Anglers should not overlook shallow water areas on sunny days in March and April. The sun will warm up the shallow water quicker and even a few degrees difference in water temp can make a huge difference. I have observed that the bait will generally move to […]

Editor’s Note: As an avid tournament angler Mackenzie DelRosso has learned the importance of understanding catfish behavior at different times of the year. He applies that knowledge to the tournaments he fishes. He also understands that there are no better anglers to learn from than the ones he competes against. He offered this tip as […]

by Jim Behnken, Western Program Director, C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation  At CAST for kids, EVERYONE wins! The C.A.S.T. for Kids foundation works with community volunteers to provide days of fishing for children with special needs. C.A.S.T. Is an acronym for “Catch A Special Thrill.” The catfish of all varieties provide “thrills” at a large majority […]

Spreading angling education and promoting the growth of fishing and boating.   An important milestone in aquatic education took place July 28, 2018, in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park. Fishing’s Future, a national 501(c)(3) organization, celebrated and recognize its 1,000,000th participant attending an angling education Family Fish Camp. Fishing’s Future was founded […]

by Ron Presley The catfish birthday bash conspiracy. It all started for Nick as a casual conversation between him and his mom, Megan. They decided it would be fun to go bowling and go out to eat dinner on his birthday. When the date rolled around Megan woke Nick at 8:00 am with the pretense […]

by Ron Presley The key words are fun, simple, and educate.   It is a known characteristic of the sport of catfishing that family is often included on the shoreline and in the boat. Social media posts, tournament weigh-ins, and dockside conversations confirm the observations because they often include kids. Importantly, for the sport, it’s […]