A cold winter morning can be lonely, but thanks to winter fishing,
the author just added a couple of new friends to his boat.
Why I Love Winter Catfishing
Story and photos by Terry Madewell
Cold weather invigorates catfish and fishermen, and some exceptional fishing opportunities occur during winter. Here’s one angler’s reason for a lifetime of loving it.
Sometimes I’m compelled to go catfishing in mid-winter, feeling an urge so strong I must get on the water. I recall such a wintry day, and when I woke up that morning, I remembered dreaming about fishing and was excited about catfishing despite the weather forecast.
The prediction for that day was unusual, but not rare, for January in my part of South Carolina. The morning began with a steady drizzle, a blustery north wind and temperatures in the upper 30s.
A sane person might have reconsidered, but not a catfish fanatic. With the boat in the water, fresh bait caught the evening before and rigs ready, staying in the warm house wasn’t an option. I layered up, topped it all off with Gore-Tex outerwear and motored out just after dawn.
I hadn’t wanted to go solo; I’d called a couple of buddies the evening before and received negative responses to the fishing invitation. So, I fished alone in my boat, and based on my observation that morning, perhaps I was alone on the entire lake.
The payoff was worth it, nevertheless. I’d only deployed half of my eight rigs before a mid-teener blue catfish loaded on and came aboard the boat. Before I could rebait, a giant fish loaded on another rig, creating a series of exciting adventures and misadventures. I learned that catfish slime from a mid-teener blue, layered on a linoleum pontoon boat floor, mixed with rain, creates a slippery environment.
But that’s literally another story.
That brute of a blue catfish set the tone for the day and sank the scale marker past 60 pounds. And in the following few hours, numerous other blue and channel catfish loaded up and were hauled onto the pontoon. The big one and most of the others were released, a couple of “eaters” went home with me, and that hot, fried catfish dinner was one of my all-time favs.
The rain never relented, the wind never slacked, but it was a trip I’ll always cherish because it demonstrates that winter fishing offers a unique challenge and reward. It wasn’t a chore to be out in that weather at any point, and I enjoyed the entire process.
And it goes back to the roots of why I love winter catfishing.
As a youngster, I was fortunate to have family and friends who were tough souls when it came to fishing. Growing up along the Tennessee River, I was taught and experienced that fishing in cold weather was an essential part of the catfishing process. My wisecracking aunt explained that it was like summer fishing, except it was often cold, wet and windy.
I never heard anyone say fishermen couldn’t catch catfish in cold weather, even back in the 1960s and ’70s. We caught plenty of catfish in the winter and enjoyed the process.
That legacy is why I still cherish fishing during winter’s worst. I learned that fishing in harsh prefrontal conditions was part of the process. Before I understood the fishing-catching dynamics of approaching cold fronts, barometric pressure impacts and the potential prime fishing opportunities afforded, I’d lived through them in my youth.
And as an adult, I remain addicted to winter fishing. It is a prime season for hooking giant catfish, especially blue catfish. Channel catfish are also excellent targets in the cold months, and the double-whammy of catching both is common on many lakes. A few flatheads are hooked in winter but are generally not prime targets in my area.
Some of the most productive catfishing guides I’ve fished with over the years purposely target both blue and channel catfish at this time of the year. Both species often forage on the same chow, and by using different-sized baits, they’ll target both.
Large specimens of both species are unusually on a productive bite, and double-digit channel catfish, as well as much larger blues, are realistic options on any cold-weather trip, depending on the lake or river fished.
Winter catfishing offers opportunities to be productive by employing multiple tactics, such as anchored setups, drift fishing and vertical fishing for specific targets. Following the forage is the key to success, and understanding these patterns helps adapt to changing conditions.
On some days, all three tactics produce, while on other days, we’ll need to work out the pattern to find the best for that day.
For me, successful winter catfishing is exciting, yet peaceful, and both are true at the same time. When you go, you’ll be among the few diehards on the water, and the potential for quality and quantity of catfish caught is high. Plus, the solitude compared to coping with summer recreational boat traffic is refreshing.
While action can be fast-paced, it’s often steady. I’m an early-bird angler by nature, but the fishing can be highly productive mid-day, so it’s never too late to go.
Sometimes these steady-action days are most enjoyable, especially when fishing with a companion. Some of my favorites are fishing with my kids or grandkids and enjoying family-related chit-chat between bites. And the best of those days are the ones where I personally never hook or land a fish, but stay busy with the net all day.
A favorite was on a drizzly, cool New Year’s Day with my 12-year-old granddaughter. Our timing for prefrontal action was ideal, and she didn’t want to leave at the end of the day. She was too busy to mention that it was raining all day.
It’s never too late in life, or on a given day, to start a love affair with winter catfishing. With the proper gear for the weather, catfish-catching opportunities can be outstanding from a boat or the shoreline.
Catfishing is productive year-round in my area, but it’s the winter fishing I find most invigorating. And when I dream about catfishing in January, the dream often becomes reality when I wake.
(Terry Madewell of Ridgeway, S.C., has been an outdoor communicator for nearly 50 years. He holds a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and has a long career as a professional wildlife biologist/natural resources manager. He’s passionate about sharing outdoor adventures with others.)
