Catfish NOW – April 2024

Growing Up Catching and Eating Catfish

By Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher

Growing up in the Missouri Delta, part of our diets were all types of catfish or whatever we caught. We had fried fish almost once a week. Many times, these included the bullhead catfish, bowfins, bluegills, crappie, bass, and once, turtle and gar. Yes, just once!

We caught yellow, brown and black bullheads regularly, and I must say they were good eating. The trunk of my grandmother’s car carried a wash tub we filled with water to keep the fish we caught alive and well. After cleaning them, we would soak them in salt water until they became pretty white. Then they were placed in Rubbermaid containers with water and frozen if not eaten within a day of the catch.

Choose the Right Gear for Rivers & Creeks By Brad Hierstetter

The author and his long-time tournament partner Mike Dodge won the November 2013 Potomac River Monster Cats tournament with a combined two-fish weight of just over 114 pounds. The fish were caught with chunks of fresh cut-bait fished on large circle hooks—basic yet highly effective.   Choose the Right Gear for Rivers & Creeks By […]

So, You Want to Be a Catfish Guide by Brad Durick

Being a catfish guide has many rewards. Seeing big smiles on your clients’ faces is one of the best.   So, You Want to Be a Catfish Guide by Brad Durick It takes a very special kind of person to share the joy of fishing with others day after day.   You have been catfishing […]

Catfishing on the Fly by Anietra Hamper

Dave Bergman holds a bullhead catfish that he caught on a fly rod.   Catfishing on the Fly by Anietra Hamper Enjoy some new rod-bending opportunities in springtime waters.   When the spring fishing is slow for fly angler Dave Bergman, he sets his sights on another opportunity – catfish. As the owner of Hendersonville […]

Catfish Bonanza: Grenada Lake, Mississippi By Michael Giles

B ‘n’ M Pro Staff team Michael Haney (left) and Rodney Crimm display a catfish Haney caught on Grenada Lake while pulling planer boards through submerged timber.   Catfish Bonanza: Grenada Lake, Mississippi By Michael O. Giles Grenada Lake is best known as the country’s top lake for big crappie, but this Magnolia State destination […]

Catch More Fish With Radial Grid Lines by Brad Wiegmann

Garmin’s Perspective View radial grids look like this without a sonar image. (credit: Brad Wiegmann) Catch More Fish With Radial Grid Lines by Brad Wiegmann Use radial grid lines to see how many feet away from the transducer fish, brush or cover are located.    Everyone goes on and on about catching fish using forward […]

Catfish Basics #165—with Capt. David Magness

Capt. David Magness of Hernando, Mississippi hoists a fat Mississippi River blue cat into the boat. He caught it using basic spring fishing techniques. (credit: Keith Sutton) Catfish Basics #165—with Capt. David Magness Springtime. The dogwoods are blooming, birds are singing, turkeys are gobbling, temperatures are going up, and the water is usually rising. This […]

Big Boss Super J Hooks By Keith “Catfish” Sutton

When it’s big cats you’re after, you need a hook you can trust to hold up no matter how tough the fight, a hook like Boss Kat’s Big Boss Super J.   Big Boss Super J Hooks By Keith “Catfish” Sutton Are you using Boss Kat hooks? You should be. Boss Kat’s Big Boss Super […]

Kid Catches Whopper Lone Star Blue Cat

This photo shows the record-breaking catfish caught by nine-year-old Jaxon Yoakum who fittingly wore a T-shirt that read, “Sheeesh.”   Kid Catches Whopper Lone Star Blue Cat Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Young Texas angler lands a blue cat bigger than he is. Those of you who have had the experience of landing a blue […]

Catfish Competitions Benefit the Chesapeake

Whether anglers are looking to stuff their cooler with Maryland fresh seafood or compete for prize money, angling for blue catfish can be rewarding. Competitive angling for invasive species also helps promote a healthier ecosystem in Maryland waters. (Credit: Keith Sutton)   Catfish Competitions Benefit the Chesapeake Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources Maryland catfish […]

Fat Cat Challenge

Arizona’s Fat Cat Challenge encourages catch-and-release of the biggest and oldest individual fish in waters managed by the state Game & Fish Department.   Fat Cat Challenge Source: Arizona Game and Fish Department Ready to catch a little fame and glory? The Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages anglers to participate in the Arizona Fat […]

Why We Catfish: A Guest Editorial by Grant Nisbit

Lucas Rudloff (left) and Capt. Grant Nisbet, owner of Catching Ozarks Guide Service, with the monster blue cat they caught in Lake of the Ozarks this March.   Why We Catfish: A Guest Editorial by Grant Nisbit Monster blue cat a surprise catch on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. Here at CatfishNOW.com, we love hearing […]

CFN How-to Video with Capt. David Magness

CFN How-to Tie a Leader for Dragging with Capt. David Magness Capt. David Magness with Cat’n Aroun’ Guide Service shows how to tie a leader to your main line that’s ideal when dragging for catfish.

Wild western scenes: a narrative of adventures in the western wilderness By John Beauchamp Jones

Wild western scenes: a narrative of adventures in the western wilderness By John Beauchamp Jones   John Beauchamp Jones (1810–1866) was a novelist, literary editor and political journalist whose books were very popular during the mid-19th century. During the Civil War, he served as a senior clerk in the Confederate War Department and is today […]