Rivers change constantly—rising and falling as weather and other
conditions dictate. Knowing how to react to these changes can determine
whether or not an angler experiences success or failure on a given day.
Catfish Basics: How to Find Catfish When Water Levels Change
Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton
One of the biggest mistakes catfish anglers make is assuming fish will stay in the same places regardless of changing water conditions. They won’t. When water levels rise or fall, catfish often move, and understanding why can help you stay on the fish instead of sitting over yesterday’s hotspot.
The first thing to remember is simple: changing water means changing locations.
When water rises, catfish frequently move shallower. Newly flooded shoreline habitat becomes available, and rising water carries food into places that were previously dry. Worms, insects, crayfish and small fish may suddenly be available along the edges.
Channel cats are especially fond of these opportunities. Look for flooded grass, brush, shallow flats and other newly submerged cover. You don’t necessarily need to fish far from shore. In fact, during a good rise, some of the best fishing may be within a few feet of the bank.
Rising water also changes current. That’s important on rivers. Catfish don’t want to fight powerful current unnecessarily, so they often position behind logs, rocks, points and other obstructions. Eddies and current seams can be particularly productive because they put catfish close to food without requiring them to expend much energy.
When water falls, look in different places.
As shallow areas drain, catfish often retreat toward deeper channels, holes, creek mouths and outside bends. They may also gather where large amounts of water funnel through a relatively small opening.
Falling water can actually make fish easier to locate. A broad, shallow area that held scattered catfish during high water may drain down to a small channel or hole. The fish have fewer places to go, and anglers who identify those escape routes can sometimes find excellent concentrations.
I’ve seen this principle play out on Arkansas rivers and streams countless times. A stretch of bank that looks attractive when water is high can become almost useless after the river drops. But the ditch, channel or deeper pocket receiving that falling water may suddenly be loaded with fish.
Stable water presents a different situation. When a river or lake has remained at approximately the same level for several days, catfish often settle into predictable patterns. If you’ve found fish under those conditions, they may continue using the same locations until another major factor changes.
That doesn’t mean you should ignore water-level information when planning a trip. Quite the opposite. Check recent gauge readings if you’re fishing a river, and don’t just look at today’s level. Knowing whether the water is rising, falling or holding steady—and how quickly it’s changing—can be more valuable than knowing the exact depth.
When you arrive, look for clues along the bank, too. Freshly exposed mud, wet vegetation, floating debris and waterlines on trees or rocks can tell you what the river has been doing.
Then ask yourself three questions: Where did the water come from? Where is it going? And what food is it carrying along the way?
Answer those questions and you can often predict where the catfish will be before you ever wet a line.
Changing water isn’t a problem for catfish anglers. It’s information. Learn to read it, and the river will often tell you where to fish.
(Keith Sutton carries the nickname “Catfish” because of his life-long love for chasing whiskerfish. He shares his extensive knowledge of the sport in two books available on his website: “Catching Catfish: The Ultimate Guide to Blues, Flatheads and Channels,” and “Hardcore Catfishing: Beyond the Basics.”)
