Autumn Catfish, Everywhere You Look

Fall is a season that speaks to every angler’s instincts. Cooler nights and shorter days stir fish into action, and suddenly the bite feels alive again. The shift from sluggish summer to active autumn isn’t just welcome—it’s a reminder that opportunities are everywhere, often closer to home than we realize.

That’s the heartbeat of Brad Durick’s feature this month, Small-River Channel Cats. For decades, most articles and videos have spotlighted big rivers and reservoirs, the ones with reputations as trophy factories. Brad pushes us to look differently. He revisits the lessons of “Catfish Fever” and the wisdom of anglers like Doug Stange and Toad Smith who showed us years ago that a catfish is a catfish and a river is a river.

Through his conversations with Jeff Miller, a North Dakota angler who fishes the Sheyanne River, Brad illustrates how much small rivers can teach us. Miller’s approach is simple: right-sized gear, attention to current seams and holes, and a willingness to move often. He targets eaters, not giants, and finds plenty of action with dip baits, cut-bait and lightweight setups. His experience is proof that anglers don’t need heavy tackle or legendary waters to succeed. What matters is understanding how catfish relate to current and structure, and that knowledge transfers perfectly to larger systems when the time comes.

That theme of accessibility threads through the rest of this issue. Terry Madewell looks at fishing ponds on foot, a reminder that some of the best fall catfishing can be had without a boat or a fancy setup. Brent Frazee joins veteran Mississippi River guide David Magness, showing us what it means to experience autumn on the nation’s most storied waterway. And Richard Simms highlights Coosa River Adventures in Wetumpka, Alabama, where kayaks and paddleboards make catfishing an up-close and personal pursuit.

Together, these stories form a picture of fall fishing at its finest—diverse, approachable and rewarding. From small prairie rivers to southern ponds, from the mighty Mississippi to kayak-sized runs, catfish are on the move and ready to be caught.

The lesson is clear: don’t overlook what’s nearby. Small waters often deliver fast action, steady meals and a perfect way to introduce new anglers to the sport. They also sharpen the skills you’ll use when chasing bigger fish on bigger rivers. This fall, make time for both. Embrace the local stream or pond as much as the bucket-list destination.

Autumn doesn’t last long, but while it does, it may be the most productive and enjoyable season of the year for catfishing. Grab a jacket, light tackle and a tub of bait. The action is closer than you think.

Good fishing! I’ll see you downstream.

Keith “Catfish” Sutton, Editor CatfishNOW