Catfish Equipment and Gear

Off Shore Tackle Planer Boards By Nick DeShano Catch more catfish with these increasingly popular fishing tools. Off Shore Tackle makes the #1 selling planer boards on the market. They offer three different models that cover any application, all proudly made in the USA. These include the mid-sized OR12, the OR38 Mini board and the […]

The control toolbar allows an angler to select popular navigation modes.   Wireless Integration Between Trolling Motors and Sonar Units Story and Photos by Brad Wiegmann Programmable sonar/GPS units allow anglers hands-free control over their trolling motor.        Integration is a key word when talking about marine electronics. You can connect to one or more […]

Boss Kat Octopus Circle Hook BK11Z By Keith “Catfish” Sutton When you need one hook that does it all, consider Boss Kat’s versatile Octopus Circle. Boss Kat combined the best features of their Super Boss Circle Hook and a Boss Kat Octopus Hook to create the Boss Kat Octopus Circle Hook, an outstanding live bait […]

Lowrance’s Eagle Eye was one of the new products released at ICAST.   What’s New in Electronics 2024 Story and photos by Brad Wiegmann One year ago, most anglers couldn’t afford forward-facing sonar (FFS), but with the release of Lowrance’s Eagle Eye, you can expect any one on the fence of buying an FFS unit […]

Driftmaster rod holders will hold your rod securely, within reach, and release the rod the instant you set the hook. All the company’s products are made in the U.S. and have a lifetime warranty against breakage.   Transform Your Fishing Experience With Driftmaster By Keith “Catfish” Sutton Uncompromising rod holders and trolling systems made in […]

Bottom lock can be used to zoom in on the bottom layer when searching for fish or baitfish. Zoom, Zoom to See More Story and photos by Brad Wiegmann Zooming in on fish, baitfish, structure and cover is the easiest way to see what’s under your boat.     The question is to zoom or […]

What’s New for Catfish Anglers in 2024? Story and photos by: Joe Jellison, Fishing Guide, Scenic City Fishing Charters Here’s a sneak peak at the best new catfish gear from ICAST. ICAST is considered to be the world’s largest expo where fishing companies, anglers and social-media influencers can all network under one roof. It’s a [...]

Professional guide Chris Simpson has used stinkbaits effectively for many years on multiple lakes.   Stinkbaits for Channel Catfish Story and photos by Terry Madewell Channel catfish can be caught on a variety of baits, but stinkbaits are highly productive, providing fast-paced action for these pugnacious catfish.      The first time I dipped a […]

CFN How-to Video—Using a Drift Sock with Rodney Crimm The action of a drift sock dragging in the water can help keep your boat straight or moving in the intended direction when drift fishing for catfish. It also helps to slow your boat to an ideal speed as it’s drifting across the water. B’n’M Poles […]

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 […]