A freshly stocked catfish and a young angler—hard to beat
that combination when it comes to making lifelong fishermen.
Catfish Kids: Stocked Ponds, Big Smiles
By Keith “Catfish” Sutton
If you want an easy way to get a kid hooked on fishing, keep an eye out for those stocking trucks.
Last month, catfish stockings ramped back up in Arizona’s Community Fishing Program (CFP) waters, with nearly 47,000 pounds of fish going into ponds and lakes in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Safford. That’s a lot of catfish and a lot of chances for kids to catch one.
The best part about these community fishing waters is how simple they make things. No long drives. No boats. No fancy gear. Just a pond, a rod and reel and a real good shot at catching something.
And most of the time, it doesn’t take long.
Stocked catfish aren’t too picky, especially right after they’re released. Put a baited hook in front of them and odds are one’s going to grab it. That’s exactly what you want when you’ve got a kid standing next to you. Kids don’t care much about patience. They care about bites, bent rods and the fun of reeling something in.
Keep it simple. A basic spinning or spincast outfit, a slip sinker or bobber rig and baits like chicken liver, nightcrawlers or stinkbait will all get the job done. No need to overthink it. This isn’t about being fancy. It’s about having fun.
The best part isn’t just the catching. It’s helping a kid bait a hook. Watching them wrestle with a squirming catfish. Hearing that laugh when the fish splashes at their feet. That’s the kind of stuff they remember.
Programs like the CFP make those moments happen. They bring fishing close to home and make it easier for beginners to have success. And that’s how you grow the next generation of anglers.
So, when you hear catfish are being stocked nearby, don’t overthink it. Grab a couple of rods, some bait and a kid who wants to give it a try.
You might just turn them into a fisherman, or at least give them a day they won’t forget.
(Keith Sutton is editor of CatfishNOW magazine and its sister publication, CrappieNOW.)
