Catfish NOW – April 2022

CatfishNow cover for April 2022

The Impact of Modern Equipment

Technology in sports, especially fishing, has garnered a lot of attention over time. Recently, live sonar has significantly impacted the fishing world, especially in the techniques and skills anglers use with it. This high-tech equipment has caused some anglers to question its impact on the fishery. Is the technology destroying our fish populations or is a high level of harvest the issue?

When I started fishing in the sixties, we fished from the bank, canoe, or jon boat with bamboo or stick poles, steel rods and reels, and cord for the line. Electronics did not play a role in our fishing and catching. We had to use instinct and lessons learned over time to fit the conditions and the waters we fished. We caught a lot of fish.

Then along came improved boating accessories and equipment, including electronic flashers. And, bam, our world changed. With this new equipment, we could tell how deep it was and where the fish were between the boat and the bottom. Our fish catching abilities aided by the technology improved.

Recreation and Education Rein at Patriot Catfishing, Inc. Event

Veteran Mark Patterson (center) and his wife Diane (right) from Tampa, FL pulled off the win at the Spring 2022 Warrior Catfishing Contest. They were hosted by volunteer captain Wayne Reed. Thank You for Your Service The mission was staged on Wilson and Wheeler Lakes in Alabama to honor those who served and sacrificed for our […]

The Dark Truth About April Night Catfishing

Spencer Hodges and tournament fishing partner Robbie McCoy with blue catfish caught in a shallow water feeding area.   Glory of the Night by Terry Madewell Fishing at night from an anchored boat requires a bit more skill to be successful, but anglers armed with the right game plan can catch big catfish after dark. […]

Trotlines — An Alternative Fishing Method

Getting the Drop on Giant Catfish by Brent Frazee Trotlines are a time honored-tradition in many parts of the country.   Talk about the ultimate tug-of-war. Jake Allman yanked on the trotline he and his friends set, and something big yanked back even harder. After a few minutes of give and take, Allman had sore […]

Live Scanning with Phased Arrays Scanning Sonar

Phased Arrays Scanning Sonar for Live Scanning Imaging of Fish and Structure by Brad Wiegmann In the beginning sonar was based on a single acoustic wave being sent out from a transducer into the water below the boat bouncing off objects, trees, rocks and fish. These single pings were then translated and recorded by Multi-functional [...]

Try Shallow

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 […]

Mix Up Your Catfish Baits and Rigs

I get very excited when the spring weather rolls in each year. With the warmer air and water temperatures, the catfish begin moving around more. They are eating more to bulk up in preparation for the upcoming spawn. During this time I like to mix up my bait choices with different species and different cuts. […]

Catapalooza for Kids

Youth anglers receive custom jerseys and rod and reel combo at Catapalooza for Kids. CatfishNOW is always pleased to see the efforts of organizations that support youth fishing. The Catapalooza Fishing Expo and its associated Catapalooza for Kids are among those deserving recognition. James N. Arwood (Hookers Terminal Tackle) teamed up with a host of [...]

New B’n’M Poles Silver Cat Elite Light Gaining Popularity

B’n’M: Quality, Performance, and Service B’n’M knows rods. They should since they have been building them for more than 70 years. After years of experience with crappie fishing anglers, they recognized the need for good affordable rods for catfish anglers too. The design staff stays current with what anglers want by communicating with a carefully […]

Our Catfish Journey: A Guest Editorial

Why We Catfish by Nathan Peterman Tournament fishing provides a support group for families to grow in the sport, and in life.     I am not new to catfishing, but I am relatively new to targeting trophy cats. At 41 years old, my 17-year-old son, Joshua Peterman, and I enjoy fishing the Chattahoochee River […]

Supply Chain Problems Touch Catfish Industry

 B’n’M Poles Director of Marketing, Jason McDuffie, is shown here at ICAST where suppliers and retailers plan inventories for the coming year. The supply chain problems that developed within the catfish industry made filling the increased demand for fishing goods a challenge.   Hopefully the Shortages are Behind Us Important selling seasons were missed as […]

Downsize Bait in the Spring

B’n’M pro staff angler, Daniel Armstrong guides on Lake Texoma (Lake Texoma Catfish.Guide). During the winter he does some tournament fishing and normally targets bigger fish. When spring rolls around, he begins to target quantity over quality in his guide service. View the video to learn why he chooses to downsize bait on his Boss […]

Rattling Floats

Cody Harney recently participated in the Patriot Catfishing INC. event where 29 deserving veterans were treated to some trophy catfishing. To improve the chances of putting his veteran guests on fish, he used Madd Katz Battle Rattles on his terminal tackle. In this video, he reveals why and how he used the rattling floats.