Celebrating Women in Catfishing
Every July, CatfishNOW pauses to shine a spotlight on a group of anglers who continue to shape the future of our sport in meaningful ways: women who love catfishing.
My own catfishing journey began with a woman. When I was a boy, my grandmother often gathered younger members of our family and took us to her favorite fishing holes to bank fish for channel catfish. Those outings weren’t about trophies or bragging rights. They were about spending time together, enjoying the outdoors and bringing home fish that would later become delicious family meals. Looking back now, I realize she wasn’t just teaching us how to catch catfish. She was passing along traditions, values and a love for the outdoors that would influence me for the rest of my life.
In one sense, dedicating an issue to women in catfishing seems unnecessary. Fish don’t care who’s holding the rod. Catfish don’t discriminate between men and women, young and old, beginners and experts. Success on the water still comes down to the same timeless ingredients—knowledge, preparation, patience, persistence and a little luck.
Yet in another sense, this annual issue remains as important as ever.
It Just Takes One By Anietra Hamper
Laurie Emerson embraces the quiet rhythm of kayak fishing along one of Florida’s winding waterways. It Just Takes One By Anietra Hamper Photos courtesy of Laurie Emerson A Woman’s Accidental Catch Becomes Her Pathway to a Passion Laurie Emerson is a passionate angler who fishes for nearly every species in any location with any methods […]
Raised on the Water: Jill Bruce’s Lifelong Love of Catfishing
Jill Bruce said catfishing is special, but she loves fishing for all species of fish. Raised on the Water: Jill Bruce’s Lifelong Love of Catfishing Story and photos by Terry Madewell Jill Bruce’s love for catfishing and for fishing for any species was planted with deep roots in her youth, and that love has […]
The Unsung Partners of Catfish Guides By Capt. Richard Simms
She doesn’t make a habit of it, but Kylene Booher does occasionally hit the water with her husband for trophy catfish on the Tennessee River. (Photo by Capt. Sam Simons) The Unsung Partners of Catfish Guides By Capt. Richard Simms Every angler has dreamed about it at some point. Imagine spending your days on […]
River Rumors: Record Cats Making Headlines By Keith “Catfish” Sutton
From left: Michael Ramey and his friends Tyler McCoy and Mark Taylor with Ramey’s West Virginia state-record blue cat. (courtesy of West Virginia DNR) River Rumors: Record Cats Making Headlines By Keith “Catfish” Sutton Seems like catfish just keep getting bigger, with new state records making the news almost weekly. Consider, for example, […]
One of a Kind: Discovering the Hidden Gems of Oxford, Mississippi By Kyleigh Touro
The exterior of Wonderbird Spirits welcomes visitors to one of America’s only grain-to-glass gin distilleries, where Mississippi Delta rice is transformed into award-winning handcrafted gin. (Kyleigh Touro photo) One of a Kind: Discovering the Hidden Gems of Oxford, Mississippi By Kyleigh Touro When people think of Oxford, Mississippi, they often picture the historic […]
Catfish Basics: Mountain Stream Catfish Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton
Catfish Basics: Mountain Stream Catfish Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton When most catfish anglers picture their next trip, they imagine muddy rivers, sprawling reservoirs and backwater holes buzzing with mosquitoes. Few think about cool, clear mountain streams. That’s a mistake. Across much of the country, mountain streams support surprisingly healthy catfish populations. […]
Catfish Gear: Power-Pole MOVE ZR: Built to Hunt Fish Without Spooking Them
Catfish Gear: Power-Pole MOVE ZR: Built to Hunt Fish Without Spooking Them When you’re fishing, boat control isn’t just helpful. It’s everything. Whether you’re working a breakline, holding on a brushpile or staying locked in on a group of fish you just marked, precision and consistency make the difference between a slow day and [...]
Take Kids Fishing Day Hooks Wisconsin Families
At the Madison Area Take Kids Fishing day, many youths got to fish for the first time, and approximately 45 union volunteers were available to assist. (Photo courtesy of Union Sportsmen’s Alliance) Take Kids Fishing Day Hooks Wisconsin Families Source: Union Sportsmen’s Alliance On a Saturday that began with rain forecasts, Wisconsin families instead […]
Just Out! Terry Madewell’s “Minnow Bucket Memories”
Just Out! Terry Madewell’s “Minnow Bucket Memories” By Keith “Catfish” Sutton For more than 50 years, Terry Madewell has built a respected career writing about hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Most readers know him for his practical how-to/where-to stories—where to fish, how to catch more catfish, how to outsmart a gobbler or how to […]
Guide of the Month: Zac Bernier—Nodak Charters
Kayla Stewart brought her three youngsters fishing with Capt. Bernier. Initially the bite was slow and the kids complained about being bored— until this monster hit. The 21-pound channel cat was the biggest Capt. Bernier had seen that season. Guide of the Month: Zac Bernier—Nodak Charters by Capt. Richard Simms Photos courtesy of […]
CFN How to Video with Michael Haney—Using Planer Boards for Suspended Summer Catfish
During July, the water temperature in many lakes is such that catfish leave their usual bottom haunts and feed on suspended schools of shad. B’n’M Poles pro staff member Michael Haney says this is a good time to suspend baits beneath planer boards, a tactic that can increase your catch rate significantly.
