Article Library

Catfish guide Capt. David Magness breaks down two small pieces of terminal tackle that can make a big difference on the water: sinker slides and knot protectors. In this quick how-to, Magness explains what they do, when to use them and how they help improve bait presentation while protecting your knots from wear and damage. […]

Matt ‘Catmatt” Jones specializes in seeking trophy flatheads on Illinois’ Rock River. He has retired from full-time guiding, but continues part time and is one of those rare guides who offer guaranteed success. Photo courtesy Matt “Catmatt” Jones   Guide of the Month: Matt “Catmatt” Jones by Capt. Richard Simms (Editor’s Note: This month marks […]

Alexandra Hall with her 63-pound record-setting blue catfish, caught in the James River in Virginia in December 2022. Photo courtesy of IGFA Looking Back at an Impressive Record Source: IGFA A recent post on the International Game Fish Association’s Facebook page provided a fun reminder of a great winter catfish catch three years ago. Alexandra […]

Removal of Steamboat Rock Dam on the Iowa River will mitigate the safety hazard of the dam, restore fish passage, improve fish habitat throughout the river and reduce the risk of flooding at Pine Ridge Park.  Credit: courtesy of Iowa Whitewater Coalition   Iowa River Restoration Project Source: Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources The sounds of […]

Off Shore Tackle’s SST Pro Mag Planer Boards are designed to pull more weight than any other planer board on the market today.   Off Shore Tackle’s OR37 SST Pro Mag Planer Source: Off Shore Tackle Off Shore Tackle Company offers a variety of planer boards, but the OR37 SST Pro Mag Planer is the […]

Channel and blue catfish stay active throughout winter. Savvy anglers who dress for cold weather and visit prime waters can expect to catch several even during the season’s coldest days.   Cold-Water Catfishing Basics Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton For many anglers, winter signals the end of catfishing season. Cold air, chilly water […]

An angler puts together a MossBack Fish Habitat tree before sinking it to attract gamefish. Photo courtesy of MossBack Fish Habitat   Catfish Cover Works By Brent Frazee Mossback Fish Habitat may be fake, but catfish don’t care. Dan Dannenmueller remembers the moment he became convinced that artificial fish habitat could attract more than just […]

A cold winter morning can be lonely, but thanks to winter fishing, the author just added a couple of new friends to his boat. Why I Love Winter Catfishing Story and photos by Terry Madewell Cold weather invigorates catfish and fishermen, and some exceptional fishing opportunities occur during winter. Here’s one angler’s reason for a […]

Capt. Richard Simms, his guide partners and friends have been catching a surprising number of piebald blue catfish from the Tennessee River near Chattanooga, Tennessee. These are just a few of the piebald fish they've seen captured in the last three years. (Photo compilation courtesy Richard Simms)   Crazy Colored Catfish by Capt. Richard Simms [...]

Catfish pro Joey Pounders of Caledonia, Mississippi shows a simple, foolproof way to hold a catfish without getting finned. In this quick tip, he explains where to place your hands and how to control the fish safely from hookset to release. Perfect advice for anglers of all skill levels.

Author Alex Welter with a hefty flathead catfish caught in the upper Mississippi River, a stream he started fishing when he was just a youngster.   Why We Catfish: It’s a Way of Life By Alex Welter Growing up on the banks of the Mississippi River—right where it meets the Wisconsin River near Prairie du […]

The Iowa DNR says this blue catfish caught by George Thompson on October 12 this year is the largest of its kind ever to be recorded in Iowa. Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR   105-Pound Blue Catfish Sets New Iowa Mark By Keith “Catfish” Sutton The fight lasted more than half an hour. The powerful […]