Channel catfish, like this beauty caught by Ted Ellenbecker, differ considerably in their habits from
blue cats and flatheads. This creates variety in the sport that helps attract millions of participants.
Why We Catfish: Time Spent with Others
by Ted Ellenbecker
Want a good reason to go catfishing? Just look at the smiling faces of family and friends who tag along with you.
When I was asked to write this piece, my initial reaction was that it would be an easy subject to work with. But as I began putting my thoughts into text, I quickly realized that labeling this topic as easy was inaccurate. There are a wide variety of reasons that millions of anglers participate in the sport of catfishing. In fact, the many facets of catfishing represent the foundation of this sport and help clarify why so many people love chasing whiskerfish. Let me explain further.
While several different kinds of catfish swim in American waters, we have a trio of species often referred to as “the big three.” These are fish that anglers target most: the channel catfish, blue cat and flathead. Together, these species create the diversity that exists in catfishing.
While these fish seem outwardly similar, there are significant genetic differences that require us to make choices when we’re on the water. For example, these three catfish each prefer different foods. They all can be caught with the same variety of baits, but that doesn’t mean we are limited to chance. We have the opportunity to specialize our course of action to target whichever catfish we prefer and offer the prey they innately seek out.
My years of experience have shown that flatheads prefer live-fish meals. Blues are active with both fresh cut-bait and live fish. Channel cats will take several types of baits, both fresh and aged. Each species also has a water-type preference that changes with temperature, current speed and the elements they relate to that we as anglers need to be intentional to notice.
There are different things that characterize the sport of catfishing that appeal to each and every angler. Because each species in the big three has its own individualized sport growing around it, I no longer tell my wife that I am going catfishing. Instead, I naturally specify that I am going flathead fishing, or fishing for channel cats, or heading out to chase blue cats. I believe this variety of choices and their possible outcomes explains the overall appeal of these fish.
Personally, all the things I have listed come into play on each trip I take. But there is one thing that will always give me the most pleasure when I am on the water chasing catfish—that is the time spent with people who mean the most to me.
(Ted Ellenbecker of Beaver Creek, Minnesota fishes for a wide variety of species but is perhaps best known as one of the nation’s top catfishermen. He is a multiple world-record holder, nationally renowned speaker and developer of “The Theory of Three,” a unique way to locate fish … any fish.)
