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 Chien—you could say it was almost predetermined that I’d fall in love with catfishing. In the small river towns that dot the Mississippi from its headwaters in Itasca, Minnesota, to the bayous of Venice, Louisiana, fishing isn’t just a pastime. It’s something that gets into your blood.
I grew up just a stone’s throw from the backwater sloughs, and I spent every summer day I could with a line in the water, trying to catch anything willing to bite. My childhood memories are filled with redhorse suckers, sheepshead, sand sturgeon and every kind of panfish that would take a worm sunk into the muddy bottom. But even then, there was always something different—something special—about the catfish.
I was fortunate to know a family friend who worked as a commercial fisherman in the area. Every once in a while, he’d let me tag along and help raise the hoop nets. For a 10-year-old river rat, this was heaven. I was mesmerized by the size, texture and mystery of those bottom-dwelling giants. That’s when I knew: catfishing was more than an interest for me. It was an affinity.
That same summer, my grandfather gave me an old 14-foot Polarkraft with a 9.9 Mercury on the back. He knew how much fishing meant to me, and he always said, “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.” I took that advice to heart. I spent countless days and nights on that old boat, learning everything I could about the channel cats and flatheads that swam the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers.
Years later, my grandfather is still with me in spirit, and I often think about how proud he’d be. I followed that boyhood passion all the way into adulthood, and now I spend my days guiding others across the same muddy waters I grew up on. Catfishing isn’t just a hobby. It’s a way of life and a way to stay connected to my grandfather, even long after his passing.
(Alex Welter, owner of River Bent Outfitters, has transformed his passion for fishing into a career dedicated to guiding others on the upper Mississippi River near LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Known for his friendly and patient approach, he creates a welcoming atmosphere for anglers of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned anglers.)
