The distinctive whiskers on this bottom-feeding fish make it one of the most easily recognized species out there.
And whether you’re fishing for sport or food, the catfish is a perfect target.
Learn how to maximize your chances of catching one with tips from Angling Sports.
What Does a Catfish Look Like?
The catfish has a fitting namesake; the species is easily identifiable by its trademark cat-like whiskers, though it’s worth noting that not all catfish have them.
Most catfish have a dark green or brown skin color with a light-colored underbelly. Their bodies are tubular, and their heads are flat.
Catfish range greatly in size, with the smallest species measuring only a centimeter in length. Larger species can grow as large as 2 meters by contrast.
There are many types of catfish, but the 3 most interesting to anglers are:
- Blue catfish, which have forked tails and straight anal fins. Their bodies range from light to dark blue with no markings or spots. They grow to a weight of around 100 lbs by adulthood.
- Channel catfish, identifiable by their forked tails and curved anal fins. They tend to be brown or gray in color and feature dark spots. Channel catfish are relatively small, weighing generally less than 30 lbs.
- Flathead catfish lack a forked tail and have short and rounded anal fins. Their skins can be black, brown, or even a light yellow. Like the blue catfish, they can grow to a weight of 100 lbs or more.
Where Do I Look For Catfish?
The ideal time and conditions to search for catfish depend on the exact type you want to catch. Rest assured, they’re fairly common across Ontario.
What Season?
For the blue catfish, start fishing in the spring when the water is warming up from the preceding winter. Blue catfish don’t show up as often during the summer, when it’s too warm.
For channel catfish or flatheads, avoid fishing during the winter. Aim for the fall or spring when most catfish are undergoing feeding frenzies to prepare for the winter or before the spawn in late spring.
What Time?
Because catfish feed throughout the day, you don’t have to worry too much about timing. And despite what most anglers think, you don’t have to fish at night to catch a catfish. Only the flathead is mostly nocturnal, and you’re bound to find catfish at any hour.
What Conditions?
Catfish swim in both rivers and lakes. Any freshwater body with deep water is fair game for catfish angling.
Where in Ontario?
You’ll most likely run into channel catfish in Canada, as the species makes its home in the southern portion of the country. Channel catfish are the most common variant in North America.
What’s the Best Fishing Gear For Catching Catfish?
Catfish rods should be heavy-power to take on the weight of larger species of catfish. Baitcasters are the best option here, as they allow you to cast farther out.
You’ll also need plenty of length in the line to reach the deep depths where most catfish reside. Use a 20 to 30-pound line for catfish and make sure your reel has at least 150 yards of line on it.
When choosing a hook, find a sharp one capable of puncturing the catfish’s thick jaw. Circle hooks work excellently in this scenario, as they tend to hook fish in the corner of their mouths based on the design of the hook. This makes circle hooks great for still fishing dead or cut bait.
Finally, pick out a suitable bait. Catfish tend to prefer fresh bait as opposed to frozen. Catfish are unique in that they scavenge for their prey and tend to follow scent trails, so heavily flavored bait like catfish dough, chicken livers, or cut bait work best for them. The stinkier the better!
Fun Facts About the Catfish
The catfish is notable for its complex communication abilities. These fish have a specialized organ called the Weberian apparatus for this purpose, enabling the catfish to produce different sounds and detect vibrations in the water to “hear” certain sounds.
There’s also one special species of catfish native to Asia called the walking catfish. As its name suggests, it’s actually capable of moving itself along the ground in short distances with its fins and tail. In the wild, this ability allows the fish to move between bodies of water.
Get Started on the Right Foot with Angling Sports
Catfish fishing is popular all across Canada, and anglers looking for a large trophy catch should definitely aim for some species of catfish.
However, the large size and weight of some catfish, call for specialized equipment that’s up to the task. Do you want to make sure your lines and hooks are strong enough to take on this fighter? Check out anything you need from catfish reels to bait by browsing Angling Sports’s catfish catalog.
