Catch Big Summer Catfish
In the summer, big channel catfish become very active with the warmer water temperatures. While most anglers use some type of dead bait, natural baits such as cheese or dough baits and nightcrawlers, the easiest way to start landing bigger channel catfish is to use live bait fish such as bluegill, creek chubs, shiners, etc.
Catfish have been known to hit a fast-moving crankbait in the summer, so don’t think that a 10 pound catfish won’t be able to grab a live bluegill attached to a hook and a weight a foot off the bottom. Try it this summer and you’ll catch bigger catfish on average.
Catch More Nightcrawlers
There are a few things to do to help yourself catch more nightcrawlers. Catching your own nightcrawlers is an easy way to save some money during your next fishing season. Lots of fishermen catch their own nightcrawlers and there are a few different ways to do it.
After a hard rain during the spring through fall, you can go out in the grass with a flashlight and a bucket and you can catch plenty of worms. Walk softly, try not to flash the flashlight directly at the nightcrawler and make sure to be quick when you grab the nightcrawler. If the worm is still half into the ground, you will have to grab its head and slowly pull it out of the hole.
An easier way to catch nightcrawlers is to look on the streets and sidewalks before it gets light out. You can still get them when it gets light out, but you’ll get more if you do it at night. (Make sure you are in a safe neighborhood and take a buddy with you for safety reasons.)
Another easy way to get nightcrawlers is to look in the grass fields that have a few inches of standing water. The worms will just be laying in the water. Pick them up and put them in your bucket. It’s that easy. You may want to wear some waders or hip boots with this approach.
Bluegill Spring Fishing
In the springtime, bluegill will head towards the shallows. This is the time to start catching these tasty critters in 6 feet of water or less as they get ready to spawn. As the water warms, you will start to see bluegill all along the shoreline. Some shorelines will be better than others. Sandy bottoms and rocky bottoms tend to hold plenty of bluegill, although, you can find them in many different areas.
To catch these fish in the spring, it’s as simple as using a small ice fishing jig tipped with a tiny worm, small leech or even the head of a minnow. Try a small hook, bobber, a tiny worm and you will also catch plenty of bluegill in the spring.
Panfish Fishing Equipment
Many fishermen that go fishing for panfish tend to use their normal equipment that they would fish for bass, catfish, etc. When fishing for panfish, there is an actual art to doing it well. Good panfish anglers will catch more fish and bigger fish than the average fisherman.
When fishing for panfish, downsize your equipment. Use smaller rods. Light action to ultra-light rods work best with 2 to 6 pound test line. With sensitive rods and light line, it is much easier to detect a bite when you are fishing with small artificials and jigs tipped with live bait.
Go small and you will catch more panfish and even some bigger fish. This tip will work well for bluegill, crappie, rock bass and other panfish.
