Ponds and smaller bodies of water don’t seem all that exciting when you think of the monstrous catfish that swim in larger rivers and lakes. But don’t be discouraged; Pond catfish can also grow to weigh over 10 pounds. You just need a good mix of knowledge of the body of water and knowledge of angling skills to catch a good catch.
First the body of water. Carefully study the environment of the pond.
• Does a stream or other small body of water such as a spring flow into it? If that’s the case, you’ll find that cats mostly feed in the area where the stream enters the pond.
• Does the pond have algae or vegetation floating around it? If so, you’ll find the cats hiding under the floating seaweed and vegetation.
• Does the pond have holes or rocks? You can be sure to find a catfish or two hiding under rocks and other underwater debris.
• Does the pond have a dam or obstruction? You will find at least one catfish hiding under it.
• Carefully study the surface of the water. Is there an excess of tiny bubbles in a particular swirling stream? You will most likely find catfish feeding in that area.
• Try different times of the day and different areas of the pond to fish. You can learn a lot about the pond and the fish that live in it by studying the catch patterns and the area in which it is caught.
• Try not to fish in ponds that are places frequented by other anglers. The fish in such ponds become bait-shy eventually and you may not have a good booty.
• Fishing at night and early morning. That’s when the bigger cats come out to feed.
Next, the technique. Riding a catfishing rig in a river is very different from rigging a catfishing rig in ponds.
• Tighten your platform. Instead of setting a drag from the real, hold it tight. This way, you’ll know every time you get a small bite on the bait.
• Keep him very quiet. When you go fishing for catfish in ponds, you could accidentally startle the catfish by talking too loudly or making too much noise while bringing your gear to shore. Keep your conversations to a minimum and get things out quietly.
• Attach a 1 ounce or 2 ounce sliding weight to the line. This way you can make sure that the hook reaches the depth of the pond where all the fish are hiding.
• Use the right bait. I know from previous experience that catfish love chicken liver. They also love live bait such as bluegill, sunfish, or goldfish. Parmesan cheese, hot dogs, cornmeal balls, and shrimp will give you decent catches. Of course, it’s a good idea to ask other fishing enthusiasts what their fish like. Or you could make your own catfish recipe!
