| Across the country there are many small catfish | | | | Another piece of advice concerning the tackle is |
| ponds for our enjoyment. Most owners stock | | | | to keep the hooks as small as possible. There is |
| catfish because they are a very hardy fish that | | | | no reason to use a very large hook when fishing |
| can survive in a variety of conditions. They also | | | | for catfish. Enough to cover the bait is more than |
| of course are excellent sporting fish that fight | | | | enough hook. This is especially true when fishing |
| well. Most of the fish stocked are Channel Catfish | | | | for the smallish catfish that generally inhabit small |
| with occasional Flathead or Blue Catfish. They also | | | | ponds. |
| many have large quantities of bullheads, the | | | | Your next issue is what baits to use. My |
| smallest member of the catfish family. | | | | suggestion is to come with a complete arsenal of |
| When you fish these ponds you need to approach | | | | different baits. Fishing in a big lake can be much |
| them with a different strategy than you would | | | | easier in making this decision. In large lakes you |
| when fishing on a big lake. The first thing you | | | | match the natural forage for the best results. |
| need to understand is that these ponds receive | | | | Small ponds generally do not have natural forage |
| an enormous amount of fishing pressure. It may | | | | that is constant. Fortunately catfish eat a wide |
| not seem that they are over fished but when | | | | variety of foods. |
| you consider the amount of anglers compared to | | | | As always I would start with live fish as my first |
| the size of the body of water you can get the | | | | choice of bait. Choose a fish that is size |
| point. | | | | appropriate for the size of catfish you are angling |
| Catfish are not generally considered a wary fish. | | | | for. My next choice would be cut fish that is |
| They are not very difficult to catch and often can | | | | freshly killed. When using a live fish I like to hook |
| and are caught multiple times within a few days. | | | | it once through the upper meaty portion of the |
| But when you put them in a small pond they do | | | | back. I also like to cut the tail a bit is the swim |
| eventually develop an instinct to avoid a hook and | | | | swims like a wounded fish, this provides an |
| line. You need to start thinking differently than | | | | attractant that is often too hard to avoid. |
| others who use the pond for angling pleasures. | | | | Live nitecrawlers generally work well for catfish. I |
| For starters I would keep your line as light as | | | | like to hook a nitecrawlers twice, once through |
| possible. This is a good strategy whenever fishing | | | | the nose and a second time through the middle of |
| in a small pond. If the average size of the fish in a | | | | the body when using them for catfish. Just make |
| pond is no more than five pounds you should be | | | | sure there are not large quantities of pan fish in |
| able to get away with using six pound test line | | | | the pond also. If there are pan fish it will make |
| with no problems. | | | | using nitecrawlers impossible. |