Most catfish anglers are "sit-and-wait" types. They find a shady spot on the bank where they can sit, toss out a bottom rig, lean their rod against a forked stick, and then sit and wait, hoping sooner or later something will bite. Something usually does, if they wait long enough. But hours may pass before it happens. There are times, however, when still-fishing from shore is totally unproductive. You can sit and wait till the cows come home, but it probably won't do you much good.
Catfish: 10 How to Basics of Fishing to Fishing Tackle
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| Drift-fishing is an excellent tactic for anglers hoping to catch a trophy blue catfish in summer. |
Fishing for Summer Blue Cats is a Case in Point
Blue catfish tend to be nomadic in summer, moving here and there following schools of baitfish and seeking comfort zones in their home waters. They're often scattered and difficult to pinpoint, a fact that frustrates many anglers. You can sit on the bank and try to catch them, but drift-fishing in a boat works much better. This is an active approach to catfishing that can make your catch rate soar, and a good way to target trophy fish.
Drift-fishing: This technique works great on both rivers and lakes. Start by using a fishfinder to look for large fish hanging around prominent bottom changes. Summer blues typically roam around bottom channels, humps, depressions and other readily identifiable structures, and use of sonar can help you find them.
Many cat men use a special float rig for drift-fishing. The main line is run through the eye of a sinker (usually a pencil weight or bell sinker), and a barrel swivel is tied below it to keep the weight from sliding off. A 24-inch leader is then tied to the swivel's lower eye. A small float (usually a peg float) is placed in the middle of the leader, and a 5/0- to 8/0 wide-gap circle hook is tied at the end and baited. The float suspends the baited hook above bottom to reduce snagging.
Norh America's Best Catfishing Waters
Live or Dead Bait
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| Multi-rod setups are common part of drift-fishing, increasing the angler's odds of a hookup. |
Whole shad or herring (live or dead) are widely considered the best drift-fishing baits because they are highly enticing to big blue cats and can be rigged to stay on the hook for the extended periods it often takes to find and catch fish.
Hook the bait through the lips, and consider tying a stinger hook on a short length of line to the main hook. The stinger is run through the side of the bait to secure it even further and helps hook cats that bite at the rear of the bait.
How Many Fishing Rods?
The number of rods that can be used effectively depends to some degree on the experience of the angler. Experts sometimes can handle four to eight, but most beginners should start with no more than two. 
Always stay within the law and check the local regulations for restrictions.
The rods are positioned in sturdy, transom-mounted rod holders, and then wind or current carries the boat over the structures where fish are holding. A drift anchor often is tied to the boat to keep the craft moving along the right course, and a trolling motor may be used for maneuvering and forward movement as well.
How Much Line Should You Have Out When Drifting?
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| Sturdy rod holders are an important part of drift-fishing because big blues, like the one above are often hooked. |
The ideal distance varies with water clarity, speed and other factors, but many anglers start by releasing 75 to 100 yards of 25-pound-test or heavier line to keep the fishing rig moving smoothly across the bottom. With lesser lengths of line, the weight tends to drag or snag, causing the bait to jump and move wildly about. If you're drift-fishing for the first time and unfamiliar with what works best, start by drifting with 75 yards of line out, then experiment if necessary to see what works best.
Get the Right Fishing Reel for This Type of Fishing
Bear in mind that high-capacity reels are a must for this type of fishing, especially when targeting trophy-class catfish. If you have 75 yards of line out and a big blue hits, you'll need plenty of line on the reel to avoid getting spooled. Also be sure to properly set the drags on all your reels.
Proper speed is important when drift-fishing, but there's no magic formula for determining what speed is best under a given set of conditions. On some days, you may have to inch your boat along to get strikes. On other days you'll have to troll so fast you'll wonder how catfish could possibly catch your bait. And when you find the productive speed, you must maintain it, even when wind and current push your boat ahead or drive it back.
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| Team Catfish® DOUBLE ACTION Catfish Circle Hooks feature a super-wide gap. Set it with a long sweep of your rod, or let it set itself. |
Best Fishing Hook to Use
When using circle hooks like the top rated Team Catfish® DOUBLE ACTION Catfish Circle Hooks let the fish and the motion of the boat do the hook-setting. Wait until the rod has a definite bend in it, then remove it from the holder and reel in your quarry.
A Simple Guide to the Most Popular Fish Hook Styles
The key word when drift-fishing, as with any form of catfishing, is "experiment." Try to determine how catfish are likely to react in the type water you're fishing, and then adapt your tactics to conform to those expectations. But if your game plan doesn't produce within a short time, try something different. Sooner or later, the innovative cat man discovers a pattern that allows him to capitalize on the situation. And when drift-fishing, this rarely takes very long. Few tactics are as effective on summer's big nomadic blue cats.
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