Fantastic is the only way to describe this place. Deceiving from the outside it is very big inside. Parking can be interesting but once inside this place rocks. I had the best gumbo appetizer. Try the blackened shrimp and scallops, crawfish, snow stone crab, frog legs, fried catfish- fabulous! Wait staff was excellent, local ownership feel makes this place what it is. A must to go back when in the area. And it is ZAGAT rated! It’s one of my fav restaurant! I just love Catfish, my boyfriend likes and recommends those I list above.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Do you love catfishing? Flathead catfish are one of the most sought-after species today. Do you know what the flathead catfish are and why they are so popular? The flathead has many distinguishing features that make them easy to recognize. For instance, they have a pastel yellow color to their abdomen and normally they will have black or brown spots on their sides and a light brown back. They actually got their name from the shape of their heads, which appears to be mostly flat with a projected lower jaw. Unlike other types of catfish their tail fin has more of a straight edge and they are slightly notched.

The flathead catfish are a private type of species by nature and tend to claim the area in which they choose to live. You probably want see competitor fish in the area. They put up a fierce fight and to catch them you need to have a strategy that will appeal to this type of fish, plus a lot of patience. There is no way around the fact the Flathead prefer live fish for their meals so, if you really want to catch this species you need to be willing to fish with live bait.

Type of Gear Needed to Catch Flatheads and the Best Fishing Method

You will have better luck catching the flathead catfish if you use equipment that is suited for this species. For example, the catfish has a wide mouth so using larger than normal hooks will work great. In fact, many anglers use a size 7 or 8 hook when fishing for the flathead. Have a variety of sinkers available and a good sturdy rod because a good size flathead can put up quite a struggle.

Different methods can be used when fishing for flatheads with a good amount of success. For example, using throw-lines, bank poles and jugs can help you catch your share of flatheads. You can also fish for flatheads the old fashioned way with a rod and reel. Just make sure you have good equipment and that you are prepared for the fight that they will surely put up. Many anglers prefer this method because it makes fishing more exciting when you are reeling this species in on a line.

Have you ever used a flathead set? If not, then you don’t know what you are missing because it is one of the best methods used to catch flatheads. You will need to know how to construct your own flathead set. Therefore, if you do not have anyone to teach you how to do this you can always turn to the Internet and Google the keywords how to make flathead sets and you will be able to find step by step instructions. Once you have your flathead sets ready to go, you will be ready to place them in the appropriate areas of the water.

They work the best when you place them around brush, grassy areas, trees, stumps and other places bass tend to hang out. They can be placed anywhere in shallow water or up to around twenty-five feet deep. The depth will depend on the season and the type of water you are fishing, which are the factors that will determine where the flathead is most likely to be. You may need to practice using flathead sets for awhile before you get really good at using them.

big Flathead Catfish, caught on rod and reel off a dock at lake of the ozarks. (Sagrada Beach)71- 72 mile marker. Bait: Live Gizzard Shad caught off of the bank with throw net.

An avid fisherman is typically able to tell you the contents of his tackle box: fishing hooks, line in various weights, shiny and dull fishing lures, colorful bobbers, an extra reel, needle nose pliers, a flashlight, maybe some fishing scissors and a fishing knife. Each of these tackle box items is an important element in both successful and not so successful fishing trips to the river. Having the right kind of gear, the kind that will withstand a variety of elements, is key.

The following are some tips on what to look for when purchasing a durable fishing or fillet knife to all those would-be and experienced anglers out there.

When choosing a fishing knife, the size of the fish being lured needs to be considered. A ten inch blade would be excessive if you typically fish stocked rainbow trout or crappie in your local river. The larger blade could damage the meat of smaller fish during cleaning if you are not careful. On the other hand, a small fillet knife on a medium-to-large catfish or grouper would be time consuming and potentially impossible. If you fish a variety of species, consider owning multiple knives in various lengths and widths. There are a number of fishing knife sets with multiple blade styles available on the market. If you have one knife that you really like, maybe it has a handle style that suits you, see if the manufacturer makes other size knives in the same style.

The next item to consider when choosing a fillet or fishing knife, is the quality of the blade. You want to look for stainless steel blades that can maintain their sharpness. You also want to try to buy one that can be sharpened easily throughout a fishing season. Stainless steel is recommended because of its stronger resistance to rust; fishing knives encounter a lot of water. You will want the same durability and strength in your fishing knife as you would a hunting knife. However, with a fillet knife, a tempered blade that can cut smoothly and thinly is ideal. When purchasing a fillet knife, look for one that is serrated in a portion of the knife, toward the handle is best. Having the serration in addition to the smooth sharp blade will be helpful to cut through tougher sections and bones and will keep you from needing a second serrated knife.

The final items to consider are all about your personal style. There are a number of knives available depending on the type of fisherman you or the recipient of the knife is. Consider how frequently you use a fishing knife during your fishing trips. If you tend to constantly be reaching for yours, purchase a folded knife that can be put in your pocket or hang from a fishing vest so it will be easy to get to. If you have a messier tackle box with little organization, consider purchasing a fishing knife that comes with a sturdy knife sleeve or one that folds to avoid accidentally cutting yourself or damaging the blade while it is moving around in the box. If you have arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome, try out various knife handle shapes to find one that is comfortable for you. There are a number of knife options available; don’t settle for anything other than what will best help you as you fish this summer.

Consider these tips as you put together your tackle box and gear this summer. Whether you are heading to the river, lake or ocean, a quality fishing or fillet knife is an important addition and just may help bring in the record breaking fish.

Ben Anton, 2007

Catfish is one of the oldest and most sought after species of fish around. Fishermen have been reeling them in for centuries. Anglers love to go catfish fishing for two main reasons. One is the great taste that this species has to offer. Many people believe that there is nothing better to go on the dinner table than a catfish filet. They are simply delicious; there is no other way to put it.

The other reason is because a catfish will surly give you a run for your money. They will put up a fight and you better be ready for it. If you don’t have the proper equipment you will probably be talking about the one that got away instead of the great catch you brought home. Make sure you have a good study fishing rod and a reel with a good drag.

You also want to have a variety of sharp hooks and extra gear available at all times. Sometimes when the catfish are really aggressive and very large they have a tendency of breaking lines and even fishing poles.

As any good angler knows the bait that you use is the key to catching catfish. You have to get their attention before you can even begin to try and catch them. It is believed that the best way to do this is by using bait with a strong smell. In fact, many old-time anglers wouldn’t use anything else and for good reason.

The catfish is best-known for its keen sense of smell. Anything with a strong smell will draw the catfish to it. This is why anglers use stink baits when they go fishing for the catfish. Cheese is a main ingredient that is used in catfish bait along with anything else that has a strong odor. Many anglers make up their own recipes and experiment to see which ones work the best. Still there is one recipe that has withstood the test of time and that one is chum bait.

Chum Bait

The oldest and most well-known stinky catfish bait recipe is chum bait. It is very popular because it really works to help you reel in the catfish like never before. To make chum bait you need to have a bucket for mixing everything together and a main ingredient. The main ingredient that you use could be any type of baitfish such as shad, mullet or shrimp. Chop this up into small pieces and place it in the bucket. Now you need to add bay or surf water to the bucket and grind it all up.

After you grind the mixture up you need to take small portions and put them in a freezer bag and place this in your freezer. When you go fishing you put a bag of chum bait in the water where it will thaw out. As the bait is thawing the smell will be released into the water. This will bring all the catfish in the area swimming in your direction just to get a taste of this bait. Now all you have to do is start reeling them in.

As with every other sport, fishing has developed a huge set of associated equipment from numerous manufacturers, covering every conceivable niche in the sport. Within that gargantuan array of gear, there is further variety among the various general components, and fishing reels are certainly no exception. For something that is basically a spool to wind your line on, fishing reels have developed into an amazingly complex and scientific breed of equipment, each model specialized to a particular application, quarry, preference or technical point of prowess. For the specialized pursuit of catfish, the main points of prowess in a reel need to be durability, reliability and outright strength. Within that realm, one can then take into account the particular style of reel one prefers to use, and the features and appearance of the reel, to narrow down the options.

As far as the basic design of the reel goes, regardless of the fish sought, there are essentially four designs, or types of reel to choose from. These are the fly reel, the spinning reel, the spincasting reel and the baitcasting reel. Each design has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on the fishing technique you intend to employ. Different manufacturers make various models of each of these four reel types, in varying price ranges, so your choice of reel will come down to its basic capacity to handle the fish you expect to hook, the design you prefer to use, and the price you are willing to pay to get the features you want.

To begin, let’s look at each of the reel types, as they apply to catfishing. The first reel type, the fly reel, is only rarely used in catfish fishing, and only by folks with strong hands and a penchant for torture, fishing in small-cat waters. This is because a fly reel is, simply, a manual reel, period. A heavy catfish can be easily over forty pounds, and the fly reel’s direct, simple and unbridled operation make for a chancy option at best, for landing one. If you really, really want to use a fly reel, use a mighty strong fly rod to go with it, and get a reel by one of the better manufacturers – you’re going to need it.

Moving on, the spinning reel is probably the most common reel in use today, if not the ultimate preference for the pursuit of catfish. Spinning reels use a central, horizontal inline spool of line, with a rotating carriage, called a bail, which wraps the line around the spool, or, alternately, can be pulled open to cast the line out. These reels are the most capable in the art of casting, and are available in models strong enough to take on a real granddaddy catfish, though the issue of strength is the one which will let you down with a spinning reel, if anything does. Look at Quantum, Mitchell and Daiwa reels, here. If you go this route, make sure that the spinning reel you choose has a strong foot, a solid casing, and a bail made of serious metal – no cheapo parts – along with a strong hand-crank and a smooth, powerful drag control.

The spincasting reel is similar to a spinning reel, but has an enclosed spool, and an “automatic” casting system which allows it to be easily handled by novice anglers. Casting is done by depressing and holding a thumb button on the back of the reel, and releasing it, just as the cast moves to the appropriate release point overhead, which sets the line free to be pulled off the reel. Experienced fishermen also use spincasters, but the issue of strength leaves this design in a questionable light, where really big cats are concerned. Fishermen who are after only small or medium-sized fish, though, will appreciate the simplicity and compact design of spincasters, as will those with children or other novices whom they are teaching to fish. The predominant manufacturer in this design is Daiwa, with Mitchell offering a series of respectable models also. Once again, for heavy fish, this is not the preferred choice in a reel design, so for any catfish pursuit, make sure that the model you are looking at is rated for a pretty decent sized fish, because cats will put even the sturdiest gear to the test.

The final category, baitcasters, are the catfisherman’s best choice, in most arenas, primarily due to their exceptional strength. Baitcasters are the “original” mechanical reel, with a strong, horizontal transverse spool, driven by a high-reduction drive from a large, sturdy hand-crank, and generally equipped with a drag control and a level winding device. The biggest shortfall of baitcasters, is the technique required to cast with a conventional reel, although modern reels have a number of advancements onboard which have made that task somewhat easier. However, as far as a reel which can handle even the biggest bait, when casting, and which will withstand all that the heaviest catfish can dish out, baitcasters take it, walking away. Their low profile, close connection to the rod and strong, transverse spool design make them pretty tough to knock off their game.

fishhing reels abu garcia catfish river bass jigs bass

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Fishing decals and even stickers can be used to show the world just how much you love fishing and of course would rather be fishing than going to work or working around the house.

Today, you can find all kinds of fishing decals that you can use to put on your fishing clothing, car, truck, or boat. Then everyone will know that you are serious about fishing or at least wish that is all you had to do seven days a week.

As you begin to search for fishing decals, you will at first be a bit overwhelmed at the choices. If you purchased every decal on the market that had to do with fishing, you will need to buy more than one boat to hold all the decals. You may be able to completely cover a few pairs of overalls, but I do not think you really want to go to that extreme to show off your favorite hobby.

As you begin looking you will see that many of the decals are 4 inches by 5 inches and offer all kinds of images such as Calcutta decals with strippers, shark, redfish, kingfish, sailfish, grand slam, bass, tarpon, snook, freshwater montage, and all of these of course have the skull and crossbones along with the named fish.

Now, you can on the other hand, find large fish decals such as the blue marlin, the large calico bass, sailfish, king mackerel, pompano, gag grouper, yellowtail, large stripped bass, large yellow fin, fluke, mako, Wahoo, crappie, large smallmouth bass, Spanish Mackerel, large redfish, cobia, large tarpon, large snook, sea trout, walleye, spiny lobster, northern pike, musky, bluefish, red snapper, salmon, flathead catfish, and the mahi. Each of these decals is between 9 inches to 11 inches long and is made of strong vinyl.

All fishing decals are created to withstand the weather and can be placed on your boat. The all weather vinyl will not fade and will be able to withstand the water while you are out trying to catch the biggest fish of them all. As you can see, there are all kinds of fishing decals that will let you show off your fishing skills or just to decorate your boat or vehicle. The fun part comes when you add a decal for each fish that you have caught such as adding a notch on a gunslingers belt after he gunned down a sheriff.

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Anglers like to argue and hate to agree about anything. Of course, arguing about what’s the best such and such gives us something to talk about, and everybody’s proud of their own particular choice. Your pole is your most important piece of fishing gear, so it’s something we all get a little passionate about.

Nothing works for everybody, but here is a review of a few of the most popular and high quality fishing rods out there.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Tiger – Somebody’s Been Here With the Ugly Stik

First off, you might like to know that this is the most popular rod among anglers. People just can’t get enough of the Ugly Stik. This might be because of the quality manufacture of the rod. Ugly Stiks are made with good quality graphite parts, including the core of the rod itself. What this means for the angler is that it can really take a beating. When that giant cat wiggles off your line and swims away to freedom, you can toss that rod into the ground and it won’t break… but we don’t recommend doing that.

For cat fishers, the Ugly Stik is also great because it’s extra sensitive. Those tiny graphite parts make it easier to feel when you get a bite.

What they’re not admired for is their looks. There’s a funny color scheme going on here with orange and red mixed together, but that’s what gives it its distinctive look – and name.

Ugly Stik has stayed on top of the game ever since it was first introduced in the mid-80′s. Everybody has their opinions, people will tell you this or that, but you can’t argue with those sales figures.

Rhino NightVision Rods – Light Up Your Evening

This is an innovative rod made by Zebco that lights up to help you see what you’re catching when you’re night fishing. There is a tiny light at the end of the rod so you can see where you’re dropping your line, and there’s also a bigger light at the butt of the rod so you can see what you’re doing there. These are the most important places to keep a light on when you’re fishing at night.

The lights will last up to 40 hours before you have to change the battery. For some of us, that means about 2 nights of fishing. They take simple AA batteries that go into a little compartment with a waterproof seal. It’s a handy little invention.

Rhino is known for rods that are sensitive and durable as well, so a NightVision rod can be used at any time of day or night.

St. Croix – The Connoisseur’s Fishing Rod

If you’ve been fishing for a while and you’re ready to spend a little money and get a great rod, anything made by St. Croix is great. St. Croix is known for their classy rods that are highly sensitive, light and made durable. They use cork on the handles so that you can feel it when the fish bite. They are also preferred over other rod models because they are strong without being heavy. This is because of their high quality standards.

The only problem with St. Croix rods is that they are pricey. You won’t pick one up for or . You can expect to pay more like 0 or 0. No, I didn’t hit the 0 key too many times. That’s how much they run. St. Croix’s are used by serious sportsmen, and once you use one, you’ll feel the difference and keep wanting your own until you can convince your wife to let you buy it.

If you ask any fly fisherman if he gets any catfish, he’ll probably tell you that he sure does… accidentally! Chances are, he’s targeting bass, trout or crappie and a cat gets snagged somewhere along the way. On the other hand, if you ask a catfish man if he ever tries fly fishing, he’ll probably tell you that it’s just too darn difficult to catch catfish with flies.

The truth is, it’s not as tough as everyone makes it out to be. It’s just that nobody does it. And, why not? For one thing, fly fishing works best for fish that are feeding near the surface, and cats are bottom dwellers. For another thing, catfish like to put up a good fight, and many fly fishermen have had fly rods snapped in half by feisty catfish.

Fly fishing is actually a great technique for catching channel cats in rivers. It doesn’t work so well for flatheads or blues. The best way to learn how to fly fish for cats is to get out there and do it, but there are some tips that will help you along the way.

Know Your Stream

You really have to know when and where the catfish are biting in order to catch them with a fly. Catfish are looking their hardest for food usually in the early spring during spawning season, and in the late fall when they’re trying to fatten up for winter. Depending on the river or stream, you may find catfish on the surface all year round. It’s a little like gambling; if you get a few hits, you should keep on going and ride your luck. Most anglers find that if they get a few catfish early in the day, they’ll have a lot of luck all day long. On the other hand, if you spend a while out there casting flies and get nothing, it just might not be the right time or place. If you haven’t caught anything within five minutes, move on to another spot on the river. Once you find a spot where they’re biting, stay until you get a few.

The best places are always around obstructions like dams or log jams, where the catfish will be in calm waters. Look for a spot where there is some activity at the surface of the water. Even if you’re not sure it’s a cat you see, as long as something is biting and you can see it, there are sure to be cats there as well.

Good Gear for Fly fishing Catfish

Fly fishing for catfish won’t probably catch you a giant trophy sized fish. Most anglers catch channel cats that are under 10 pounds fly fishing. You should use a fly rod that is anywhere from 5-7 weight. You don’t want the rod to snap, and you also don’t want it to be so heavy you don’t feel the fish bite.

A long rod helps with control. Once you catch him on the end of your line, you’re going to want to ease him to the shore without losing him. A nice long line will help you to keep his head above water as you pull him to shore.

A word on tying flies – it’s tough at first, but you’ll get used to it! Casting is tricky, too. Just be patient and remember that trial and error is what makes you a pro!

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A long-lived debate amongst catfish anglers concerns which bait is most effective for catching big catfish: stink bait or live bait.

The answer is both.

This is why: Catfish possess a sense of smell more powerful than a bloodhound’s and they target wounded prey with shark-like ferocity.

But this is the bottom line: Stink bait catches the most catfish, but live bait catches the biggest.

Favorite live baits include night crawlers, minnows, crawdads, shad, menhaden and freshwater clams. Bluegill can also be used as live bait where it’s legal to do so. Live baits also include chicken livers, shrimp and cut bait–such as shad, anchovies, carp, sardines or mackerel–even those these baits aren’t technically “live.”

The type of live bait used should be dictated by the type of catfish you’re fishing for. Flatheads are attracted to bluegill, whereas big blue or channel catfish prefer minnows, shad or menhaden. Catching big catfish can be as easy as using bait like crawdads and waterdogs.

If you’re using cut bait, it can be aged for a few days to until it becomes sour bait, which adds stink bait attraction. Just place a few chunks in a canning jar and leave an inch of air space below the lid. Add a few drops of water, close the lid fairly loosely, and bury it in the ground in a sunny location for a few days. It’s quite stinky, but it’s a delicacy for catfish. Sour bait is particularly effective in early spring, when catfish are naturally feeding on other fish that have died over the winter.

Anglers typically use single hooks for live bait. But treble hook rigging is also possible.

As for stink baits, they come in a variety of pastes, dips and nuggets. If you’re adventuresome, you can experiment with making your own, or they can be purchased.

Dip baits require a special lure, which is usually a treble hook equipped with a sponge to absorb the stinky bait. Paste baits are typically squeezed from a tube into a soft plastic lure that’s attached to double or treble hooks. And of course, nuggets are threaded directly onto single or treble hooks. Limburger cheese is considered a type of stink bait!

Stink baits can be placed on a leader behind a swivel and a sliding sinker. Alternatively, they can be placed off a three-way swivel or dropper loop above a weight, or simply on the main line with split shot. The variety of rigs, swivels and weights used is basically the same as those used with live bait.

Then, of course, you can enjoy the best of both worlds and double your chances of success by dipping live bait into stink bait! Then you’re likely to catch a load of fish and the big one. Many locales allow using multiple fishing rods or multiple-hook rigs, so you can even use stink bait on one rig and live bait on the other to experiment with which is working better at a particular location.

Beyond stink bait and cut bait, some anglers use dough bait. They may roll white bread into dough balls or include cereal flakes or flour in homemade stink bait recipes. Carp are attracted to dough baits, and catfish sometimes school with carp.

Some anglers have reported catching big catfish on nothing at all–just a shiny hook! Shiny lures and spinners work, too.

Catfish are also attracted by chumming, but this method is not legal everywhere. Chum can be purchased in cans, blocks or bags. Other effective chum includes cheap canned cat (as in feline) food, finely chopped bait, ground-up fish innards or even road kill in a weighted burlap sack.

So whether you use live bait or stink bait depends on whether you want to land that trophy fish or need to feed an army of people! For more great tips on catching big catfish, check out the blog below.

To read more great catfishing tips check out this site Catching Big Catfish

Catfish is one of the oldest species of fish sought after today. The thing about the catfish that gets a lot of attention is the fact that catfish have a very keen sense of smell. What this means for the angler is that they will go after any type of bait that has a smell. In fact, the stronger the smell the more active it will make those catfish. This is why experienced anglers look for bait that grabs the attention of these fish and lures them in.

You can buy catfish bait but avid anglers agree that some of the best bait used for catfish fishing is actually the ones that you make yourself. There are a lot of killer catfish bait recipes available that can help to make each and every one of your fishing trips one that you will be talking about for a long time.

Three Killer Recipes

There are many different catfish recipes available that can be used with great success. There are so many different ones available that it can be a little difficult deciding which ones to start with. To help you get started here are three killer catfish bait recipes that are simple to make and very effective.

One killer catfish recipe calls for mixing one pound of limburger cheese with a little molasses and heating them together in a pot until they are melted. After it melts you need to start adding oatmeal to the mixture until it becomes thick enough to stick together. Place the mixture in a sealed container until needed. When you are ready to go fishing just wrap a small piece around your hook and start reeling in the catfish.

Chum Bait has always been one of the most popular types of catfish bait around and it is rather easy to make. First you need to choose the main ingredient to use. You can choose between shad, shrimp, mullet or anything similar to these. Put your selection into some type of blender and add bay or surf water to it and begin grinding them up together. Once it is all ground up together you need to put it in a freezer bag and keep it frozen until you are ready to use. When you are ready to go catfish fishing all you need to do is place the frozen mixture into the water and it will begin to melt and draw in the catfish.

Chicken liver bait is also an old favorite that is considered to be killer catfish bait. Start by placing a pound of grits into a bucket, add anise extract and chicken livers and mix well. Once the mixture reaches a consistency that holds together it is ready to use.

As you can see the main thing that all killer catfish recipes have in common is that they smell horrible and usually include something bloody or rotten. The worse the bait smells, the better it will draw in the catfish. Keep this in mind when mixing up your own bait to use.