FLY FISHING FOR SPRING CATFISH

Silently drifting though the air, the line snakes it way across the water. Dawn is just breaking through the mists when the streamer drops delicately on the surface and sinks.

The line tightens as a forked-tail fish mouths the streamer and moves off to deeper water. Catfish like to eat their prize in the safety of deep water. Using a streamer to catch catfish? Streamers are for fly fishing. Catfish don’t bite a fly. Or do they?

Today’s fly angler has expanded his list of prey. Catfish are the most recent to join the list of the hardcore fly fisherman, and the most fun. The prolific catfish can be found in almost any body of water in the middle of the country.

Catfish prefer a drop off are as where a riffle meets a pool. In the evening they move up to the shallow eddies and flats where they feed through the cooler nighttime temperatures. It is during these feeding periods that they are most vulnerable.

For those interested in catching catfish with a fly rod, a good starting point in the choice of tackle. A long, rather stiff, rod with a weight forward line to match is the beginning. For the more bulky fly a bass taper weight forward line would be good. A good tackle shop can help with the choice.

If more than one line is to be used, store them on extra spools so that the lines can be changes in response to lure selection and changing water conditions.

Monofilament of about five-pound test works well in a length of three to four feet for the tippet. If being able to see the line is a problem, then a colored mono line is OK. A float indicator can help identify a light bite as would a small ultra light float.

The choice of fly tends to lean toward anything that imitates a crayfish, leech or night crawler. Channel catfish tend to be bottom feeders. To match the hatch one has to match what is swimming or crawling on the bottom.

Fishing time tends to be early morning hours, up until about an hour after sunup. This bite does not last a long time but it can be done for a while and then one can move on to other types of fishing.

Fly fishing for catfish can be done on just about any lake, river or pond. If one is wadding, do so with great care as holes in the bottom can cause serious problems for the unsuspecting angler who steps in them.
The catfish has been described as a muscle with whiskers on one end and a forked tail on the other. That is not too far from the truth. On the light tackle of a fly rod and line the catfish is a formidable challenge. And it is a fun way to begin the day.

                                               Don Gasaway - The Ground Pounder
                                               http://www.dongasaway.wordpress.com/