Safely Releasing Catfish

[EKYFisher01]

Hey guys!

I am planning to try my luck at some cat fishing on my next outing (while in the meantime fishing for Bass.) I Bass fish a fairly large private pond that also has a TON of catfish in it.  I have several questions about the releasing of catfish.  I havent caught a catfish in years.  The last time that I caught one I was little and I didnt handle the fish.

These cats I believe are Channel Cats (though I could be wrong) and they look to be 25+ inches long and in healthy condition.  As far as weight goes thats what I want to find out!

Ive done a couple of searches on "Unhooking catfish" and "releasing catfish" and came up with nothing so I thought Id ask the pros!

Obviously, I have to remove the hook.  Ive got all the tools necessary to do so.  But my questions begin after the hook is removed.

Once the the hook is out:

How do I hold the fish?  Do I place my hand in the mouth?  Or is there another way to hold the fish or maybe a tool to use?  However I am more interested in not using a tool because I am planning on going out tonight or tomorrow.

When I release the fish (considering a quick out-of-water time) should I just put it back in and let it do its own thing?  Or should I crouch down and place the fish in the water and move it until it moves?  What about the opposite situation if the fish has been out of the water for a lengthy amount of time?

Is there anything I need to watch out for?  I know these are large fish and they are certainly strong.  

If I were to weigh the catfish where is the proper area to weigh the fish?  (I have a Stren analog scale.  Has one of those blunt hook kinda things on it.)

Bait suggestions?  (See below for what I have together so far.)

Over the past few days Ive gotten some gear together for hopefully a pretty big cat for the pond standards.  I am using two baitcasters both with 14 pound line.  I am planning to use some Walmart Premade Catfish bait along with dog food.  The catfish at this pond eat dogfood like no other.  Everytime I go out I have a bag of dogfood that I throw a couple handfuls to them and I have seen some BIG ones!  I also plan to catch a small Bluegill and hook it and throw it out as well.  

Thanks in advance!  Ill let you guys know how it went and hopefully Ill be able to bring back some pictures!

EKYFisher  

[BlakeMolone]

Use bread and cut bluegill! I would be cautious buying stinkbaits because they usualy just catch smaller fish(although last night i cought a nice channel on punch biat). Good luck!!

[EKYFisher01]

Thanks for the info! I actually went tonight and the stink bait did absolutely nothing.  It ended up ultimately in the garbage outside after a ride home in the back of the truck  ;D.  The only thing that hit it was a mud turtle that thankfully didnt get stuck by the hook.

I caught a couple bluegill and I hooked two MONSTER bass (for the pond standards.)  They both got off sadly.  The last one I hooked I set the hook like no ones business and when the fish broke water I heard a big "POP" and out came the hook with no bluegill attached.

It was the first time I had ever fished with bluegill and I was very pleased with the results I had even though I didnt get the fish in.  I learned a lot today and hopefully tomorrow afternoon Ill have better luck!

Thanks again!

EKYFisher  

[JShrock07]

Hey bud,

I have been catfishing for many years and I started fishing in a river that has blue cats.

They are predator fish. They will bite on live moving bait more.

Channel cats will bite on something that stinks and doesn't move as they are a bottom.

When fishing a pond/lake you are most likely fishing for channel cats. With-in the last few years I have been fishing for cats a lot!!!! When fishing for channel cats in a pond/lake you want to set up you pole like you are making a Carolina rig. With no current running through the pond/lake I like to use 17lb cajun line, a 1oz sinker, glass bead and then my swivel. Then I will take about a 2ft section on 30lb big game line and attach a 3/0 heavy duty hook.

For bait I like to use chicken liver!!! That is one of the greatest baits when fishing for channel cats. I like to take a large chunk of liver and hook it onto one of my poles and lightly cast it out and set it on my rod holder. The next pole I will take some women's panty hose and tie a knot (just 1 overhand knot nothing special) And then I will add a smaller chunk of chicken liver and then before I tie another knot to seal the bait I will take some garlic powder and sprikle a good amount onto the bait and then tie my knot. I will then hook it twice onto the hook and then cast it out as far as I possibly can and let it sit. And for my 3rd rod I will set it up the exact same way as the second however I will use a huge chunk of chicken liver. I like to use a large variety of size for catfishing because you never want to be disappointed when fishing for cats.

As for fishing for blue cats PM me if you want more info on them. And I will post it right on here. I have a lot of knowledge on catfishing.

As for the release of cats They are no different then other freshwater fish. You usually do not need to swim the fish through the water to make sure it will swim away. Unless you have gut hooked the cat it is usually fine. I have never had a problem releasing cats. I just take them off the hook and throw them back it the water. Even if I take a pic as soon as the pic is over I will throw it back in.

I hope this has helped you in many ways. BTW don't forget to PM me if you would like more info.

-Nitro 8-)

Check the one I have in my Avatar... That one is only 27.4 lbs. My largest is 38.0 and those are both blue cats. I caught those in a river.

[bchlr]

shrimps, worms, chicken liver or even pork liver are going to work. I even caught one with a swimbait

If the fish is big enough I hold him by the mouth like I do with a bass, or if it's small enough, see below (view from the top of the fish's head)

Once I was trying to push a catfish to the water with my foot. He turned around and sting me right on my big toe, jumped and got away. Man that hurt :'( :'(

[basspimple]

catfish are some of the toughest fish you will ever catch. if they are small you can lip em, but if they are as big asyour talkin about, you would be better of holdin em the way bchlr stated. i have had catfish out of the water for 3 hours or more and released them (some were to small to keep) and with a little coaxing swim away just fine. good luck! catfishin is probably the most easy fishin thats out there!

[JShrock07]

Holding a catfish is not diffucult... I will hold them almost the same way as I do a bass however I don't put my thumb inside the nouth I will put my four fingers inside the mounth and my thunmb on the outside. Trust me they have teeth like a bass and a stronger jaw. Sometimes it hurts but as "bchlr" stated it doesn't feel so good when they stink you if they fall to the ground so hole them tight. They aren't going to cut you by biting you. 8-)

[BlakeMolone]

I still say go with cut bluegill! Especialy the heads!

[EKYFisher01]

Thanks a lot guys!  Im getting ready to head out here in about an hour and hopefully Ill be able to come back with some pics or at least a story!   ;D

NitroMan:  Thanks for all the info!  Im definately gonna try that out!  38 lbs?!  Thats absolutely insane!  I dont believe theres anything in that pond that big.  But nevertheless that is an impressive fish!  Ive been going through the fish records for Kentucky and it says that the biggest blue caught in Ky was 109 lbs on the Ohio River.  Thats a CHUNK of a fish!  Maybe one day for me!  

Thanks again guys!  

EKYFisher

[BlakeMolone]

Oh and if there realy hitting the dog food then bring bread and dough it up on your hook!(but thats if they dont hit the other baits)

[JShrock07]

Yea man anytime!!! If you need anything else just let me know. 8-)

[saint romain]

If the cat isn't too big, I always put my index finger up the belly (between the two fins) and grip the fish right under the side fins. It's a little tricky when releasing, if you are still holding the fish, while holding it like this. Usually when I fish for 'em, I keep them, but while bass fishing, I snag up on a few every now and again. They kind of tick me off then, so I usually just toss them in the water, and they usually do just fine. If fishing for cats, I use night crawlers (I dont know if everyone has them, but down here in LA you'd be dumb to buy those little scrawny worms for $.50 less). They are usually productive, and I've fished with perch before and hooked up on some big bass too.