Fishing tips & rules
New to catfishing or been at it for years — here's everything you need to land a good one and take it home cleaned.
Rule #1 — No catch & release
Every fish you hook is yours to keep — that's how catch-and-clean works. Please don't throw fish back. Bring whatever you land to the shop and we'll weigh it and get it cleaned up for you.
Prepare your pole
A few quick checks make all the difference. Here's what works best in our ponds.
Check your line
20 or 25 lb test is what we recommend. Heavier than 25 lb won't throw out as well, and lighter than 20 lb breaks too easily.
Pick the right hook
Go with a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. It's a heavy-gauge hook that doesn't bend easily and is big enough to hold a fair amount of bait — the more bait you put on, the better the fish are attracted.
Set your drag correctly
Too loose and you won't be able to reel the fish in — your line could even end up twisted. Too tight and the fish could break the line when it makes a run for it.
Bait, cast & wait
Catfish find their food by smell, so the trick is to get your bait out and leave it be.
Cast out as far as you can
Bait your hook and throw it out as far as possible.
Keep hold of your pole
Or it might join the rest at the bottom of the pond! If you do lose one, let us know right away — it helps the chances of getting it back.
Then leave it there
Once your bait is out where you want it, leave it there. Catfish find food by smell — if you keep reeling in, by the time they smell it, it's gone.
When we feed the ponds
If we feed while you're fishing, the fish feed up top. Clip a cork, bobber, or float about a foot above your hook so it sits right below them. In the winter, keep fishing the bottom.
Pulling in a fish
Give a strong jerk to set the hook. Raise the tip of the pole and keep the line tight, then lower the tip while reeling in the slack — keeping tension on the line the whole time. Repeat until the fish is at the bank. Don't pull the line by hand while the fish is still in the water; that can make it come off or break the line. We recommend using a net.
Bigger fish seem to be caught farther out, while smaller fish come in closer to the bank — where you may have trouble with perch stealing your bait.
What the catfish are biting
Grab any of these at the self-serve bait shop. A strong-scented, stays-on- the-hook bait wins.
Works well, and doesn't sling off the hook.
Works well.
Works well, but tends to fly off during the cast.
Works — it smells bad, and one strike means you should check your bait.
Can be used for bait, but cut it up — it doesn't work well whole.
We weigh, clean & ice it
Once you've caught the amount of fish you want, bring them in to be weighed. Let us know if you'd like them as-is, cleaned, or filleted. If we clean or fillet them, we'll wash out your ice chest and pack the fish in with ice. As always — just ask, and we'll help however we can!
Take your catch home as-is.
We clean it and pack it on ice.
We fillet it and pack it on ice.
Ready to wet a line?
The ponds are stocked and waiting. Come catch your limit — there isn't one.