Most people assume that catfish live primarily in lakes and rivers, but they also populate your local farm ponds. It is true that if you live to bait fishing for catfish you will find good populations in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers but don’t overlook ponds you may be surprised at the catfish fishing action in ponds.
Actually statistics show there is more opportunity to bait fish for catfish in ponds then any other freshwater location. In 1936 the U.S. Agriculture Conservation Program give farmers subsidies to build ponds. In a time period over twenty five years The number of farm ponds in the untied states exploded. Ponds are still being built today by land owners at a healthy rate, but it was this early legislation that really made a huge difference for fisherman. My point is, do not overlook ponds as a reliable water area to bait fish for catfish.
I would like to discuss the different pond types that you can catch catfishi in There are three basic pond types that you can catch catfish in, such as dug ponds, built ponds, and dammed creek ponds. A pond can be a body of water as small as 1 acre or as large as 50 acres. The pond size will determine the size of the catfish you can catch, and also the type. The ponds construction will determine how many catfish will be living there, and the area of the pond they will be located during the different seasons of the year.
Dug ponds are typically dug with earth moving machines. The pond is kept full from rain run off from the surrounding land. Sometimes water pumps are installed to keep them full during dry periods of the year. The typical dug pond is rarely over 5 acres in size. Dug ponds will normally hold populations of channel catfish. If the pond is managed correctly. If you are bait fishing a dug pond in a dry period and the pond has a active pump moving water into the pond then cast your line near the moving water close to the pump. Any channel catfish in the pond will likely be attracted to the moving water. If there is no well pump or if you are fishing during a wet period of the year active channel catfish will roam the shallow banks and hold near any pond structure such as submerged logs, large rocks, docks, or weed beds.
Built ponds are created by building a dam across a low area that has a agreeable water shed , and soil type. A dam can back up large areas of water sometimes as large as 100 acres, the size of a small lake. The deepest spot in a built pond will be near the dam area. You will be able to bait fish for catfish in the late fall and winter near the dam area. When the water warms in the spring the catfish head to shallow structure areas of the pond. In the spring fish for catfish close to known structure points, and flat hard pan areas where cats love to roam.
Ponds that are dammed at a creek are typically done so to be used for irrigation and bait fishing. You will want to concentrate your bait fishing efforts for channel catfish and bullhead catfish in or near the old creek bed channel. If you can locate structure on the edge of the old creek channel you should have some good luck catching catfish. No mater what season of the year you fish these dammed ponds catfish will be located in the old creek channel. Many times there will be very little fishing pressure at dammed creek ponds which open up to the opportunity to catch some good catfish table fare.
Well that concludes my article about Channel Catfish. We wish you the best of luck on your next fishing trip!
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