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Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus · also: channel cat, barbotte (bullhead, often confused)

Big, strong river fish that pull hard and taste great. The Red River is world class.

Where to find them

Red River (Manitoba), Grand River and Lake Erie tributaries (Ontario), Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers, Lake St. Clair, Richelieu (Quebec).

Rigs by season

SeasonWhere and what to tie
Late spring–summerCurrent seams, deep holes and below dams. Slip sinker rig with cut bait or shrimp.
FallDeep holes as water cools. Three-way rig and slip sinker rig with cut bait.

Gear

7'–8' medium-heavy rod, 20–30 lb mono or 50 lb braid, rod holders.

Bait and lures

Cut sucker, goldeye, shrimp, chicken liver, dip baits, frogs where legal.

Tips

  • Fish the seam where fast water meets slow.
  • Use circle hooks and don't set — just reel.

Rigs for channel catfish

3 rigs

Three-Way Rig diagramMain line Three-way swivelLeader 2–5 ftHook + minnowDropper 6–24" (lighter line)Bell sinker

Three-Way Rig

A three-way swivel splits the line into a short dropper to a sinker and a longer leader to a hook, minnow or floating crankbait. The rig for holding bait in the strike zone in river current.

walleyeBeginnerWalleyeSauger
Slip Sinker Rig diagramMain line 15–30 lbEgg / no-roll sinker (slides)Bead Barrel swivelLeader 12–24"Circle hook + cut bait

Slip Sinker Rig

An egg or no-roll sinker slides on the main line above a swivel, bead and leader. Fish pick up the bait and run without feeling the weight. The universal bottom rig for catfish, carp and stocked trout.

catfishBeginnerChannel CatfishCarp
Hi-Lo Rig (Dropper Loop Rig) diagramMain line Barrel swivelDropper loop #1Hook12–18"Dropper loop #2Hook8–10"Bell sinker

Hi-Lo Rig (Dropper Loop Rig)

A sinker at the bottom and one or two hooks on dropper loops above it. Two baits at two depths, perfect for perch schools and bottom feeders, and it drops straight down through an ice hole.

panfishIntermediateYellow PerchChannel Catfish