Fishing for catfish can be a fun and rewarding experience. As an angler, one of the most common questions is “When do catfish start biting?”. The answer depends on several factors like water temperature, time of day, and season.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: catfish tend to be most active and start biting when water temperatures reach around 70-80°F. This usually occurs in late spring through summer. The best times are early morning or late evening when catfish are feeding.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about catfish biting based on water temperature, time of day, moon phase, weather, location, and season. With these tips, you’ll be able to maximize your chances of catching catfish.
How Water Temperature Affects Catfish Biting
70-80°F – Peak Activity
Catfish are most active and aggressive in the 70-80°F temperature range. This is when they feed the heaviest and are most likely to take bait. The warmer water increases their metabolism, triggering catfish to feed more often.
Anglers can expect fast-paced action and good numbers of catfish when water temps are in the 70s.
According to fishing experts, catfish will bite all day long when the water temperature is ideal. Focus on fishing during dawn, dusk, and at night as catfish are extremly active during low light conditions when the water is warm.
Productive baits include live bait like nightcrawlers, minnows, and cut bait. Scented prepared baits like stink baits, dip baits, and catfish dough baits are also effective.
50-70°F – Moderate Activity
In the 50-70°F range, catfish are moderately active. Their metabolism increases as the water warms, stimulating their feeding instinct. They will still bite in this temperature range, just not as aggressively as the peak 70-80°F range. Fishing can still be productive if anglers are patient.
Focus on warmer parts of the lake and fish during the warmest time of the day when catfish are most active. Key areas include shallow flats, backwaters protected from wind, and discharge areas where warmer water flows into the lake.
Baits like chicken liver, nightcrawlers, and prepared dough baits work well to tempt catfish in this temperature range.
Below 50°F – Low Activity
When the water temperature drops below 50°F, catfish metabolism slows down significantly. They become lethargic and inactive, moving less and feeding infrequently. Getting catfish to bite can be challenging in cold water.
To increase your odds, fish during warm spells on sunny days when the water temps temporarily rise. Target warm water areas like power plant discharges. Slowly present live baits like minnows or cut bait tight to cover. Scent attractants like blood bait can also help pique their interest.
Move locations frequently until you locate active fish.
While cold water catfishing can be tough, targeting deeper holes and channels where catfish congregate can improve your catch rates. Use electronics to locate concentrations of catfish suspended off the bottom during winter.
Best Times of Day for Catfish Biting
Early Morning
The early morning hours right before dawn are prime time for catfish feeding. As the sun starts to rise, catfish become more active and start looking for a hearty breakfast. The low light conditions allow catfish to feel more secure while venturing out from their hiding spots to forage (according to catfish experts at In-Fisherman).
Try casting lines in areas like creek channels, pond dams, and river bends an hour or two before sunrise for your best shot at hooking catfish.
Late Evening
Late evening just after sunset is another optimal time for catfish action. As the sunlight fades, catfish feel comfortable leaving their shelters to hunt for food under the cover of darkness. Focus your efforts on bottom-dwelling baits and rigs around structures like sunken trees, rocks, or bridge pilings when fishing at dusk.
Channel edges and points leading to adjacent flats can also be productive areas to find actively feeding catfish after dark.
Night
Fishing for catfish at night can be extremely rewarding, especially during hot summer months. Catfish tend to be more active when water temperatures are warm, feeding heavily under the cover of darkness. According to recent surveys, around 63% of catfish anglers prefer to fish at night.
Setup near river bends, submerged humps, or other bottom contours holding baitfish. Using live/cut bait on a sliding sinker rig can help pinpoint exactly where catfish are located on the structure. Focus efforts from around 9pm through 2am for your best opportunity at trophy-sized catfish.
Moon Phases and Catfish Biting
New Moon – Excellent Biting
The new moon phase is considered the best time for catfish biting activity. During a new moon, the moon is not visible in the sky, making for darker nights. Catfish tend to be more active in low light conditions, so they will feed more aggressively during this phase.
Anglers should target catfish around dawn, dusk, and at night when fishing a new moon. Some great baits to try are cut bait, live bait, and smelly prepared baits like chicken liver. Landing a big catfish on a new moon is an amazing experience!
Full Moon – Good Biting
While the full moon phase may not be as productive as the new moon, it can still offer good catfish biting. The brighter nights of a full moon cause some catfish to feed more cautiously. However, other catfish may take advantage of the increased visibility to more actively hunt baitfish.
Effective tactics during a full moon include fishing deeper holes and tighter to cover. Drift fishing baits slowly along the bottom can be productive. Channels, blues, and flatheads will all still feed under a bright full moon. Just be prepared to put in some extra effort to entice them to bite.
Waxing & Waning Moons – Moderate Biting
During the waxing and waning moon phases, catfish biting is generally moderate. As the moon transitions from new to full or full to new, there are varying degrees of light. Catfish activity will be moderate and more unpredictable during these phases.
Both daytime and nighttime fishing can be productive if you target feeding windows around dawn/dusk. Fishing shaded areas that offer some relief from the light may draw catfish out during the day. And fishing at night with strong scent baits can still trigger bites on the waning and waxing moons.
Pay close attention to weather patterns and water conditions that may spark increased feeding activity.
Weather Conditions for Prime Catfish Biting
Overcast Days
Overcast days with cloud cover are some of the best times to catch catfish. The dreary weather makes catfish more active as they sense the barometric pressure changes that typically precede rainstorms.
The clouds also cut down on sunlight penetration, making catfish feel more secure to move around and feed. Target areas like creek channels, bottom contours of lakes, and eddies behind current breaks for inactive catfish during overcast conditions.
The reduced visibility and heightened sense of security will cause catfish to patrol larger areas in search of food. This makes them more likely to find your bait. Use stink baits like chicken livers, shrimp, and prepared catfish dough baits to take advantage of their improved sense of smell on overcast days.
Set rods rigged with circle hooks and a sunk weight near the bottom in high-percentage spots.
Before & After Cold Fronts
The periods right before and after a cold front are prime times to hook catfish. As the front approaches, the dropping barometric pressure triggers catfish into a feeding frenzy. They voraciously feed on anything they can find before taking shelter as the front hits.
Focus your efforts on wind-protected banks, underwater humps, and river bends during this window.
Catfish will also turn on again in the days immediately after the front passes. The sudden weather change stresses them out, so they go on the hunt to regain strength. Their metabolism revs up in the cooler temperatures.
Set lines at dusk, night, and dawn when catfish are most active during post-front conditions. Drifting with live bait is an effective technique to cover water and locate hungry catfish after cold fronts.
Light Rain
A light rain provides unique advantages when catfishing. The rain stirs up the water, dislodging food sources and washing them into the catfish’s lairs. The noise from raindrops also masks sounds, allowing you to be stealthier.
Catfish rely heavily on their excellent sense of hearing, so light rain gives you an edge.
Focus on larger baitfish imitations and fresh live bait when targeting catfish in the rain. The increase in food items swept downstream triggers their predatory instincts. Rain also carries scents further, so aromatic prepared baits like blood bait and shrimp work well.
Concentrate efforts near current breaks and eddies where bait collects during wet weather.
Best Locations to Catch Catfish
Channels
Channel catfish love deep holes and eddies located along river channels. Look for spots where water flows downstream and hits a large rock, log jam, or other type of current break that causes the water to swirl and pool. Channels often hold behind these current breaks where baitfish will congregate.
Using cut bait on a slip sinker rig, slowly work your presentation along the bottom. Channels hold tight to cover so also look for brush piles, stumps, rocky banks and submerged timber. Areas around tributaries and creek channels that flow into rivers are also prime real estate for channel catfish since it gives them access to new forage.
Some great channel catfish fisheries include: the Mississippi River, Ohio River, Arkansas River, and Red River.
Drop-Offs
Any kind of depth change can be a productive area, especially if there is access to deeper water nearby. Dropoffs associated with ledges, weedlines, points, and underwater humps allow catfish to move up and down until they find their desired depth and temperature.
Focus on transitions from shallow flats to deeper basins or channels. Using sonar to locate these high percentage areas is a huge advantage. Once you’ve identified a promising dropoff or ledge, present cutbait rigs tight to the cover or structure.
Be prepared to move around until you key in on their preferred depth. Some excellent catfish fisheries featuring prime dropoffs include: Lake Eufaula, Lake Guntersville, Lake Mead, and Lake of the Ozarks.
Creek Mouths
The junction of creeks flowing into larger rivers give catfish the best of both worlds. They can roam creek channels looking for an easy meal, while still having quick access back to the security of deeper water. Target creek mouths that have plenty of cover such as stumps, laydowns, rocks or riprap.
Baits rigged here often attract active catfish coming and going. Creek mouths also tend to have well defined holes scoured out by current. Focus on any inside turns or bends which act as natural funnels for baitfish.
Some top notch fisheries featuring productive creek mouths include: the Tennessee River, Lake Texoma, Lake Fork and Kentucky Lake. No matter where you fish, keying in on current breaks, cover, and quick access to deep water are crucial for locating nice catfish.
Catfish Biting Based on Season
Spring
As spring arrives and water temperatures start to warm, catfish become more active and begin feeding more aggressively. The increased daylight during spring triggers catfish to start moving shallower and preparing to spawn.
Summer
Summer is often considered the peak biting season for many catfish species. High water temperatures stimulate feeding and growth rates.
Fall
As water temperatures cool in fall, catfish remain fairly active while preparing for winter. Cooler water triggers catfish to feed heavily before becoming inactive.
Winter
Catfish metabolism and activity slows significantly in cold winter water. They become lethargic and feed infrequently.
Conclusion
In summary, catfish biting is primarily influenced by water temperature, time of day, moon phase, weather conditions, location, and season. To maximize your chances of catching catfish, aim for 70-80°F water, fish early morning or evening, target new moons, seek overcast days or light rain, focus on structure, and fish in spring through fall.
With this comprehensive guide, you now have the key facts to help answer “when do catfish start biting?”. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be sure to have more successful outings catching catfish.
