By Mary Syrett, August 2007

• Introduction
• Catching catfish from shore
• Where to catfish in North Carolina
• Recipes
• Download the full article as a

Catching catfish from shore

You don’t need a boat to enjoy catfishing. On North Carolina lakes and streams, most anglers fish from shore. Here are some tips:

• Select bank sites near prime catfish holding areas—perhaps a shore clearing near a river’s outside bend, a spot beside a pond levee, or a gravel bar adjacent to a deep hole in a small stream. Ideal sites have flat, brush-free banks that make for easy snag-free casting.
• From a river bank, fish different locations and let your bait drift in the current beneath a bobber. Your bait will move naturally downstream, flowing through rapids and settling near catfish holes.
• Keep your line tight. A slack line will bow downstream ahead of the bait, leaving you in a poor position for setting the hook once a catfish does strike.
• Don’t let your guard down when landing a big one. A long-handled net can land large fish. If you anticipate catching a fish too big for your net, you’ll have to beach it. Use heavy line, keep your drag set, and pull the fish up on land as far as possible before removing the hook.