A catfish in a supercharged version
The channel catfish has adapted perfectly to the climate of the Iberian Peninsula and proliferates in lakes and rivers.
The physique of the channel catfish strongly resembles that of the small invasive catfish of our French waters. Its "V" shaped tail is cut to face the strong currents of a river in flood. Its body is stocky, the big fish are often not very long but impressive by their width.
Holding a channel catfish in your hands gives you an idea of how strong it is and what a ball of muscle it is. It has "whiskers" around its mouth, just like catfish, which it uses to locate its food in dirty water since its eyes are relatively undeveloped.
Bait and switch to score!
The channel catfish can be fished with different techniques. Natural baits are obviously the most effective, it feeds mainly on various waste that it can find on the bottom of the river. It is also known for its tendency to eat the eggs of other fish, even attacking black bass guarding their nests.
To decide on a channel catfish, the stronger the bait smells, the more effective it will be. Shrimp, sardines and other seafood are perfect because of the scent they disperse in the water.
Some areas in the rivers are so crowded that you can catch a fish on every cast for hours! Don't forget to bring strong tackle, the fight of the big ones can be very intense.
Also with lure
To successfully lure a channel catfish, forget about finesse! The most effective lures are those that the fish can perceive without using their eyes. Crankbaits and chatterbaits are a must for maximum vibration in the water. Crayfish imitations mounted on a rubber jig also work well when brought to the bottom by lifting silt. Other soft lures that may work are shads, whose caudal fin allows the channel catfish to easily locate its potential prey.
The use of attractant is obviously a big plus to increase the chances of your lure being spotted. To top it off, channel catfish bites are often very violent, a big suction like a thunderclap through the rod, just like its cousin the catfish.
