Ice fishing is certainly a whole new experience and nothing like sitting out in the springtime breeze leisurely reeling the catfish in. If you plan on going ice fishing for catfish you need to be prepared and these ice fishing catfish tips and tricks can help you do just that.

Go Prepared – Being prepared is the first order of business you need to consider. You will want to start by making sure you have the proper clothing. You need clothing that is suitable for the cold weather while still being comfortable to wear. There are many new fabrics available today that are very lightweight and extremely warm. This is what you need to protect you from the cold and wind. The right type of clothing will even help to prevent hyperthermia. Wearing layers is the best way to protect against the cold and always wear a hat to help keep in your body heat. Insulated rubber or waterproof boots are recommended along with a good pair of gloves. Bringing along an extra set of clothing is also a good idea in the event there is an accident and you need dry clothing fast.

Take The Right Gear – Aside from clothing, you need the proper gear. One of the best tools you can carry with you is a fish finder. This will help you locate the fish beneath the ice much faster and easier. You need your sturdy fishing rod with a spinning reel and whatever you do, don’t forget the tool for drilling a hole in the ice or you will be rescheduling your trip.

Take a Variety of Bait – It is recommended that you carry a variety of different lures with you as the catfish can be finicky from time to time. However, whenever possible it is normally best if you can use sink bait. The smell will not spread a they are light enough to not weigh you down when you move from spot to spot.

If you want an experience like no other, then you must try catfishing in the great waters of the Mississippi River. There are many different species of catfish and most all are found in Mississippi. They are found in streams, lakes ponds and of course rivers like the grand Mississippi. So here’s what you need to know about catfishing the Mississippi. Mississippi area and the Mississippi River itself. These catfish tend to be bottom feeders and they are known for eating most anything they can get in their mouths, making them great to fish for sport.

The main types of catfish you can expect to catch are channel, flathead and blue. Here’s the rundown on how you can go about catching each of these. Channel cat are caught best at most any time of the year that is not extreme cold. Spring and fall are the best times to find channel catfish throughout the Mississippi. Try fishing with live baits such as small crawfish and bait fish. The best place to find them is on the bottom near rocks and other cover where the crawfish or baitfish will be hiding as well. Certain times of the year, you can also find them around areas of moss which they sometimes feed on.

That brings us to the flathead catfish, another popular species found in the Mississippi River. Flathead are most easily caught by using catfish baits such as live chubs and love shiners. Sometimes they are also caught on cut or prepared baits if the fish are exceptionally aggressive that day but these should not be your first choice. The flathead are the second largest species of catfish and they can be found after dark very abundantly and near logs and other submerged structures.

The next type of catfish you can find in the Mississippi is the blue. This is the biggest of the species of catfish and they are abundant in large rivers like the Mississippi. They may eat frogs, other fish, mollusks, crayfish and larger invertebrates. They find their food with their very strong sense of smell so people often use stinkbaits to attract and catch them. They are sometimes also found in structures, under logs and other debris in the water.