What's the best time of year to catch catfish?

Katfish Country Dragon Gliders catfish dragging weights

There isn't one best month for catfish -- there's a best approach for each season. Late spring into early summer, when water warms into the 70s and fish are spawning and then feeding hard right after, is usually the most consistent stretch. But catfish bite in every season if you change depth, bait and presentation to match the water.

Late winter and ice-out

Right after ice-out, catfish feed on fish that didn't survive the winter and sank to the bottom. Iowa's DNR says cut bait or dead minnows work well in this window, and a rotten-smelling bait tends to outfish a fresh one while water stays under 60 degrees. Feeding picks up once water reaches about 40 degrees. Fish deeper water before the ice fully melts, then follow fish into shallower areas as they warm faster.

Spring spawn

Kentucky's fish and wildlife agency says catfish start spawning once water warms into the 70s, and that late spring into early summer is prime time. Males guard nests in cavities -- rip-rap, stumps, undercut banks, rock along dams and lake shorelines. Iowa's DNR adds that strikes during the spawn are aggressive, so set the hook quickly rather than waiting.

Early summer, right after spawn

Kentucky's agency notes that catfish feed aggressively for a couple of weeks after they finish spawning, usually by late May into June depending on latitude. Shallow sandy-clay flats with some vegetation stay productive into June, and low-light periods -- dawn, dusk and full dark -- are the most consistent times of day in this stretch.

Summer

As water keeps warming, Iowa's DNR says catfish shift to shorelines at night and pull back to deeper open water during the day. Smaller catfish respond well to prepared stink baits once water hits about 70 degrees; bigger cats tend to want a larger bait -- live bait, crayfish or a big piece of cut bait. On reservoirs, catfish often follow shad schools along channel edges, which is where a dragging or trolling weight earns its keep: it keeps cut bait moving along the bottom instead of sitting still, covering water until you find where the shad -- and the catfish under them -- are holding.

Fall

As the water cools, catfish eat more fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Iowa's DNR says fish begin moving toward their wintering areas in October and most have settled in by November. Scent still matters here, maybe more: in colder water, scent doesn't travel as far, so a bait with a strong, concentrated scent gives fish more to find in water that carries smell less efficiently than warm water does.

Winter

Catfish move into the deepest holes they can find -- Iowa's DNR says over 15 feet where that depth is available -- and stay there through the cold months. They're far less aggressive than in spring or summer. Cut bait or nightcrawlers on a slip-sinker rig, fished slowly right on the bottom, is the standard approach. Expect a subtle bite and be patient.

Common mistakes

  • Fishing the same depth and bait choice all year, instead of moving with the season.
  • Fishing fast water during high, rising water instead of switching tactics when water falls and fish slow down.
  • Using a fresh, mild-scented bait in cold water, where it won't carry as far as a strong one will.
  • Sitting too long in one spot in summer instead of covering water to find where baitfish are holding.

Shop the gear

  • Katfish Country Dragon Gliders -- weights for dragging and trolling cut bait along channel edges and drop-offs, useful for covering water in summer and fall instead of sitting still.
  • Snowball's Bait Tonic StankZapp -- a catfish bait enhancer for adding stronger scent to cut bait, especially useful in cooler water when scent doesn't carry as far on its own.

Frequently asked questions

What water temperature makes catfish spawn?

Kentucky's fish and wildlife agency says catfish spawn once water warms into the 70s. Exact timing depends on your latitude and that year's weather.

Do catfish feed during the spawn?

Not well. Fish guarding a nest are defending it more than feeding, which is part of why many anglers find spring spawn fish harder to catch than the weeks right before or after.

Where do catfish go in winter?

Iowa's DNR says they move into the deepest holes available in a river or lake, often over 15 feet deep, and stay there through the cold months, feeding less often.

Why does bait scent matter more in cold water?

Scent travels less efficiently through cold water than warm water, so a bait with a strong, concentrated scent gives fish more to key in on during fall and winter.

Is summer or spring better for big catfish?

Both can produce. Spring prespawn and early post-spawn tend to bring the most consistent action; summer rewards anglers willing to fish at night or follow baitfish schools to deeper structure.

Check your state wildlife agency's rules before you go -- they vary by water body and season.

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