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| Phil King, Renowned Catfisherman |
Team Cabela's member and renowned catfisherman, Phil King has spent more than 25 years targeting catfish. He has made a name for himself in the catfish tournament world with more than 20 big fish titles and championships in the Cabela's King Kat Classic, The World Championship of Catfishing, Cat Masters USA, and many more. He has spilled some of his secrets for you with some quick tips that will help you make the most of your time on the water.
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Click this link for more information on Phil King and his "Little Catman" Guide Service on the Tennessee River. |
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Quality rod holders allow you to fish multiple rods while anchored or vertical trolling. Cabela's 360HT or Driftmaster rod holders work great for both of these applications. They are made of sturdy material, easy to use and adapts to all types of rod and reel combinations. With the 360HT, you also have the advantage of adjusting the rod holder straight up when moving to your next spot.
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Check life jackets often for normal wear and tear, and replace them when necessary. Use the Cabela's comfort mesh vest jackets, full-motion series for more comfort during the summer months or the high performance inflatables. Check local laws to see what the requirements are concerning life jackets, especially around dams where special rules often apply. Compliance with life jacket laws could save your life, a fine, or both.
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Maintain your fishing reels by breaking down and cleaning them at least on an annual basis. Routine maintenance will ensure consistent performance as well as increasing their useful life. Lubricate all bearing surfaces and don't forget the levelwind worm gear on baitcasting reels. Also, be sure not to get any lubricant on drag surfaces or you'll find your ability to stop a run dramatically reduced.
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Bait-cutting boards make this job a cinch and allow for fast and easy clean-up. These boards keep the mess in one area that is easily removed for hosing off and make it easier to work with slippery baits during the day's fishing.
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VHF radios allow you to track current weather conditions and call for help if needed. This important tool can be a lifesaver when fishing unfamiliar waters where weather is subject to turn violent with little notice, leaving minimal time to get to a safe area of the lake or river.
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Guidewear® keeps you comfortable in the rain or cold, windy conditions. This heavy-duty raingear is a must for any serious fisherman who is dedicated to spending the day on the water, no matter what the weather.
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Hot, sweltering summer days can sap your strength, increase fatigue and cause your mind to wander from the important task at hand. Being comfortable can help you to concentrate on the bite instead of the heat. Lightweight and breathable apparel, such as Supplex®, will keep you cool and dry on those sweltering summer days. Once you try lightweight fishing apparel, you will not go back to blue jeans and tee shirts again.
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In fishing tournaments, Stacey Thompson and I have had great success with the King Kat casting rods. Drift fishing for catfish is an excellent tactic for locating active fish. The tackle you use is an important part of the technique. We use the 7'6" rod when drift fishing, zero to medium current conditions. When the current flow increases, we switch to the more robust 7' rod. Both are lightweight, durable and sensitive - a must to feel the subtlest bites.
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Finding submerged timber is key to landing big catfish. Keep your eye out for 3-6' vertical lines on your depthfinder - these are usually trees or tree limbs. A depthfinder in the 600-watt range is ideal.
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Increase catch rates by changing one thing on your important element of your tackle - braided line. Cabela's SI braid, and Spiderwire Stealth allow you to feel the fish when they first inhale the bait, not when they are trying to get off. Keep your drag set in the 5- to 10-pound range to relieve pressure on the rod.
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Rod holders are a great investment for catfish anglers. With the burden of holding a rod eliminated, you can concentrate more on boat position and watching your fish finder. Another great feature for rod holders is that fish will typically hook themselves - plus, your rod stays in the boat and not on the bottom of the lake!
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Three-way swivels will reduce line twist when using any size bait. Connect your main line to one eye on the three-way swivel, tie on a leader ½ or less the strength of the main line for the weight-end of the three-way. Moving to the next eye, tie off your hook leader. With a weaker line tied to the weight, you'll break off an easily and quickly replaceable weight instead of losing the entire rig and valuable time wasted in replacing the rig.
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Fishing is a life-long learning process, learn from other fishermen, depthfinder, maps and listen to the locals that have fished these areas all their life. Your time spent on the water is very valueable, pay attention to all the little details. Watch the birds feeding in an area, notice where the fish are located near the bottom or suspended, fishing is just details and more details.
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Line counter reels such as the Cabela's Depthmaster II Trolling Reel with a line counter accessory kit allows you to place your bait at the proper depths for suspended fish. Remember to place baits at or slightly above the depth you are marking fish they will most likely come up to hit a bait rather than go down take the bait.
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Pre-tied rigs come in handy and can save valuable time when tournament fishing. All you have to do with a pre-tied rig is attach it to your main line with one of your favorite knots, and you're ready to go. A good way to store pre-tied rigs is in self-contained Denny Brauer Tackle Binders.
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When fishing lakes, try weaving back and forth on top of old river or creek channels to find the depth where fish are feeding. Once the depth is located, hold on that depth and anchor or drift to catch the active fish.
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When water levels drop, look for the fish to move out to deeper water and hold tight to structure or against drop offs. In zero current conditions, look for blue cats to suspend and be prepared to fish off of the bottom.
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When fishing after weather fronts, you may have to downsize your baits and anchor in areas that you know hold fish and wait them out.
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The right hook can make a huge difference in the amount of fish you put in the boat. I have found that Daiichi Circle Wide Bleeding Bait hooks are very effective. These hooks combined with Spiderwire Stealth, will put 90 - 98% of fish that strike, in the boat. The main thing to remember is to let the fish consume the bait and instead of a rapid hook set, just start reeling or give a gentle tug.
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Make it a point to fish one new area of your favorite body of water each time you go fishing. Even though it is tempting to go to your old favorite spots, you will be amazed and rewarded at the same time by venturing to some new fishing holes.
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When catfishing, always carry a wide selection of baits as catfish like to have a variety in their diet. Let the fish tell you what they want, whether it's cut bait, livers, dip or other natural baits. You can accomplish this by using multiple hook rigs with a variety of baits.
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Like most other fish species, catfish love structure. Look for this submerged structure with a good depthfinder. Rocks and boulders in deeper water will hold large catfish, depending on the time of year and depth of water. Regularly using a depthfinder is like having an encyclopedia in the boat because it allows you to continually learn about catfish and their habits.
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