Want to catch a catfish?
Here’s what you need to know
Where to go
You’ll find catfish in ponds and lakes across Utah. From Willard Bay and Lake Powell to Utah Lake and dozens of community fisheries, there’s usually a good catfishing hole somewhere close to home.
When to go
You can catch catfish throughout the year, but they are a popular summertime fish. They thrive in warm water and will bite on even the hottest days. Surprisingly, catfishing is also great just after ice-out on many of Utah’s lakes. This is when catfish swim along the windblown shores, gorging on the carcasses of weaker fish that died over the winter. We will stock 70,000 pounds of channel catfish in Utah’s community fisheries in 2009. To see where we’re stocking, visit the stocking report between June and September.
What bait to use
Catfish anglers often have great success fishing the lakeshore and using a chunk of minnow or chub meat as bait. Unlike many other fish, catfish aren’t finicky. They’ll eat worms, chicken liver, cheese, PowerBait®, bread, dead fish, hot dogs and shrimp – or just about anything else you toss their way.
How to hang onto your catch
After you’ve hooked a whiskered wonder, they’re easy to land. Catfish practically come with handlebars. Those sharp spines on the dorsal and pectoral fins of catfish make great grips – if you’re willing to slide the stem of each spine between your fingers. Catfish are great table fare and can be prepared a number of different ways. One of my favorite recipes is blackened catfish.
This young angler shows the catfish he caught at The Cove, a community fishing water in Herriman. Photo taken on May 11, 2008.
March 11, 2009 at 2:28 pm
[...] Want to catch a catfish? [...]
August 17, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Hi,
Would you have any photos of any of the local urban fisheries that I could post with my article I’m doing for examiner.com?
Thanks,
Shane Roe
August 18, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hello Shane,
We generally post our best photos on dwr.smugmug.com . We’re constantly adding more photos to this site.
Specifically, this page may help you. If you are looking for something more, I could talk to Chris Penne and see what he’s got.
Regards,
Parker Jones
(admin)
May 4, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Thanks for the links to the photos sites. There are some amazing photos there. Whomever shot them is an awesome photographer!
October 2, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Great article and an even better picture. The smile on that kids face is PRICELESS. That is what it is all about right there.
Can you guys catfish up there in the winter or is it too cold for you?
I live in Texas where we have year round fishing, so I am always interested in hearing how the weather effects the catfishing in other places.
Tight lines, and keep up the great work. Looking forward to more articles and pictures!
May 25, 2011 at 9:05 pm
wonder if any one has looked into why the catfish are die off in pioneer park brigham city thanks