Calling all catfishers

Submitted by kungpaochi t3_zpyia8 in washingtondc

The other kind. There's blue catfish up to 50 lb or more in the Potomac and I've been fishing for them but haven't caught anything yet, looking for some advice. I'm using chicken hearts & gizzards for bait, 7/0 or 8/0 size circle hooks, and a 2oz sinker about 1' up the line from the hook. Have also tried livers and catfish dough but those do not stay on the hook well. I've gotten two bites, one that took the rig off once so now I tie it better. The other took the bait off the hook. Since then, no bites and I'm wondering should I cast somewhere else, or do I need cut bait?

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Seems like people do catch these near Fletchers Cove so it should be a good casting spot. I have also tried using some swimmer lures to get smaller fish for cut bait but I haven't had success with that either yet. Do some people just buy fish at a market for cut bait? Any tips appreciated!

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wholovestherain t1_j0vncz0 wrote

I've had great luck catching large catfish in Occoquan with chopped-up hotdogs.

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buxtonOJ t1_j0w0ris wrote

Pick up oily fish from the Asian markets, I like mackerel, and fish the Virginia side from fletchers to chain bridge…deeper the better (it gets to 70 feet in a few spots). I’d recommend 60lb braid and 60 lb mono/fluro leader as well as a bunch of extra lead (you’re going to get snagged a lot).

Right now the water is a bit cold so the bite is slower, but the big girls consistently eat all winter. Look for eddies and current that go from deep to calm. I like 2-4 ozs on the bottom

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Successful-End7689 t1_j0vrruq wrote

Am I the only one that interpreted this title the wrong way 😂

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Ace1o1fun t1_j0wfmhn wrote

If you want to catch the big catfish on the Potomac you're going to want to use cut Shad or cut herring not any of the bait you can buy in the stores. You're also going to need a boat to do it because you're going to have to net up the shad so you can use it for bait. This time of year you can get all the shad you want at the blue Plains discharge. I guarantee you most of the professional guides that fish all winter long on the Potomac net up hearing and Gizzard/ Hickory shad during the Spring runs and freeze it until they're ready to do serious fishing in the winter time where they catch the big ones.

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buxtonOJ t1_j0zfmmn wrote

Netting Shad is illegal and The Asian market mackerel works just fine, if not better bc of the oiliness.

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reachouttouchFate t1_j0vr2o8 wrote

Free heavy food, you say? On the Potomac, you say?

> blue catfish up to 50 lb or more

Tasty invasive, large enough to feed me until Lonelytimes' Day... Hmm...

Anyway... I've read reviews that Zote laundry bar has been used in the Deep South for swamp catfish. I suspect the tallow component is why.

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Oldbayistheshit t1_j0w1zgd wrote

We’ve caught some on the bay by accident using blood worms

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ChefBoiRDave t1_j0wplpv wrote

No joke, old head down by tha river told me the secret was slim Jim's. Works every time

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kungpaochi OP t1_j0wq56k wrote

Oh that's interesting, I will definitely give this a try. Good snack to have out there too.

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ChefBoiRDave t1_j0wr7vn wrote

Original is pretty good, the funkier the better though. I cut it into small disks between 1/4 and 1/2 inch and put em on an octopus hook #4/0 or bigger. Triple swivel with a 2-4 oz weight on the bottom, launch that puppy and wait. Idk if its still accessible because of city planning etc but hanes point, where the Potomac and Anacostia meet had like a 80% hit rate on that rig. I never hit that sweet 50lber but I (almost) always landed a cat.

A buddy of mine ran the same rig further up river past fletchers cove by the 495 Bridge and landed a 30

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sippysippy13 t1_j0zmcdy wrote

On a lark I took my surf rod and a bottom rig out on a boat just upstream from Key Bridge a few years ago (late spring, mind you). I was using frozen cut herring.

We anchored and I just dropped my line and it held taught in the current.

Caught two huge cats. One was probably 6-7 lbs and the other was over 10.

That was the first and last time I've fished for cats.

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blueva703 t1_j0w2dku wrote

I remember my dad using Wheaties to catch catfish. He mixed it with some other stuff and made balls out of it. It wasn’t in the Potomac, so I not sure if it would work for you.

I know little about fishing. 😄

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drewskimoon t1_j0wqg3f wrote

You can catch shad pretty easy on crappie rigs in the spring near fletchers. Some of them are endangered though if you are using for cut bait. Those will also land you striper when they’re spawning.

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kevin_from_illinois t1_j0xrz0n wrote

Cheat code is a pack of Oscar Meyers. Cheap, fragrant, and they stay on the hook pretty well since they're firm. Heavy sinker (half ounce or so) with 50-lb wire leader and #8 circle hook.

I've had luck with fish in the 20lb range, mostly blue catfish.

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