First of all, get rid of the notion that you have to fish at night for catfish. I catch hundreds every year and I quit “feedin’ the skeeters” (night fishing) years ago. True, you can sometimes catch more large cats at night…but only if you know what you are doing and have the right tackle and the right bait…and know where you are fishing. It is silly to go someplace for the first time…at night…not knowing the spot at all…and expect to load up. Also, go with someone who can help you learn more and catch some fish. Don’t take somebody else who is a worse angler than yourself and only causes problems through their own inexperience.
That may sound harsh but I read your account of night fishing at Willard. Your intentions were good and you were sincere in your desire to catch fish. But you screwed up at every turn. You were not prepared for any aspect of the trip and it was just one big comedy of errors. You are either cursed with bad luck or you just plain do not plan well for fishing trips.
There is a whole lot more to fishing than chucking out a recommended bait, in a recommended spot and hoping to get lucky. Fishing truly is a combination of art and science. And if you check hospital records from all over the whole world you will not find any birth records that list a “born fisherman”. Everybody starts off the same…with the same lack of knowledge and experience. After that it is a combination of getting a lot of help and doing a lot of reading, research and practice on your own…and being able to learn from each bit of help you receive and everything you pick up from books or the internet.
I am not being critical of you personally. I know from my own experience and from meeting countless other anglers both on the water and in other situations that there are a whole lot of folks that have a lot more passion than skill for fishing. Unfortunately, as with any sport…or almost any other pursuit in life…you will do better at fishing if you have some qualified instruction to help you learn the right things…and then practice the right things rather than continuing to do everything wrong…simply because you don’t know any better.
In the past we have had “Fishing 101” get togethers where BFT members brought their tackle and we could look it over and tell them what was good or bad about it…and help them learn how to use it better. There are countless combinations of rods, reels, lines, lures, flies, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, swivels and other fishing paraphernalia available to enthusiastic fishermen. But, there are very special and refined combinations that are best suited for specific fishing situations. You can buy one rod, reel and line combination that will work for a wide range of waters and species, but some folks end up with “Wally World Specials” that are ill suited for the kind of fishing they do most.
Then there is basic rigging and casting. Again, you can GET BY with a lot of different rigs…and still catch a few fish. But most of the time you will catch a lot more fish and have more fun if you know how to tie the right knots and present the bait or lures better…on special rigs. And knowing how to cast properly will give you more distance and accuracy. That can be critical for some species on some waters…and it will almost always make a difference…no matter where you fish and what you fish for.
Then you have to be able to find the fish. They are not everywhere or in every water. YOU CAN’T CATCH THEM WHERE THEY AINT. So it pays to know the waters and the species and to be able to guess where you have the best chance of finding some active feeders. Not all fish feed all of the time. And you have to know what to present to them…bait, lures, flies, etc. That will change a lot during the year on the same waters for the same species. Again…art and science.
Okay, I am rambling. But I kinda went off when you listed a bunch of spots that you had fished without catching ANYTHING. That should never happen to an angler who has basic skills and who properly prepares for a trip. It ain’t ALL luck.
The last time we tried to set up a Fishing 101 class there were more BFTers who volunteered to help than folks who were ready to admit they could use some pointers. So, we bagged it and I have pretty much given up on it myself. I’d rather go fishing.
**BUT…if you will PM me…if you are interested…I will be happy to do a one-on-one session with you to see just where you are in your basic skills and knowledge…and then to make some suggestions on a few things you can do to make some improvements. Might even show you how to catch some catfish. **
So, don’t jump off your tackle box. Fire up your internet browser and start looking up some of the fishing websites that discuss the issues I mentioned. Take one or two things at a time and hone your skills. Then practice…knot tieing, casting, etc. until handling your tackle is natural and you can focus on the variables in fishing.
**Next, start keeping a fishing log. Keep track of where you fish…time of day, temperature conditions of both air and water, baits and lures used, etc. You will be able to chart your progress and if you let others look at it they can probably make meaningful suggestions. **
And…GOOD LUCK. No matter how good anybody thinks they are at fishing, luck DOES still play a part in it.
As Kent stated, find someone who knows what lake is what and see what happens. I have fished with others in the past and was able to glean some great info (ie: Kent, Chuck, TD, etc…) I am always willing to pass on what I learn from others as well. So don’t get down, go fishin’
.