During the day, look for catfish in muddy water areas, such as a tributary and its outflow. Also good are deep structures, like river bends, the base of drop-offs, deep holes, and humps. Catfish will also hold around cover, like standing timber and deep weed edges.

Where are most catfish found?

Catfish are most abundantly distributed in the tropics of South America, Africa and Asia, with one family native to North America and one family in Europe (Lundberg and Friel, 2003).

Do catfish stay on the bottom?

Catfish will hold on any kind of bottom, from rocks to mud, but seem to have a preference for hard bottoms, including those of clay or gravel. The depth of water can be critical. In winter and summer, catfish hold in the deepest water that has enough oxygen to support them, searching for temperatures in the mid-70s.