Catfish Tips: How to Catch & Prepare Catfish

If you want to catch and cook catfish, the Jones' have a few ideas and tips for you.

By Len And Kathryn Sue Jones
Updated on June 9, 2025
article image
by Adobestock/Виталий Волосеви

Take on summer fishing with these catfish tips and learn how to prepare catfish and how to cook catfish fillets with three hardy recipes.

Ever shuffled out of the house at four a.m. with a fishing pole over your shoulder? Nearly every country boy can remember at least one daybreak of rounding up cheese, angleworms, night crawlers, dough balls, or chicken parts and running off for some good catfishin’.

Matter of fact, many of those boys don’t quit when they grow up. Take me, for instance. Though I greatly enjoy the sporting aspects of wetting a line, I’m also a staunch “meat” fisherman. That is, I like to pursue a quarry that I can appreciate on the table which is why I’m such an avid fan of catfish. The critters are common and widespread, bite when other fish won’t, reach super sizes and, above all, are incredibly tasty. My family of three here in Maryland enjoys this whiskered delight at least once a month, and–since catfish are available to most folks–their nutritional goodness can become an important part of anyone’s diet.

Like to try catfishing? Get up bright and early one morning and head for the nearest river, lake, or farm pond. Nighttime will also produce good results. In fact, “cats” can be caught quite readily at all times of the day, at all water temperatures and depths. The best time to plan your expedition, however, is after a heavy rain especially in the spring. When other fair-weather fish are sluggish and temperamental, the hungry catfish forage about in the freshly rejuvenated waters.

If you fish regularly, you probably have a favorite spot. If not, just ask some of the local old-timers. Though angling stories are famed for their dishonesty, there’s generally some darn good tips in them somewhere!

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368