Im new to catfishing i just want to know whens the best time to catch catfish and what bait should i use?

Live Bait:

Shad
Minnows
Worms

Store Bought: (HEB or Albertsons...something similar)

Chicken Hearts
Chicken Livers
T.V. Shrimp





Best time to catfish is whenever you have time to go out and wet a line. I've had good luck year round at all times of the day/night

The best time is when the sun is either shining or when it's not shining.

cool thanks guys!

the best time is anytime that your wife will let you, I like fishing at night dont really know if it is better but it sure is cooler. I think I am the only one on this site that would say shrimp from your seafood counter, everyone else seems to like shad and perch

Shrimp is good, but shad is better. Fish every chance you get.

And shad is cheaper, as in FREE, when you catch your own. Save the shrimp buying for the fish fry and include them on the menu.

best bait is fresh shad live or dead if you can get it.
other than that worms liver perch shrimp anything really
right now the best is usually at night or just before sun goes up or down.
when cooler fishin is usually better than in the heat we have now, but night and dusk/dawn is just about always at least a little better

for hooks try 6/0 circles (what i usually use anyway)but dont over bait it and remember to let the fish take it before trying to set the hook
if you're gonna be fishing just one small area try to start chummin it

what would be good chum? thanks guys for all the info!

If your going after channel cats, chicken scratch, soaked at least overnight in water is good chum. I catch a lot of channel cats on Charlies Dough Bait, the blood variety. Got 8 nice ones in 2 hours today at Lake conroe. Also caught a grass carp, maybe 8 lbs. Wind was a real problem, but fish were hitting ok. I'll post photos after I download from my camera.

I found the best time is 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. But the bills won't let me do this. This time of year, right before sunset and into the night. Or right before sunrise til about 11:00 am. To me it seem like the bite turns off at 3:00 am and hits again about 5:00 am. I guess it's when the catfish bars close! That's just my luck.

My last trip the channel cats bit right with the solunar period. 9:20am to 11:30 on a hot July morning. It was about the time a lot of folks seek shade during summer fishing.

Can't argue with nature.

6:45pm to 8pm no doubt the best time.... set out as many poles and fish fast... u can get 5 get ones in that time period....

Range cubes are best
any grain (i prefer sorghum) soaked in a bucket of water until you can't stand the smell.

has any one ever tried that redneck catfish bait soap? i went to lake worth falls yesterday and only caught 2 turtles LOL i used chicken livers, minnows, worms, and shad NO LUCK.

if those shad were fresh and you had no takers then they just werent there

well they were frozen. and also when i cut them what do i put on the hook the head or the tail or how do i cut the shad lol i know its probably a dumb question?

I was wondering about the red neck cat fish soap bait too- anyone try it? I hear a lot about it.

i cut off the tail and throw it out.
the rest i cut into little pieces that will fit onto but not filling the hook (i use circles) a 5 inch shad will make about 3 or 4 baits when fishing this way
for drifting use the whole thing (and for that i use kahle hooks)

cool thanks man so small pieces but all in the hook that makes sense!

I disagree with most of the guys on here. I consistently out fish many shad fisherman. The only bait that I use is shrimp, but its a very specific shrimp. I only use [WILD CAUGHT GULF COAST SHRIMP] and it has to be fresh.

Now with that said, if you are targeting the large Blues or Flatheads, you need to use shad. But I target eating fish like channel cat and smaller blues. Shrimp is clean, it won't slime your boat and hands. For eating size fish, the shrimp I use is superior to shad in every way.

like my grandpa always used to say,anytime you can go is the best time. i like to use live perch for the bigger cats,and night crawlers for the smaller fish.

shad

Shad and Shrimp. I have better luck at night.