Brandon Butler finds that summer provides loads of catfishing opportunities in rivers all across the country.

Catfish are among the most prevalent gamefish in the Midwest. They’re also fun and easy to catch, and great to eat. Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks and streams all hold cats. Chances are, if there is a body water near you, it holds catfish. Anglers can pursue catfish from a boat, but there are countless opportunities to pursue them from public shores. Catfishing tactics are quite universal.

There are plenty of favorite baits out there for catfishing, but for big catfish, you should plan to use either live or dead baitfish. Flatheads, which many regard as the best-tasting catfish, prefer to eat live fish. Blue catfish, which grow the largest, are usually targeted with cut bait. Shad is often used, and the smellier, the better. Most bait shops have plenty of catfish offerings.

Catfishing is an easy deal. You don’t need much: A rod, reel, line, hook, sinker and bait. Since you’re targeting larger fish, you need a medium- or heavy-action rod and a reel with a strong drag. You want your rod to have a sensitive tip, so you can feel/detect subtle bites. Your line should be at least 10-pound-test, because even if you’re targeting smaller catfish, a lunker could always strike.

Since catfish cruise for food, a favorite tactic for catching them is to cast an offering from the bank, then let it settle on the bottom. Catfish eat a variety of food, including nightcrawlers, baitfish, shrimp, liver and more. Scent is an important aspect of catfishing because these fish rely heavily on their powerful sense of smell to locate food. They often hang near drop-offs and deep holes, so fishing near a bridge is one favorite method of locating cats from shore.

Most of the time, you are fishing on the bottom for cats. The weight of your sinker is determined by the current. The faster it is, the heavier your sinker needs to be. In big rivers, a 3-ounce sinker is common. In a lake or pond where there is no current, you can just use some split shot. Hooks need to be big and strong enough for big fish. A 3/0 hook is a good all-around catfish hook.

Although catfish are readily available and prevalent in good numbers, they are not an endless resource. Good conservation practices and the wise use of our natural resources ensures future success of a species. Numerous states, including Indiana and Missouri, have slot limits to help protect older, larger fish. Larger catfish have higher reproductive potential and can better help control populations of forage species such as gizzard shad and Asian carp. So, consider letting the big ones live and keeping a bunch of “eaters” for your fish fries.

It’s hard to find a rural restaurant worth dining at that doesn’t offer fried catfish with a side of slaw. From youngsters sitting on the end of the dock watching a big red and white bobber, to hardcore big-river catfishing experts, “whisker fish” are a fishing favorite.

Now is a great time to catch catfish. They spawn in June along shorelines, and typically switch to deeper holes, current breaks and flooded cover during summer, providing great opportunities for anglers fishing from shore to experience fast action. A lot of $10 catfish sandwiches are sold across this country. You can easily put plenty of catfish fillets in your freezer and cook them at home. They are easy and fun to catch. If you have ever landed a hard-fighting catfish, then you know how exciting these magnificent fish are to catch. Their value as gamefish is immeasurable.

If you enjoy catfishing, you’ll find suggestions for locations and techniques in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.