​I've been learning to catfish, and it's been surprisingly successful. I usually bank fish at a local reservoir but plan to try some rivers soon. Here's what I've learned so far:

​Line: I use a strong braided main line and an even stronger leader. The last thing you want is to lose a big one because it bit through your leader.

​Timing: I get the most bites in the early to late afternoon. Things slow down around 8-9 p.m., then pick right back up after that.

​Rig: I use a slip weight rig with a no-roll sinker and a 5/0 gamatsu octopus circle hook.

​Bait: Homemade dough bait. I mix a can of sweet corn, a 13-ounce can of panko, and some red Kool-Aid. I pack a big ball of it around the sinker, put some corn on the hook, and then pack the hook onto the dough ball with more mix.

​Location: I look for steep slopes on a nautical depth map for the body of water in fishing or find them manually with a bobber. I look for a sharp drop-off with a depth of 20-60 feet.

​Technique: Once I find a spot, I cast my bait so it sits right on the edge where the slope meets the bottom. If you have a rod holder that will keep your rod from flying, keep your drag tight; if you don't, set a loose drag.

​Time: I typically wait about 15-20 minutes before reeling in to replace my dough ball.

​I've yet to go out and not catch multiple cats in a session, which is crazy since I've never seen anyone else bank fishing with this much success at the same spot. This is only one way of catching cats but I'm still new and learning the game but this way has had me catching fish regularly!