Artificial Catfish Lures
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios
Fishing is the second most popular form of recreation or pastime in the United States (the first being swimming). The exact number of anglers or fishermen is impossible to determine, but recent studies indicate there exists a very large group indeed. Every five years, surveys are undertaken by the Interior Department's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and done in conjunction with other government organizations such as the Bureau of the Census. The most recent statistics indicate 34.1 million U.S. residents or 16% of the U.S. population fished. And this figure includes only those 16 years old and older. Sportspersons spend a total of $36 billion each year on fishing, and $14 billion on equipment used for both hunting and fishing, which rounds up to an astounding $50 billion spend each year on fishing. That's some catch!
Cat fishing is a great family sport. The flathead catfish that had its original range in the rivers in the Mississippi Valley has been introduced across the country in various rivers and reservoirs. Catfish lures are made of wood, plastic, or metal objects, designed to imitate or simulate catfish prey. The most revolutionary piece of cat-catching tackle is the depth finder. Probably few anglers know that modern sonar was evolved because Carl Lowrance, the founder of Lowrance Electronics, wanted to catch more catfish! Truly amazing, how mankind developed such modern gadgets to satisfy such primitive urges.
Although live bait remains the top choice as catfish lures, there are times when artificial catfish lures are worth trying. If the catfishes are feeding or breeding, they will aggressively attack catfish lures cast in front of them, like a spoon, a slowly retrieved jig or an enticingly wobbling plug. One of the best ways to bait these fish with catfish lures is to troll. Trolling works best in large rivers or lakes that have long stretches of deep water with slow to moderate current. When trolling, the lure remains in the water all the time, maximizing the chances of catching catfish. Trolling is a relatively easier technique as compared to casting, and enables the novice angler to cover more water. Using lightweight gear and push-button reels keeps things extra easy.
BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.
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