Catfishing Seasonal Patterns Continued.

Catfish Billy's Big Cat Diaries

Catfishing Seasonal Patterns Continued.

Typical Spawning Months

Example Locations:

Months:

Florida

April-Early June

Alabama/Georgia

May-June

Texas/Oklahoma

May-June

Kentucky/Tennesee

June-July

Missouri/Illinois/Iowa

June-July

Ohio

June-Early August

Minnesota/Wisconsin

June-Early August

Manitoba

July-August

Dividing the U.S. up into 3 sections we can approximate how the seasonal calender affects each range.

Northern Range: The winter season typically runs from mid-November to mid-April. The transition to the cold water season may run from mid-April to mid-May. Prespawn can start in mid-May and last until mid-Sept. This is also the time frame for spawn, postspawn, presummer and summer peak. Post summer normally begins in mid-Sept. and lasts until mid-Oct. Cold water season begins again in mid-Oct. and lasts until it rolls over into winter again in mid-November.

Southern Range: Winter season normally begins around the second week of Dec. and runs until first of Feb. Cold water season can run from the first of Feb. until the middle of March. Prespawn can run from mid-March until mid-Oct. This also covers spawn, postspawn, presummer and summer peak. Mid-Oct. to mid-Nov. will see the next cold water period until it again rolls over into winter again around the first to second week of Dec.

Mid Range: Winter season normally begins at the first of December and runs until the middle of Feburary. Cold water season will last from mid-feb. to the beginning or first week of April. Prespawn can run from the beginning of April to the first of Oct. This also covers spawn, postspawn, presummer and summer peak. Postsummer may begin in Oct. and last until Nov. Nov. usually starts the cold water period and rolls over into winter again in Dec.

As you notice in each region, spawn, postspawn, summer, and summer peak and lumped withing prespawn. The reason for this is that, as noted before, not all species, or even the same species of catfish spawn at the same time. This leaves a fairly large window to look at for the prespawn. The good news is that since cats dont all spawn at the same time, even during the spawn the opportunity for trophy catfishing is still very present.

Also note that this information is based on approxomate time frames and are not always accurtate. Changes in weather patterns from one region to the next can move one phase up or back by weeks at a time. Monitor the water temperatures around your local fishing spots for the most accurate predictions of each calender period.

"Straight lines and bent poles, a way of life"