Ice fishing catfish can be a challenge because they are notoriously light biters in cold water. A great way to catch them during the winter months is by deadsticking for catfish.
Ice Fishing Catfish: Deadsticking
Classic deadbait rods and tactics entice them into nibbling their way up the bait and onto your hook.
Today ice fishing rods come in a really wide form and shaped just like they do for open water. You have the a lot of choices on rods for very specific situation.
When it comes to deadsticking, and especially deadsticking for catfish, the rod I like to go with is the St. Croix Avid Glass 30 inch rod .
It has a very moderate action that allows the catfish to take the bait, without feeling any weight from the rod itself. It also has a highlight florescent orange tip that allows you to detect the bite without using a bobber.
I like to see my dead stick rig pretty simple. I have a spilt shot about 12 inches away from my hook and for my hook I like to use the VMC Glo Resin hook to give it alittle added attractant.
The hook size depends on the size of bait and fish I am targeting but for catfish I general use a size 4 or 2.
I like using a cut a shiner in half and use it for bait. The reason I cut it in half is to put more scent in the water helping the sluggish catfish find the bait.
I like to set it up pretty close to the bottom, usually within 12 inches of it.
Once my dead stick is set I am actively hole hopping and jigging aggressive baits trying to call fish in.
Even if I don’t catch any fish on my jigging rod, by actively jigging around my deadstick I am effectively calling in Channel Catfish that may be in the area.
