When do catfish become active ?

[Mcgiiver]

Around what dates do catfish become active for catching in streams and lakes in central NJ?

[bigfishy]

They cant read a calendar, but may is the hottest month fer EVERY specie!!

[thmyorke1]

i get them on lures sometimes in April-May, so definitely around that time they are active id bet. I remember them not being so active late fall.

[Bruce Litton]

I remembered earlier this evening the channel I caught through the ice more than a decade ago, nice one. Caught many other cats through the ice--all inadvertently--since then. I witnessed in March 2012--but that was a WAY unseasonably warm March--a 5-gallon bucket full of bullheads pulled from the D&R Canal. It shouldn't take all that much warmth to get them routing.

[deaone123]

The canal has been a ghost town but today out of nowhere i spotted little bass, sun fish, pickeral & walleye no catfish though, i feel like june is when the catfish really heat up. I feel like after winter i dont even see cats but when winter starts and its cold i will still catch catfish

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by Mcgiiver

Around what dates do catfish become active for catching in streams and lakes in central NJ?

A giant bullhead broke my line and stole my rig in a Central Jersey Lake in early January this year.

[FASTEDDIE29]

They are definitely active this time of year. Throw some shiners livers or hot dogs on bottom at the canal. You’ll get something.

[Bruce Litton]

A couple of times, 48 years ago, I crossed busy U.S. Highway 1 in Lawrence Township to fish worms on bottom while perched beside a bridge over the canal. Caught a couple of bullheads that way. I smelled the creosote or whatever they put on pilings. Right at the edge of the bridge.