Trophy-class catfish such as this heavyweight channel cat are easier to target under cover of darkness. Photo by Keith Sutton.

Picking a good body of water for night-fishing using these guidelines isn't foolproof. But by coupling this information with a few questions to the right individuals (state fisheries personnel, anglers, bait shop owners, etc.), you can narrow the field to a few choice waters.

It's also a good idea to organize all of your catfishing gear before leaving home. Clean out unnecessary equipment. Have poles rigged and ready to go. Organize your tackle box. You don't want to waste time fumbling around in the dark trying to tie hooks or locate specific items of tackle when you could be fishing instead.

PLOT THE RIGHT SPOT
Know exactly where you'll fish when darkness falls. Prospect during daylight hours, and be sure you can find each fishing spot after nightfall if you leave and return. Select alternate sites in case of a change in plans.

If you plan to fish from a boat, study a bottom-contour map of the body of water you'll fish if one is available. Many hot-weather catfish congregate in deep, open water near breaklines (areas where there's a sudden change in depth on the bottom), so look for elevation markings indicating deep-water ledges, creek and river channels, points, ridges and humps.

The map directs you to a likely position, and then a sonar unit pinpoints breaklines. The dropoffs are then checked with a fish finder to locate catfish-attracting cover (stumps, treetops, brushpiles, etc.) and the catfish themselves.

After spotting fish on sonar, use buoys to mark the site. This enables you to fish in the most productive water without straying off.

If you'll be fishing from shore, be sure to pick a bank-fishing site within casting distance of prime catfishing areas. This might be a clearing on shore near the outside bend of a river, a spot under a shady tree beside a farm pond levee or a gravel bar adjacent to a deep hole on a small stream. The best areas have flat, brush-free banks where casting is easy, and you don't have to worry about ticks and snakes crawling up your britches legs.

The tailwater area just below a river dam also can provide excellent night-fishing action for channel cats, especially if you can cast to the slack-water areas between open gates. Many bank-fishermen set up below tributaries or at the junction of two rivers. Fishing near fallen trees at the head of deep pools in rivers also can lead to good catches.

A final type of night-fishing spot worth mentioning is public fishing piers. These wooden structures extend from the bank far out into a lake or pond, thus offering access to offshore areas you might not otherwise be able to fish. Nearly all are wheelchair-accessible, so the joys of catfishing from these manmade hotspots can be experienced despite mobility limitations. Piers also provide safe, convenient locations where you can take the entire family catfishing at night. Pack some snacks, outfit your children with life jackets to avoid any unforeseen mishaps, then share the fun and excitement of catfishing, pier-style.

BE PREPARED
Mosquitoes are night creatures, too, so insect repellent is a must (on you but never your bait). You'll need a good lantern, and if you're bank-fishing, a lawn chair and some rod holders. Pick a body of water where catfish are abundant, and carry plenty of bait.