A boat offers more mobility. Bank-bound anglers are limited in the choice of fishing areas. Anglers in boats aren't. If you've been fishing in one spot for a while, and the fishing is unproductive or the bite stops, you can move quickly to another spot. Your range is limited only by the size of your fuel tank.

Unfortunately, boating at night can be hazardous. For that reason, most catfishermen do their night-fishing from shore. A campfire is built, the rigs are baited and cast, and the rods are propped on forked sticks or placed in holders. The participants sit and sip coffee while they shoot the breeze. A cat probably will bite sooner or later, and the action starts. But if not, it's an enjoyable outing anyway. The camaraderie makes it worthwhile.

Ideally, you should be able to walk from one good bank-fishing site to another without any problems. Fish for 15 to 30 minutes at the first spot you pick, and if a bite isn't forthcoming, or a good bite stops, reel in your bait, walk down the shore and try another locale. If that site is better, great. If not, move again after half an hour. Try this spot, then that. Your catch rate will greatly improve.

Of course, leapfrogging around isn't to everyone's liking. And in some areas, it's impossible due to the lack of good bank-fishing sites. In that case, cast your bait to the best-looking spot you can reach, and then prepare to wait out your quarry. Place your fishing combo in a rod holder properly set in the ground, put the reel in free-spool, flip on your bait clicker and relax until the action starts. This technique may not put many catfish on your stringer, but it's an excellent way for targeting trophy fish, especially at night when big cats are roaming in search of prey.

AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY
Some folks say you can catch as many catfish during the day as you can at night. And maybe some folks do. I'm not one of them.

My best catch ever came on a dark, moonless night in spring while fishing from a big-river sandbar. In just four hours, a friend and I caught more than 150 catfish -- mostly channel cats, including several over 10 pounds. I've had 100-cat nights more times than I can remember.

I catch plenty of catfish in the day, too, and nowadays, I must admit, most of my fishing is done when the sun is up. But my best daytime excursions have never equaled my best night-fishing trips.

I still fish at night when time permits. The number of catfish I catch doesn't really matter, though. I fish at night for reasons that have nothing to do with mathematics.

I go to listen to the whippoorwills and owls. I go to smell the freshness of the night air. I go to feel a cool twilight breeze rustling my hair. I go to see the heavens ablaze with countless stars.