Long story short, my nephew is putting on a family catfish fishing derby and everyone is anxious to see me (the resident flyfisher) catch a catfish on a fly rod. Never attempted such a feat. Anyone ever done this before and any advice on techniques, lines, and flies? Will be fishing from a small dock into a lake. Thanks.
Never attempted it before Jim, but I would suspect a cricket or beetle imitation fished near the bottom with some kind of indicator would work. I would probably use a sinking line and enough shot to git er down! Good luck and let us know if you are sucessful. I would be interested as catfish are fun to catch on light tackle.
My best advice would be two words “Black” and “Wiggly” (is that a word?).
I have caught dozens and by far the best flies have been black Woolly Buggers and Bunny Leeches.
I don’t know how big the cats are in your area but flies don’t necessarily need to be real big. My pb 8.5#er came on a 3wt and a #10 Bead-eyed Wooly Bugger. My buddy’s 14#er came on a #12. In fact, most of my cats have come on panfish rather than bass flies. I would have a couple ‘leeches’ with dumbell eyes to cover the lower end of the water column but I wouldn’t bet that’s where your fish will come from. Active channel cats often feed more in the “middle”.
I would use a reasonably strong tippet. Channel cats will often “roll up” in the line. (we refer to the results as “I’ve been slimed”. 
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Cats are a ball on the long rod but fishing for them is seldom real “consistent”. We actually target them occasionally but most come incidently.
Best of luck. Hope you connect.
I agree with HideHunter. I’ve caught all of my fly-rod cats on brown or black woolly buggers. I was always fishing for bluegills or crappies when I’d catch a catfish, so I’ve never targeted them specifically either. They are a LOT of fun!!
Jim:
If you can have the “derby” coincide with a major hatch on moving water you’ll blow them away.
Here in PA on the Susquehanna below Harrisburg, when the white flies hatch the cats come out to play!
Oh yea, another thing…it may not be Cricket but a little “scent” on the subsurface stuff helps.
i’ve caught several catfish on poppers while fishing for bass.
Most of mine have been channel cats caught on Clousers (pink and white or green and white) while fishing for smallies.
David
Here in OK we catch them(Channel cats) on crayfish flies on most outings for bass .I am sure a size 4 4xlong black wooly bugger that is heavy enough to get to the bottom would work. Tie it with brass dumbell eyes so it rides hook point up. we also use a double mono weedguard. Tie it on your leader with a nonslip mono loop knot
There’s a fella posts here from time to time…Catches catfish on flies all the time, and does it at night. I can’t recall his handle, but he’s posted some photos of some big daddy cats he’s caught. Hopefully he’ll see this and chime in too. :)…Modocdan
I’ve caught numerous catfish; almost always on some weighted damsel nymph or wooly bugger. I’ve had particular luck with a fly called the Guadalupe Green that is a bead chain eye fly that imitates a damsel/dragonfly nymph. Let it sink close to the bottom and use short strips. Catfish give a pretty good pull at first, but give up pretty easily - not nearly as much fun as sunfish.
TxEngr
I’ve caught some fairly nice channel cat on a large black minnow flies while fishing for LM bass. The flies range in size from 4 to 8 inches long and are tied hi-tie style using Icelandic Sheep hair. With the larger flies, I add a stinger hook to increase the hookups.
In one lake I fish, I have some much fun with the catfish that I often feel dissappointed when I hook a bass.
Jim Smith
Agreed, & I would add a simple black bunny strip tied with 2-3 turns of lead wire. Just enough to s-l-o-w-l-y sink…almost neutral buoyancy. As stated, they often suspend when on the prowl & they WILL hit mid-day.
Mike
caught mine on black buggers and also on a hares ear and prince nymph also cousin goit one on a zugbug
I have no experience with catfish, but since they are scavengers, try letting them sink to the bottom w/sink indicator with occational twitches. Hope it helps
:lol: Hey Jim,
Wouldn’t a “Mouse” work:lol::lol:
I fly fish for catfish all the time, usually in the tailraces. My best patterns have been shad imitations, and a large Glo-Bug pattern soaked in Smelly Jelly.
17.5 pounds on a BH olive woolly bugger last September. Several buddies and I catch them all the time around here on flies. While woolly buggers seem to work best, I’ve had one take a#14 pink scud. (This is the picture I use to respond to short-polers who accuse all fly fishermen of being snooty and sophisticated.
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lol… Great fish and a great pic OBG.
Oldbaldguy,
Awesome cat!
I would love to hook into one of those with my 3wt.
chris
Great responses folks. So what sort of line do you all use? A sink tip?