Blog Home
Tackle & Gear
Buying Guides
Fly Fishing
Bass
Crappie & Panfish
Salmon & Steelhead
Trout
Ice Fishing
All Categories
Authors

Winter Catfishing: Locations, Baits, Rigs, and Cold-Water Plans That Work

By: FishUSA Staff

October 23, 2025

Cold water does not stop catfish. It reshapes their patterns and shrinks the feeding window. You catch more when you slow down, tighten your search, and present fresh bait where fish group. This guide explains winter locations, timing, baits, rigs, and step-by-step plans for lakes and rivers so you can turn short windows into steady hookups.

Cold water does not stop catfish. It reshapes their patterns and shrinks the feeding window. You catch more when you slow down, tighten your search, and present fresh bait where fish group. This guide explains winter locations, timing, baits, rigs, and step-by-step plans for lakes and rivers so you can turn short windows into steady hookups.

FishUSA Pro Staffer Zakk Royce with a 105 pound blue catfish caught in December of 2015. This fish broke the previous state record, also caught by Zakk just 18hrs prior. 

Table of Contents

  • Why Winter Catfishing Works
  • Where to Find Winter Catfish
  • Electronics and Reading the Screen
  • Best Catfish Winter Baits
  • Cold-Water Rigs and Leaders
  • Anchor vs. Slow-Drift
  • Timing the Winter
  • Bank Fishing Catfish in Winter
  • Boat Setup and Line Control
  • Common Winter Mistakes
  • Safety and Cold-Weather Prep
  • Simple Winter Plans You Can Run Today
  • Conclusion

Why Winter Catfishing Works

As water cools, metabolism drops and catfish burn less energy. They group on stable edges and in deeper water where temperature changes less. They still feed—just less often and with a stronger focus on easy meals. Your job is to find the groups, keep a slow pace, and offer clean scent in the strike zone for longer sits.

  • Predictable locations: Fish stack on bends, holes, humps, and channel edges.
  • Shorter moves: Small shifts in speed or depth make a big difference.
  • Smaller baits: Modest portions fit the mood and hook better in cold water.

Where to Find Winter Catfish

Lakes and Reservoirs

Start with the main river channel and nearby structure. Blues and channels hold on ledges, outside bends, and humps close to deep water. On clear lakes with shad, look for winter bait balls on sonar. Fish set up just below or beside those schools, not in the middle of them. Wind still helps—moderate wind creates light current and moves bait along the channel edge.

  • Prime targets: Channel ledges in 20–45 ft, humps close to deep water, long points that touch the channel.
  • Secondary targets: Downwind edges after a warming afternoon, riprap near deep water on sunny days. 

Zakk Royce relies heavily on his electronics all times of the year, but winter especially.

Rivers and Tailraces

In current, catfish drop into soft water and conserve energy. Deep bends, scour holes below wing dikes, and the first inside shelf off the main push hold fish. Tailraces can be excellent on stable, moderate releases; seams and eddies produce when flow is steady. If discharge spikes, slide to protected edges until the surge settles.

  • Prime targets: Deep outside bends, holes below dikes, slow seams beside the main flow.
  • Secondary targets: Confluences and creek mouths that add a degree of warmer water after sunny days.

Electronics and Reading the Screen

Winter is a “mark first, fish second” season. Spend time scanning before you drop baits. You want stacked arcs or tight marks near bottom on ledges, lips, and holes. Big bait balls show as dense clouds; set up down-current or just off to the side. If you only see random singles, keep idling—groups outproduce scattered fish in cold water.

  • 2D sonar: Look for tight arcs on the bottom edge of ledges and bends.
  • Down/Side imaging: Trace the break and mark clusters; avoid snag jungles unless you can lift baits.
  • Temperature: One or two degrees can matter. Favor the warmest water you can find that still has structure.

Best Catfish Winter Baits

Fresh bait wins. Catfish in cold water often prefer smaller portions with strong scent and clean presentation. Trim pieces so the hook point stays clear. Replace washed-out pieces often.

  • Blues: Fresh cut shad or skipjack. Use small to medium head pieces and modest mid-sections.
  • Channels: Small cuts of shad, shiners, or chub; nightcrawlers where available; chicken liver in still water.
  • Flatheads: The bite slows. If you target them, use lively legal bait or fresh cuts around deep wood and set expectations.

Bait care: If using cut bait, keep it on ice to hold firmness. Pre-trim several pieces so you can re-bait fast without leaving rods unattended. Live bait should be kept as healthy as possible before use. 

Learn more about the best bait for catfish!

Cold-Water Rigs and Leaders

Use rigs that hold a precise depth and keep baits clean. Leaders can be shorter in winter to reduce swing and help hooks find the corner with light pressure. Check out our full guide on the most popular rigs for catfish!

Carolina (Slip-Sinker) Rig

Best on clean bottom and ledges. It telegraphs soft loads and lets circle hooks work with a slow, steady sweep.

  1. Main line → sliding egg/no-roll sinker → bead → barrel swivel.
  2. Leader 12–24 in heavy mono → 5/0–8/0 circle hook (size to bait).

Tip: Shorten to 12–18 in when fish nip baits or when wind adds swing.

Santee-Cooper (Peg-Float) Rig

Best over light debris, shell, or soft silt. The peg float lifts bait 2–4 in off bottom and keeps hooks clean at slow speeds.

  1. Main line → sliding sinker → bead → swivel.
  2. Leader 18–30 in → small peg float 1–2 in above hook → circle hook.

Three-Way Rig with Breakaway Dropper

Best in rock and timber on rivers. A lighter dropper to the sinker saves leaders when weights snag.

  1. Main line to top eye of three-way.
  2. Light dropper (8–15 lb mono) 6–12 in to sinker on bottom eye.
  3. Leader 18–36 in to hook on side eye.

Anchor vs. Slow-Drift

Both work in winter. Pick based on marks, wind, and current.

  • Anchor: Best when fish are stacked on a spot. Set up 30–60 yards up-current or up-wind of the marks and cast a small fan. Give each sit 30–45 minutes. Refresh baits every 20–30 minutes.
  • Slow-drift: Best when fish line a ledge or flat. Control speed at 0.3–0.6 mph. Use drift socks or your trolling motor to hold a straight lane along the break.

Timing the Winter Bite

Windows shrink in cold water. Aim for stable weather and the warmest part of the day. A sunny afternoon that lifts the surface a degree or two can trigger a short run. After a hard front, expect a slow 24–48 hours; downsize baits, fish a little deeper, and lengthen sits.

  • Best daily window: Late morning to mid-afternoon on stable, sunny days.
  • After a front: Downsize portions; focus on deeper edges and holes.
  • Light wind: Favors gentle drifts along ledges and humps.

Bank Fishing Catfish in Winter

Pick deeper access with clean casting lanes. Points that touch the channel, riprap near deep water, and outside bends are solid. Use heavier weights to pin baits. Keep a glove and towel handy so you can re-bait without soaking your hands and losing feel.

  • Rigs: Carolina or three-way with short leaders.
  • Angles: Cast one shallow, one to the break, one deeper. Keep slight tension for bite reads.
  • Sits: 30–45 minutes per spot; move if no signs.

Boat Setup and Line Control

Winter bites can be gentle. Keep decks quiet and lines organized. Stagger rods to cover the lip, the top, and the base of a ledge. Watch rod tips for slow loads. Check drags—cold air stiffens grease. A smooth, steady lift lands more fish than a hard set.

  • Spread: Three to six rods (where legal) with different distances and leader lengths.
  • Speed: 0.3–0.6 mph for drifts; dead still on anchor with minimal scope.
  • Resets: Move 30–60 yards along the same edge if marks slide.

Common Winter Mistakes

  • Fishing too fast: Slow the boat and shorten leaders so fish can commit.
  • Oversized baits: Use smaller, fresh portions to match the mood.
  • Random sits: Do not anchor without marks. Scan first, then fish.
  • Long slack: Keep light tension; slack hides soft loads and invites snags.
  • Staying shallow: Slide to the first deep break or hole when temps drop.

Safety and Cold-Weather Prep

Dress in layers, keep hands dry, and protect feet from cold decks. Wear a PFD any time you are under power or working near the edge. Carry a dry bag with spare gloves, socks, a hat, and a small first-aid kit. Tell someone your plan and return time.

  • Float coat or PFD, throw rope, and a whistle.
  • Hand warmers, thermos, and a towel for bait handling.
  • Headlamp with spare batteries for short winter days.

Simple Winter Plans You Can Run Today

Lake Blues on a Channel Ledge

  1. Idle the main channel edge and mark stacked fish on a 20–35 ft ledge.
  2. Anchor 40 yards up-wind of the marks; fan-cast three Carolina rigs with small fresh shad pieces.
  3. Refresh baits every 20–30 minutes; give the sit 45 minutes. Slide 60 yards along the ledge if it goes quiet.

River Channels on a Deep Bend

  1. Scan the outside bend and find the hole lip and soft seam.
  2. Set three three-way rigs: one on the lip, one in the hole, one on the inside shelf.
  3. Use small cuts; keep leaders 12–24 in. Move downstream to the next seam if no signs in 30–40 minutes.

Sunny Afternoon Bank Session

  1. Pick a point that touches deep water and faces the light wind.
  2. Cast three lanes with short-leader Carolina rigs and modest shad pieces.
  3. Hold light tension; rotate lanes every 30 minutes; pack up before temps crash at dusk.

Conclusion

Winter catfishing rewards a slow, deliberate plan. Scan first, then fish. Favor deep edges and stable holes. Use smaller fresh baits on short leaders. Hold slight tension, lengthen sits, and move in short steps along the same structure. Follow these rules and cold days will still put weight on the line.

Shop Catfishing Gear

  • Catfishing Rods
  • Catfishing Reels
  • Catfishing Rigs
  • Catfishing Terminal