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Timing

When the Catfish Go Quiet: 3 Things to Remember

Every angler hits a quiet spell. The fish were biting, and then they weren't. Before you decide the river is dead, there are three things worth checking.

The last two and a half days on my river were very quiet, and one night I only landed about five catfish. The morning before my guests arrived, I'd caught 14. That's how fast it can change — and it's why a quiet spell usually means something has shifted, not that the fish are gone.

1. They Get Used to Your Bait

If you've been throwing the same bait for three or four days — say tilapia and mudfish — and the bites start to fade, the fish may have gotten used to it. Change the bait. Try something different, like grass carp or yellowfish, and see if the bite comes back.

2. They Get Used to the Spot

Catfish can also get used to being caught in the same place. If you've fished the same spot for four or five days and it's gone quiet, move. Better still, move to a different type of spot, not just a few metres along the same bank. This holds for a river and for a dam. I'd give it the same amount of time on both.

3. They Might Be Spawning

Sometimes it isn't you. Catfish that are spawning feed much less, so a bait that worked all week can suddenly get ignored. If you've changed bait and spot and nothing is happening, spawning is a likely reason — and there's not much to do except wait it out and keep trying different water.

The Mistake That Makes It Worse

Impatience. Most anglers don't think about any of the above. They get annoyed when the bites stop, give up on the catfish and leave. But the fish haven't gone anywhere — they're just moving. When the weather warms up, I expect them to be on the go again. The anglers who change one thing at a time, and stay a little longer, are the ones who are there when it switches back on.

The Short Version

Quiet spell? Change the bait. Change the spot. Remember they might be spawning. Then give it time instead of walking away.