The time of year may be a consideration as well. If you live in an area where the winter is cold, you can find the monsters hovering in the deep waters in large concentrations. They will seek out the deep waters during the cold months.

The winter water holes are going to be deep, so know the area you are fishing and where the deepest water is in the lake. The catfish is slow during the cold, but you can entice them to strike.
 
Fishing during the fall right before the cold months is a great time to fish the monster catfish. They are getting ready for a long winter and will be feeding non-stop before heading to the deeper waters. This time of the year is great for catching catfish. Always fish the lakes and big rivers. You are not going to find monster catfish in ponds and creeks. Fish the lakes that are not heavily populated with commercial fisherman or a lot of boat traffic. Pick an area that has low traffic and calm waters. The catfish do spook if there is too much traffic and commotion on top of the water.
 
The hook you use is going to matter when fishing for catfish. A circle hook is ideal. The cat is going to fight you every step of the way and you need to have a hook that is going to hold onto the fish. Catfish have damaged many a rods, reels, lines and hooks when they are trying to escape. The circle hook is the choice for catfish fishing. Use a swivel that is the ball bearing type. The catfish will twist and turn, so a swivel is going to help protect the equipment.

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