How to catch and prepare your catfish bait(Skipjack) for freezing and storing
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- Опубликовано: 19 окт 2024
- Took a trip to the Tennessee river to catch some trophy catfish bait known as "skip jack herring). I review tackle and tactics on just one way to catch these scaly critters.
Great video Steve! There aren't any skipjack in New Mexico but I catch a lot of carp, bluegill, and Shad. They recently shut off the water in the irrigation ditches and it makes for a great time to stock up on bait. Both my freezer and live well are full right now. Nice hat!
Thanks Kris, having bait readily availble helps when time is a factor, i dont always have time to catch bait before i go fishing but its easy to just open the freezer and go.
I'm a big fan of u. My name is Anthony Cottingham
Thanks for the small conversation this afternoon. I enjoy you tube fishing lessons. I know it can be bothersome when a guy interrupts you in a parking lot. You were generous with your time. Great video. Thanks again.
Thank you Steve, love watching your videos. Hope you and your family are doing good, and staying healthy and safe.
Great video and like always very informative over the years I have to say your videos have always been a lot of help understanding what it takes to get them big cats pulling on my line thanks Steve very much
thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment RKK.
Very impressive job catching those Skip Jack. Great video. Thanks for taking us along.
Grant Jones thanks Grant, thanks for stopping by.
Man Steve that's cool buddy cool in more ways than one..lol you keep catching them buddy and keep producing them I'll keep watching good fishing to you buddy
Great information, you answered questions I have been wondering about.
Awesome video. You are my favorite catfish dude for sure.
I have been fallowing you on RUclips for many years back home in Arizona, now i jave moved to ohio & would love to fish were you go for monster cats & brag to my people back home haha...
I'm a saltwater fisherman at heart, but watching your videos makes me want to catch some freshwater catfish!
I live a few miles north of the Pickwick Dam and that's exactly how we catch them here, interesting way of preserving them with the cooler I will keep that in mind.
Pickwick is also where we catch ours as well..
Some days don't take very long to catch 100
You are exactly right I just caught 50 skipjack in 1 hour in the Cumberland for the fist time I normally throw my cast net and catch bluegill and shad but I really enjoyed being able to catch those fresh skipjack
I don't know if anyone has told you this but where I catch my jacks here in Alabama you can put a bullet weight above the jig and leave yourself a little extra line down at the bottom and tie on another while you're reeling in one of the fish it's common to hook up with another!
Hey Steve, I've always used sabiki rigs here in the ohio river. I've caught a few. I can't wait to try out your Carolina rigged panfish jig. Looks way easier to fish with. Thanks for another great video.
i love this boat ,,,im sure you like your new one better but this is classic and awesome vid as usual
I watch ur videos an this one helped me a lot to catch these skipjacks here where I live think u
Hi Steve. I notice when you cut these you always cut out the gut pocket, but I never see you use it. Do you use that as a separate piece of bait or is that thrown out? Thanks for all of the information and great videos, I have learned a ton.
Awesome video as always. I love using them when I can get them but in Indiana they are few and far between and at 8 bucks for to medium sized ones you have to use what you get. Keep em coming Steve.
8 bucks for 1 skipjack ? who would sell them for 8 bucks but the better question who would pay 8 a piece? thats robbery
thanks for the comment Ed.
Super video! I don't think their's any other way to catch them? I from pittsburgh and don't think we have skip jack here. I wish we did. It seems cats love them! You did an exceptional job at catching them! Would really enjoy going out on the river with you and learn from the best! I watch all your videos over and over.
Ernie Walker thanks Ernie, You may not have skipjacks there but i bet you have some shad, they will do the trip for sure
Great video as usual Steve. I use this same technique on shad. Wanting to make a trip down to TN, AL to get some skippies for the freezer myself. Looking at an 8 hour drive one way. The things we'll do to catch trophy cats.
Hey Steve, do you put the salt into the cooler first then add ice then the water last? Thanks
Steve, again Thank you for your video!!! I live not far from the Tennessee River, but in Tennessee. The Watts Bar dam and Ft. Loudon dams are both within an hour and a half of my place. It's an hour to the Cordell Hull dam also, but on the Cumberland River. I'm interested in using Skipjack but I hear they are finicky little suckers... One day they're thick as flies, the next day they're gone. This gives me some starting points. Thank you very much.
your in a great area for big cats for sure. thanks for the comment
Skip jack are hard to come by here on the Arkansas River where we fish. Do you think your method would work equally well on the shad we usually use?
Love your videos. Learning a lot. What kind and how much salt do you add to the ice water, per gallon or cooler?
What does water temp need to be for them to be up their wanting to go up their to catch bait but water is around 50-61 and its about a 80 mile drive u think their up their now or should i wait a couple more weeks thanks and love the videos
Catching skipjack is just as fun as catching the cattish!!! They are a worthy opponent indeed!!!
What's the process when you get ready to use the bag of frozen skipjack for big cats? Do you thaw them out or cut and use frozen pieces? Thanks for all your videos, my wife and I caught our first skipjack few weekends ago. Now waiting on a day to go land a monster blue.
Steve put a stinger hook on that jig buddy it will make a big difference on not losing them.plus I learned me something here today.
Nice skip jake...I'm going this morning to catch some, will put this ice and cooler from now on.....Leland
Looks like alot of fun!! Nice video....
Hey Steve does fresh bait work better than the bagged shad they sell at the tackle shop? Or does it even work?
those preserved baits don't catch nearly as much as fresh shad or skipjack
TheOutdoorsman555 that frozen bait catches fish or i wouldn't use it or recomend doin it for future trips. check out what this frozen bait catches. Ohio River Action:Fishing for Blue catfish around mussel beds
I was talking about those bagged preserved baits made by magic bait company that they sell for 3 or 4 dollars, If your talking frozen bait then yea that still works
I need any advice you can offer. I just found out Florida has skipjack "golden shad" my son and I are looking for big catfish. We fish at a Rodman dam in Palatka Florida. I have never caught a skipjack but I'm going all in to get some. I have seen lots of videos using white jig's and spoons. I need catfish candy. Heading out this Wednesday for catfish and skipjack. Pro tips? Thanks 👍
I grew up fishn the banks of the muddy Ohio river/Ohio side. A lot of great memories
Great video Steve. I love your videos son
Hey Steve up around Cincinnati on the Ohio River we have small jacks like 4 inches around September for about a week any idea where they go because they are a rare thing up here and where are you at to get those
Maybe it sounds kind of elementary, but I like the way that you close your bail by hand instead of by turning the handle. It'll make your reel last longer.
Yes Sir, my thoughts on the issue to.
After you wear out several bale mechanisms it just becomes second nature.
idk if it would help but I used a sabiki rig to catch my bait out of the river here and I catch herring with it. really seems to do the job.
Are the skip jack good to eat, or are they like a shad? Do people just use them for bait?
Steve, can they be caught year round at the dams?
You should try live wounded bluegill or shad, because when a bait fish is wounded but still alive, it gives off a vibrating signal, and the catfishes whiskers pick that up as a easy to catch and fresh meal. You wound the fish by cutting the tail, but just to you hit the spinal cord. It'll work with skip back, but that's a big peace of bait for one catch. The wounded baitfish will also catch a lot of other fish like bass, walleye, longnose gar and pretty much every predatory/scavenger fish. It'll even work for snapping turtle.
Quick question Steve, when you're retrieving the jigs how far down are they sinking? And also seen a couple of your rigs one with just jigs and another with a long seemed to be 1/4 ounce weight at the end of your line. Its end of January, do you know where to find the jacks at this time? And what about the upcoming months, Feb March etc..? Thank you for your time and i enjoy all your vids
when they are on you can keep your baits about 1-2 foot deep as you retrieve, but sometimes you have to let it sink a bit. kinda like a pop and drop method. this time of year you need to find a hot water discharge along the tennessee or cumberland rivers. april and may is when you can find them most everywhere along the ohio, cumberland or tennessee rivers in numbers. good luck
Thanks again
i went to the meldahl dam on the ohio river a couple days ago for some skipjack and shad and didnt catch one!!! i was on the ohio side bank fishing and throw my cast net. do you have any tips for that neck of the woods??
love the video tomorrow im goin on a boyscout float trip so i will do a lot of fishin
You was at Wheeler Dam! I always go up there to fish!
yea that was wheeler dam
good video. looks more fun catching the skips.. lol.
LOL Steve that automatic lid opener is neat. Could you please tell me where I could get one.(Mastercatter)
What part of the ohio river would tou recomend to catch skipjack in the area of louisville ky?
Thank you for this instructional video!
Thanks again for the great videos, is it regular salt, or deionized for the brine?
regular rock salt, kosher salt or feed salt from a feed store.
Also what are some good alternatives than shad and skip jacks?
you can try bluegill, creek chub, bullhead catfish, and gaspergou
There are more but those are the only ones I can think of right now
Up here in michigan i wish i had them skipjack for Musky and Pike, the colors and the way them Skipjacks Eyes are would be just Crazy Bait for them musky and pike. Im more of a Catfisher but pike and musky are fun to.
if you freeze them. Does it take alot of the oils out and not have that right smell to the fish? Jw
Looks like an awesome place to fish.
What part of the year does the skip jack start running on the Tenn river
How much salt did you use for your salt water brine?
about 3 double hand fulls
Thanks, don't think we have skip jack here, but I will be ready for the shads. Great videos, most informative.
Same, Kansas is limited on good Cat bait. Shad, Bluegill or similar perch species. I know they like crappie too, but laws state you can't use crappie as bait. Which sucks!
I've caught a few here and there not trying, going to try down at the Greenup damn this weekend even though it's late in the season.
Is September a good month to catch them at dams?
That looks like wheeler dam. Where i catch monster blues and decent channel cats.
Have you ever fished the licking river? If so what's the best catfish bait to use there?
bloody old shad
Are skip jack related to America shad?
Ever try a sabiki rig? That's what I use to catch skipjack. I caught shad fry schooling behind a rock weir on the MS and the skipjack were tearing them up. The sabiki was bringing them in 3 and 4 at a time.
mudcat72 yea the Sabiki's seam to catch the smaller fish but I do use them on occassion
Great video Steve
Do you sell your skipjack sir? I live in a part of Arkansas it's hard for me and takes a distance for me to get to skipjack.
Those skipjack run $4 a piece at my local bait shop. You got some serious money in that cooler
Where are you catching those at if you don’t mind tell me.
What kinda salt are you using? Table salt ionized?
hey Steve i live in Ohio near Columbus were do u recommend to go fishing for skip jack for bait ?
We catch a ton skipjack on the Ohio River at the Greenup Dam of US Route 52, we fish the Ohio side...located in Scioto county between Wheelersburg and Ironton
How long will you leave them in your freezer. If you get a chance to catch a whole bunch of them do you think they go bad.
guys who dont use them as fast as me will vacuum seal them. but ive used them with success just in zip lock freezer bags up to 6 months. Thanks for stopping by Gary.
Thank you, brother.🙏👍
Love catching jacks the water is dead at the moment so you have to rush to the dam when they let it run or drive to Eutaw early in the morning
hey i live in oklahoma and dont have access or know were to find skip jack... any suggestions if there is any here in oklahoma.
What are the limit on the Skipjack you use for bait and are they like a big Shad. I use finthread Shad in Ca
some states like KY and AL are no limits but TN is 100 per day
steve, have u ever fished down on guntersville dam and or guntersville lake for blues or flats? if so i'd love to hear ur idea's about what rig u throw and what baits, i tend to fish the wall, but haven't had any luck with skipjack, they run on the wall by the thousands, can't figure out why they wont bite my skipjack, i've fished with them for months with no luck, alot of the times when i reel it in the insides are gone and the meat is the only thing left, any idea's how to stop that from happening?
you have to get out in the lake to catch the big ones, i know of 80's and 90's that have been caught on guntersville
skip jack for bait?
Yet another great video Steve! Where are you located? Where is that power dam at?
State and water? Appreciate any info you are willing to provide, I am here in St. Louis MO.
that spot was at wheeler dam on the Tennessee river in Alabama
Steve Douglas Thanks Steve! Man that is some beautiful water. Got great fishing here in the ol' muddy, at Stl. Louis, but the water is never that clear.
Steve Douglas The Catfish Dude I went bass fishing there last year. Only caught one bass and he wasn't very big, but he fought good. Probably 2 1/2 pounds.
Are those skip jacks good eatin?
101........I now exactly where this is at I do most of my trophy fishing in that same area and I even us same bait
Where would catch them on the Ohio River in the Spring?
Enjoy your videos very much. Thanks for the effort. I notice you've spent a lot of time on Wilson Lake. I live on Wilson and am wanting to get started fishing for trophy cats on my lake. When is the best time to hit the Wheeler Dam tailrace for skipjack?
+Derek Johnson Just wanted to add. Your video, "The biggest fish I never saw" is about 1000 yards from my dock.
Could you help me out here buddy?
+Derek Johnson spring thru fall is best below wheeler dam
Thank you sir! Thanks again for the videos.
Derek Johnson eggplant the first time.
Were are good places to catch them in the fall around Northern ky Cincinnati area? Love your videos.
Jerry Ohmer around the dams or water discharges from factories along the river
When are these skip jack running in alabama. I live around Guntersville and can not seem to get the timing correct.
TheCourtneyandAdam they should be on everywhere below the dams, below guntersville, wheeler , wilson , and pickwick. good luck
Thanks for sharing the great info
Great video Steve! Have you ever tried fishing the markland dam??
yea i was there a cpl weeks ago and the jacks were not there. Like i said the jacks on the ohio river are hit and miss in the summer but thick in the spring and fall
Hey Steve does the salt brine makes the Skip jacks tough on the hook, lot of times they will got really soft and come off the hook
Very informative video
thanks jim
Steve, does Miss Lisa fuss at you for letting those fish get water on her lens? She does the best camera work on RUclips.
I've caught a blue billion skipjacks there are Wheeler. Need to go back and get some more!
Hey Steve would skipjack be good for channel cats?
I'd say a small piece would work just as good as any cut bait would for them
Great video, thanks for the info.
whate bait for skip jack at least whate do you use
and I've ate skip-jack before? those are not living around Kansas? but I bought them at the store like you buy sardines!
That's most likely skip Jack tuna, what he's catching is different
What kind of salt, and how much salt do you use
What reel are you using
chattahooche river in columbus ga...........may be even better,,,many times you can catch 300 per day or more in the spring
Is their another name for those skipper jacks. Anything else that attracts big catfish?
Jj's Lawn/Landscape shad, bream, carp are all good baits and will catch the biggins.
Hello Mr.Steve, I live in NC and can't seem to get my hands on skipjack around here! Will you sell me a few so I can give this bait a try?? Inbox me if you can!
I'm loving the hat!!
You fish prattville or Montgomery rivers any in bama
are there any good places on the ohio river to catch these without a boat
Mariju Ana most of the dams along the ohio generally have some sort of bank access for catching these, but May is the best month to catch them on the ohio.
Steve Douglas The Catfish Dude thanks steve! can't wait to try and get me some
Steve Douglas The Catfish Dude what part of Alabama are you fishing in? Heading to Logan Martin lake next week!
What the best bait for catching skipjack
at our dam,we use to use 3 to 4 rigs on one line,that fun lol
But what if you don't have a boat in your fishing from the bank form
Does anyone know if there is skipjack in or around the morgantown wv area? Never tried for skipjack. I'm always using bluegill or carp but would like to give it a try.
Lived in Morgantown 47 years very few skips, you can get them below the locks on the Ohio River near Parkersburg.