The Cash-In on the Catfish Craze

If you have read your latest issue of Fishing Tackle Retailer you may have noticed this issue’s Facts and Trends by Rob Southwick. Rob shares with us all a Fresh View of the Catfish Market. For those retailers of the Northeast, Southeast, South and Great Lakes regions, the catfish market is a lucrative group of anglers to pursue. Not only are catfish the reported fourth-largest targeted freshwater fish, most of the necessary equipment is already being stocked by many of you.

This is not to say that a retailer should just assume that the tackle in stock is sufficient for the average cat angler. The catfish is a bottom feeder, but the anglers who are chasing them are as up-to-date on technology and specialized equipment as any bass tournament angler. This means you, the retailer, need to ensure that you have what they want and need. Catfish anglers report their diverse targets of other freshwater fishing, so if you are creating a specialized display for them, ensure that it remains within sightlines of tackle for panfish, largemouth, smallmouth and trout. The crossover sales or cross-marketing opportunities abound.

Gearing up for Cats
As stated before, and by Rob in the magazine, catfish anglers can adapt many basic tackle items to their needs. The key to identifying you and your store as a mecca for cat fans is by having the few specialized items they are looking for.

Bait
Catfish diets can vary by region, but there are basic cravings they all posses. Catfish in most areas will devour live bait much more readily than pre-produced or artificial bait. Cats, no matter their locale, love nightcrawlers, shad and if they can get them, crawfish. If your shop is not currently able to carry live bait, look into the option, or just realize that you will be missing out on the most commonly purchased catfish item.

Rods and Reels
Believe it or not, according to Southwick’s research, many of the same brands of reels that your bass fans target, so will catfish anglers. Contact your suppliers to inquire about their catfish-specific reels that you can carry as well. Having just a few reels that are specific to a catfish angler’s needs can set you apart from your competitors.

Just as there are catfish-specific reels, there are rods as well that are meant to pull these feisty fighters up from the bottom. Everyone has a favorite rod company that they rely on to get the job done; across the board more catfish anglers reported that they prefer Shakespeare rods to every other manufacturer, according to Southwick. If you are currently not carrying them, look into adding them – a few of your other anglers may appreciate the addition of a new rod manufacturer, as it will give you something to brag about on social media.

The Final Pieces
Catfish are not that finicky of a fish, but they do require that the angler have the right gear to have a good hookup. Many catfish anglers turn to circle hooks for catching cats – circle hooks catch more fish in the corner of the mouth and almost ensures the fish will not swallow the hook. When targeting bigger cats or practicing catch-and-release, this is very important – the big ones can’t get big if the anglers keep all of the small ones. Explain to them the benefits of using the circle hooks for more than just catfish. Treble hooks and Kahle hooks round out the most-used hook styles for cats. Make sure you have a wide selection of sizes from #4 up to 7/0.

Catfish anglers also need line that will stand up to abuse. The bigger the cats in your area, the heavier the line options should be. Catfish love the bottom and love to get up under rocks or other debris. The nastier the bottom, the tougher the line needs to be to ensure it will hold up to the abuse. Look to Berkley or Hi-Seas to provide line that cat anglers will trust to haul up their catch from the deep.

Becoming a mecca for catfish anglers may be easier than you think, and without changing much within your store you may be able to become a trusted location for this growing segment of anglers. The numbers do not lie: catfish are widely targeted, and with these few tips hopefully your store will be targeted by catfish anglers as well. Have you tapped into the catfish market yet, or maybe there is another major market that you are locally known to cater to? Share your experiences with us all on Facebook and tell everyone how you have added revenue to your bottom line.