Catfish can live almost anywhere, often thriving in water that cannot support other species. People catch them in everything from shallow ponds and drainage ditches to massive reservoirs. In general, flatheads prefer large lakes and reservoirs with thick woody cover, but they also live in rivers.
Blues prefer clean, flowing rivers and can tolerate salinity more than other species of catfish.
Channel cats thrive in lakes and rivers. White catfish like swift rivers. Look for cats around structure such as logs, brush piles, runoffs, holes or other irregularities. Essentially, jugging consists of suspending baited lines from floating plastic milk or soda jugs and setting them adrift. Attach a stainless-steel hook to the line and bait it.