What is the best hook for catfish?

Treble Hook

Treble hooks are standard catfish hooks for any kind of fishing. They work especially well when you're trying to hook channel cats. You can pick a treble out of a crowd because it's a three-prong hook. They're common in a lot of fishing rigs for catfish.

What's the best size hook for catfishing?

The optimal size for channel catfish is typically a 2/0 or 3/0 hook when using a Kahle hook. If you choose circle hooks for small to medium-sized channel catfish then a 5/0 or 6/0 size will usually work best.

Why are circle hooks better for catfish?

Circle hooks are designed in such a way that they usually hook the fish in the corner of the mouth. A fish swallows the baited hook and begins to move away. This movement pulls the hook from the throat, decreasing the chance of the fish being hooked in the throat, roof of the mouth or stomach.

What size circle hook should I use for catfish?

Anglers should always try to use hooks that match the size of the bait they're using and when in doubt bigger is better. Catfishing with an 8/0 or 10/0 hook, especially when using big live bluegills, bullheads, shad, or suckers, will increase catch rates.

What size hooks for 20 lb catfish?

Many catfish anglers with more experience should work with Kahle fishing hooks in the 8/0 to 10/0 size for large flathead catfish. This size of Kahle hook will work well for larger fish around 20 pounds.

Understanding Catfish Hooks

Should I use a bobber when fishing for catfish?

When catfishing with these techniques the sound of the float hitting the water helps draw in fish and gets them to strike. Using a streamlined float that doesn't make a good “splash” in the water would actually work against you so the traditional bobber rig is preferred.

Why are circle hooks better?

Benefits of circle hooks

Reduced deep hooking – improved survival of released fish and decreased loss of fishing tackle. Improved hook-up and landing rates for many species. The strike time is not as crucial for hook-up of fish.

How do I stop my catfish from swallowing the hook?

Keep a tight line and set the hook as soon as you feel the bite to avoid gut hooks. You are letting the fish take the bait and swallow it before you set the hook. If you have to, use a really heavy weight to make it easier to keep a tight line until you get use to feeling the bite and setting the hook.

Can I leave a hook in a catfish?

A hook will rust away in a fish, but it may take a while, especially if the hook is plated or made of thick metal. But fish's stomachs are pretty tough. They can stand up to the spines on little fish like bluegill or pinfish.

What pound test line should I use for catfish?

Catfish aren't line-shy, so you can use light or heavy fishing line as situations dictate. High-strength, small-diameter monofilaments testing 15 to 25 pounds are good inexpensive choices for all-round use, but when hunting the big boys, you may have to upgrade to 30-, 40-, even 80-pound-test.

What is the best time of day to fish for catfish?

The best time of day to catch 3-seasons catfish is from an hour before sunset until 2 hours after sunrise and during the winter, from late morning until just before sunset. These are not hard and fast rules, but you will find the most active and hungry catfish consistently biting in these windows.

What do you catch catfish with?

Worms are classic catfish bait. Okay, they're classic everything bait. They perform well suspended under bobbers or resting on the bottom behind a sinker. They'll catch catfish in creeks, rivers, ponds or reservoirs.

Why do fish keep taking my hook?

If you have fish biting but not getting hooked, it is probably because either your hook isn't sharp enough, or it's too big to fit in the fish's mouth. It's likely that the fish stealing your worms and bait are either small, or smart enough to avoid your hook when they see it.

How do circle hooks work?

The circle hook's shape allows it to only hook onto an exposed surface, which in the case of a fish means the corner of its mouth. The fish takes the baited hook and swallows it, and as the hook is reeled in, it is safely pulled out of the fish until it reaches the mouth.

Which is better circle hook or J hook?

A J hook is better than a circle hook when you're trolling for aggressive fish species such as Wahoo or Tuna. When you're trolling, you're essentially looking to hook anything that comes near your bait and a J hook is a very reliable hook for it.

How do you rig a bobber for catfish?

Rigging the slip bobber rig is very simple:

Slide the bead (included with the bobber stops) onto the fishing line. Slide the slip bobber onto the fishing line. Attach your preferred catfish hook to the fishing line using a Palomar knot. Add a split shot sinker 2–3 inches above your hook.