What's the best catfish rig?

The egg sinker slip rig is, hands down, the most popular rig for still fishing catfish. Consisting of an egg sinker on the main line held in place above the hook by a lead shot, this rig is ideal for keeping the bait near the bottom, which in turn, allows a catfish to swim off with the bait with little tension.

What is the best pound test line 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 weight should a catfish rig be?

Standard Three-Way Rig

The three-way rig consists of a dropper line 6 to 24 inches long, anchored by a bell sinker of sufficient weight to keep the bait near bottom. A half-ounce sinker might be sufficient in still water, but 3 to 8 ounces are needed to drift around the tips of wing dams for blue and channel cats.

How do you rig up a catfish line?

To rig: Tie your mainline to one eye of a three-way swivel. To one of the remaining two eyes, attach a short 12-18 inch piece of line and then secure a ½ to 2-ounce sinker (depending on depth and current). To the last eye, tie another 2-4 foot piece of line, and then your hook.

Do you need a leader for catfish?

Catfish leader line also serves as a “shock absorber” when a catfish strikes. This absorbs the force of aggressive strikes from big catfish. That shock absorption is important with mono and braid but due to the lack of stretch in braided fishing line you should always use a monofilament leader.

Best Catfish Rig (Works for bank fishing, lake fishing, and rivers)

Should I use a bobber for catfish?

Most catfish anglers are aware of the effectiveness of slip bobbers or slip bobber rigs. They're much better adapted for many catfishing techniques, much more versatile and also easier to fish with.

How far should you cast for catfish?

Casting 100 yards (300 feet) or more is typical for an experienced long-distance catter, achievable for most anglers with the right equipment, good guidance, and practice. Skilled casters abandon the more traditional catfishing rod-and-reel setups, relying on longer surf-style spinning or casting combos.

What size hooks for catfish?

A number two hook is a good size treble for very large catfish and the largest you want to go with. A number 6 hook is a reliable, standard size. You might use the number 8 if you're looking for smaller cats. Trebles are ideal for punch baits and dip baits.

Do you fish for catfish on the bottom?

The rig can be left on bottom or hovered above the floor when drifting an area. A float rig's another option. Simply add a float above the weight on a slip-sinker rig. Use this rig to drift bait slowly through wood-rich catfish lairs or over weed without snagging on bottom or in cover.

What Tackle do I need for catfishing?

If you're targeting big catfish exclusively and using large to extra large cut baits then the 10/0 hook is a great choice. It's a heavy-duty hook made for hooking and landing monster cats!

Is braid or mono better for catfish?

Monofilament for catfish

It also breaks much easier than other lines when you snag up. While this seems like really great stuff so far, there are a few negatives to mono. It is thicker than braided line, so there is more drag in the water, especially if you are drifting or trolling.

What do catfish like to eat the most?

Channel catfish are very good to eat. Fresh baits such as peeler or soft crab, shrimp, squid, chicken liver, processed catfish bait, hot dogs and cut fish are good baits and popular angling methods include bait casting and bottom fishing.

How do you outsmart a catfish?

How do you target big catfish?

Cut bait is one of the most effective baits for blue catfish

Large live shiners, herring, and shad are deadly, especially on flathead and channel catfish. But it's hard to top a section of cut bait from a herring, shad, or mullet for both of those species and blue catfish as well. Cut them into steaks ¾-1 inch wide.

What depth do catfish like?

Conclusion. The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. This is known as the catfish zone because they reside within such depths in most lakes. However, depending on the time of the year and the temperature of the water, they can also reside in shallow areas.

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's the best time to catfish?

Sure, summer is the best time to find Catfish, but you can catch them all year round. It's not uncommon to even catch Channel Cats through ice! It varies based on the species but the general rule of thumb is that they like deep, slow-moving water in winter and shallower, faster water in the summer.

How long should a catfish rod be?

There are still advantages to a longer rod so you'll want to ultimately use a catfish rod that is at least 7 feet long. Shore fishing is a different story and there are a variety of approaches to shore fishing. Some anglers finesse fish and walk the banks and target areas right against and near the shore.

Why do catfish bite better at night?

Myth: Catfish are more active at night. Fact: Catfish are active at all hours of the day and night, this includes all three species of catfish. Catfish can easily be caught throughout the day regardless of the season. Catfish eat when they are hungry, not when it gets dark.

How far should the weight be from the hook?

Attach one or two weights to the fishing line. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggests placing the weighs 6 to 12 inches above the hook. Most weights are incredibly easy to attach with the use of needle-nose pliers.