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 line should I use for catfishing?
If you fish most channel cat waters in the United States, 12- to 17-pound-test line is about all you need If you fish places like the Red River, or places wherever there can be numerous fish that run 15 to 30 pounds, I recommend using 30-pound line Of course, as the fish get bigger, so should your line
What is the pound leader for catfish?
Leader Line: 40 to 50 Lb clear monofilament leader or fluorocarbon leader The heavier weight leader line helps serve as a shock absorber during aggressive strikes as well as additional abrasion resistance for the rough mouth of a catfish
What is the best thing to use for catfishing?
Best Baits for Eater Catfish Worms Worms are classic catfish bait Shad and Minnows Like worms, shad and minnows have mass appeal Stink Bait Unlike worms and minnows, stink bait only appeals to catfish Anything from the Fridge Have some questionable chicken breasts in the fridge? Soap
How do you rig 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
What is fluorocarbon fishing line used for?
Fluorocarbon is the premium line of choice for jig and worm fishermen as the sensitivity is unrivaled and the line is nearly completely invisible in the water Fluorocarbon allows a greater amount of natural light to pass through it whereas monofilament tends to refract light, alerting fish of its presence
Do I 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
How do you fish for catfish?
During the day, look for catfish in muddy water areas, such as a tributary and its outflow Also good are deep structures, like river bends, the base of drop-offs, deep holes, and humps Catfish will also hold around cover, like standing timber and deep weed edges Night brings excellent fishing
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
What is the secret catfish rig?
In its simplest form, a paternoster is any rig where the hook(s) are on droppers above a fixed sinker Besides a tidy presentation, this arrangement allows the angler to try more than one bait and you’ll often find paternosters with two hooks, or even three or four
What is the best size circle hook for catfish?
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
Do you use a bobber for catfish?
Slip bobbers can be effective for blue catfish and flathead catfish also in some applications but for channel catfish, they’re the “go-to” catfish rig for many anglers You might also find situations when fishing for blues and flatheads where you’ll want to fish with slip bobbers as well
What’s the best channel catfish bait?
While the best fishing bait for channel catfish is a nightcrawler, there are plenty of other effective baits as well These include shrimp, fresh cut bait, livers, live minnows, prepared baits, and more Some anglers swear by soap as bait! Channel catfish will eat just about anything at one time or another
Are Circle Hooks good for catfish?
Using circle hooks for catfish can result in more hook-ups and reduce mortality of caught-and-released fish If you had checked the end of a catfisherman’s line just 20 years ago, you might have found almost any type of hook tied on
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
Which is better mono or fluorocarbon?
Over the long term, fluorocarbon is extremely resistant to the elements as well, unlike monofilament Overtime, UV rays, rain and humidity, and extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) can cause monofilament to break down and lose strength Fluorocarbon is much more resistant to these conditions over the long term
Is fluorocarbon better than braid?
For starters, understand that braids and monofilament float Fluorocarbon sinks With fluorocarbon, you’re getting low visibility, thin diameter, and good sensitivity Braid or so-called superlines float and perform well for spinning reels or professional grade for baitcasters
Is fluorocarbon hard to cast?
While fluoro has some very obvious benefits which keep it on the playing field–extreme clarity, durability, low stretch and a high density that causes it to sink, taking diving lures deeper–it can be very difficult to cast Most fluoro has a density of 18, almost twice as dense as mono, and that means it sinks
How heavy is a catfish sinker?
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 The leader should be slightly longer than the dropper line – usually 2 to 3 feet, depending on current velocity