Deadsticking?

[nickniescior]

Hey guys, I know this seems like a very naive question, but I really dont do any kind of dead-sticking, The last time I went catfishing I was 5.  I was gonna dead stick for really whatever takes the bait.

so here are my questions
1- when using a deadstick, do I want the bait to sit on the bottom, or hover mid depth?
2- what do you use for bait, and for what species do you use that bait for?
3-I was contemplating a Okuma Avenger Baitrunner, it has really good reviews and I can imagine if I turn the bait runner, and something takes it, I can let it run and then deactivate it and it would make a good hook set, what do you think?

Once again thanks guys, I have been out of country for 2 weeks and I am coming back to the states soon (cant fish here) and I am getting cabin fever.  Ive been doing nothing but reading, hearing, and watching fishing, so when I get back I am hitting the water like a freight train (but not really like a freight train because that would scare the fish)

[Hyrule Bass]

just use some good old fashioned nightcrawlers and you will catch a variety of fish. you can let them sit on the bottom or use a drop shot if you want to get it off the bottom some. of course with that okuma you may want to use cutbait or live bluegill or minnows, stuff that fish are gonna grab and swim off with...

[Bluebasser86]

If you want to just catch whatever is around, then I'd agree with using nightcrawlers. Just a simple slip sinker rig fished on the bottom will catch anything in a lake.

 

If I were just after catfish, I'd be using fresh cutbait (shad, herring, or carp), or live baitfish. I'd be fishing any of them near the bottom, either on a slip sinker rig with live bait, or weightless with the cutbait if I could get away with it.

[jigabooyah]

I use night crawlers because they catch everything. 

The rig I use for the river is a 2-3 ounce no roll sinker

followed by a swivel than a leader of 12-24 inches and hook.

Sometimes I use a float to get the bait off the bottom

If I don't get a bite within 20 min. I move it 

[F14A-B]

Well for Cats, chicken livers, even chicken hearts will be a good isolating bait for a cats only bite, night crawlers will catch different fishes, bottom rigs of all sorts will work... For very large flatheads or blues a large bluegill 10 to 12 " is best... Cut bait can work too.

[Hyrule Bass]

Well for Cats, chicken livers, even chicken hearts will be a good isolating bait for a cats only bite, night crawlers will catch different fishes, bottom rigs of all sorts will work... For very large flatheads or blues a large bluegill 10 to 12 " is best... Cut bait can work too.

chicken livers will actually catch multiple species as well. ive caught stripers, bluegill, and white perch on them in addition to catfish. though i would tend to agree that a huge majority of the time its going to be a catfish that eats it.

[F14A-B]

Red earth that is ultimately true, as I once, once, caught a 10" LMB on livers.... So I am sure that it does happen with other fishes as well.

[Catch and Grease]

What is dead sticking? Is that just a fancy term for throwing a bait out and letting it sit haha

[Bluebasser86]

What is dead sticking? Is that just a fancy term for throwing a bait out and letting it sit haha

yep, laying there like a dead stick. 

[crazyjoeclemens]

If I'm river fishing, the slip weight rig works great. Current makes the bait bounce and roll around. In a lake, I prefer to drop shot, to keep the bait up off the bottom some. Catfish do lay low, but they aren't exclusively bottom feeders. Night crawlers and chicken livers are always good to start with, but I'm a fan of shad fillets and leeches. They're deadly around here.