What tackle/setup do you use to fish for big cats?

[finatic]

The other day I was fishing and I thought about my poor old Okuma FINA that was sitting in a bag at home, because I bought a new reel (Pflueger President XT) and have it on my only pole. I thought about getting a pole to put it on and making that my catfish rig, so I went to the store and bought a Ugly Stik GX2 (really nice rod). I got the old FINA filled with 50lb PowerPro. Next came the catfish setup for which I used some BearPaws, 3/0 snelled hooks and diamond shaped 1.5 ounce sinkers (tied on a nice ball bearing snap swivel). First time in the water with this new rig and I caught three catfish in about half an hour. Two were decent sized then the last one was quite a bit bigger.

 

 

I was using night crawlers, but they're a real pita - always falling off the hook when you cast and smaller fish pick at them on the hook. I was thinking of using cutbait next time. They have some pike minnows at the bait store and the owner said I could let those get a little stinky then cut them up. I suppose I could also catch come small bluegills or sunfish and use those, too.

 

So what kind of catfish setup do you guys use? I have the BearPaws and snelled hooks setup. but I was just curious what other fishermen used.

[Bluebasser86]

How big is a big cat? 

[finatic]

Just now, Bluebasser86 said:

How big is a big cat? 

 

Monster-sized. Like anything over 30lbs.

[Bluebasser86]

Depends on where they're living. I use several different rods but I prefer a surfcasting rod with a large capacity baitfeeder. I have a 7' MH with a 50 size Okuma that has easily handled several 20-30 pound fish. When I'm after larger fish I have a 8' H with a 65 Okuma and a 12' H with a 90 Okuma baitfeeder. For really big fish I have a 7' XXH with a 309 Penn and 130lb braid. 

 

Of course with all that, I caught my biggest flathead ever on a 7' MH with 15lb flouro on a finesse jig 

[Fried Lemons]

7'MH musky rod with a penn fathom 25 and 65lb braid. This is more than enough to handle any size of catfish found in my local waters, where they can easily run 50lb+. I need to muscle fish away from rocks hence the heavy gear.

[finatic]

Thanks for the replies everyone, but mainly I wanted to know what tackle you guys use (i.e., three way swivels, sliding sinker, etc.) and how you rig it. 

[Bluebasser86]

I mainly use a simple slip sinker rig with a barrel swivel to a short leader in current, longer leader in standing water (if I use a sinker at all). I like to use either a Kahle hook for cutbait, or a beak hook designed for tuna with livebait. Sinkers are typically flat bank sinkers in the 4-8 ounce range, but can be an ounce or two, up to a pound, depending on bait type and size, current, and location. My second largest flathead was on a big piece of cut Asian carp fished weightless in a slack water area off the main river like I was dragging a big jig though.

[finatic]

I've researched a lot of catfish setups and I've finally decided to just stick with my own - bearpaw, snelled hook, weight on bottom. There's a lot of vegetation in the area I fish and using a slide sinker setup would be useless, because then the hook is right on the bottom and would get tangled in the weeds all the time.

 

Next I've decided to change up the hooks I'm using and go with circle hooks instead - you can read more about circle hooks here. After doing some research it appears these hooks are probably a lot more productive than the J-hooks I've been using. The only challenge here is learning to tie some snells on these hooks so I can use them on the bearpaw setup I have.

 

Now for the bait. I've been using nightcrawlers, but I've decided I need to change up on these, too. With nightcrawlers there are several problems - they can fall off your hook when casting, they don't live for very long and the fish seem to be very adept at eating them right off my hook. So I've been doing some research on different types of cutbait and such for catfish.

 

People use all manner of things to fish for cats, even Jell-O and hotdogs. My buddy's wife had a great idea; she suggested I use the raw catfood I bought for my cats, which they didn't like. I have a whole bag of it in the freezer and it's the chicken formula, which it seems catfish prefer.

 

 

Now to get some netting material of some kind and tie up some bags of this cat food. I found a video where a guy uses surginet to make his bags of chicken livers. I might try that. Once I make some of these up I'll stick them in a ziploc bag and put em in the cooler. I plan to go fishing again Wednesday morning and we'll see just how well these work.

[finatic]

Catfood worked, but it dissolves quickly in the water. I did get some Gamakatsu circle hooks and a spool of Seaguar 20lb leader. I made my own snells with the circle hooks and put one on my bearpaw rig. First bite I set the hook, felt the weight of the fish and then I was snagged on something. I pulled a couple times and it came free (50lb PowerPro doesn't easily break), but when I reeled it in the leader line was broken right below the loop on the bearpaw. Kind of odd for 20lb Seaguar. Got a couple more strikes but each time I reeled in the catfood in the nylon bag was totally gone. Going to have to stick with something more solid next time, like chicken livers.

[Dorado]

@hawgwash I say this with a decade experience of fishing for channels in ponds. Throughout the years, I've discovered that cats in the 1lb-6lb range like chicken livers, catfood, shrimp, commercial baits, list goes on. Smelly stuff right?

 

When you want to target the channels > 7lbs it's all about cutbait or live bait. Cutbait that is already part of their natural forage is a bonus since it's a scent they are already familiar with. For example, where I live, cut tilapia, bluegill and rainbow trout are the most effective because big cats have already had a 'taste' of these prey items so their olfactory senses trigger memory impulses that sky rocket your odds. 

 

Caveat- Oily saltwater fish, like Mackeral, are foreign - true. But, I have caught a couple nice 10 lb channel cats out of highly pressured urban ponds when those aforementioned options got dismissed. For the record, 10-20lb channel cat is considered BIG for my area. It's relative when you say 'big' but I still think my notes could hopefully add some catfish food for thought  

 

If you're experiencing trouble with weeds, get proficient with a slip bobber rig. Then, learn how to catch small panfish quickly and efficiently. Catching cats on a huge bobber with a live bluegill is one of the most memorable forms of freshwater fishing. 

[finatic]

Went with a slip sinker rig this time. Caught this nice 24in 8lb channel cat. Going to try some of Garys Shads next time (they come in a sealed pouch look promising).

 

[Ronnie Daniels]

Nice catch!

[Bluebasser86]

On 10/26/2017 at 4:47 PM, Dorado said:

@hawgwash I say this with a decade experience of fishing for channels in ponds. Throughout the years, I've discovered that cats in the 1lb-6lb range like chicken livers, catfood, shrimp, commercial baits, list goes on. Smelly stuff right?

 

When you want to target the channels > 7lbs it's all about cutbait or live bait. Cutbait that is already part of their natural forage is a bonus since it's a scent they are already familiar with. For example, where I live, cut tilapia, bluegill and rainbow trout are the most effective because big cats have already had a 'taste' of these prey items so their olfactory senses trigger memory impulses that sky rocket your odds. 

 

Caveat- Oily saltwater fish, like Mackeral, are foreign - true. But, I have caught a couple nice 10 lb channel cats out of highly pressured urban ponds when those aforementioned options got dismissed. For the record, 10-20lb channel cat is considered BIG for my area. It's relative when you say 'big' but I still think my notes could hopefully add some catfish food for thought  

 

If you're experiencing trouble with weeds, get proficient with a slip bobber rig. Then, learn how to catch small panfish quickly and efficiently. Catching cats on a huge bobber with a live bluegill is one of the most memorable forms of freshwater fishing. 

Agreed, not trying to be a jerk, but if you're fishing prepared baits, you're not targeting big catfish. You may stumble onto one, sure, but that's going to be the exception. Live or FRESH cutbait is going to be king if you're truly targeting larger fish. I'd target big catfish with lures over prepared baits, it's a lot more productive than most folks realize. I used to intentionally target flatheads with a deep diving crankbait (discontinued Storm Lightning Shad), and did so with quite a bit of success. Big catfish are predators, and mainly fish eaters. Put a lure in their vicinity and there's a good chance they'll let you know about it.

20lb blue on a power minnow.

14lb channel on a brush hog

15lb flathead on a craw fatty

 

12lb channel on a shakyhead

15lb flathead on a jigging spoon

40lb flathead on a jig

 

14lb flathed on a jig

25lb flathead on a jig

21lb flathead on a Ned rig

65lb flathed on a jig

12lb flathed on a jig

11lb channel on a bladed jig

 

[Dorado]

@Bluebasser86 that was my favorite post you’ve posted so far.  Incredible. Glad you shared those pics and I would’ve never thought artificials could claim so many beasts. 

[Bluebasser86]

1 minute ago, Dorado said:

@Bluebasser86 that was my favorite post you’ve posted so far.  Incredible. Glad you shared those pics and I would’ve never thought artificials could claim so many beasts. 

Most of those are babies still. Our bass may not get very big here, but the catfish get to record sizes with blues over 100, and the current world record flathead of 123 pounds.

[Bankbeater]

Back when I fished for catfish I felt comfortable using an 8'-0" H rod.  The rod was paired with an Abu Record 50.