couple questions

[jwmiller33]

i just finished reading thru all 13 pages here in the catfish forum. there is a TON of good info in there, but i still have a couple questions. i am a catfishing noob, as i spend about 95% of my time on the water fishing for eyes. i bought a catfishing rod this spring to use for sturgeon on the rainy river run. i have a couple questions involving rigging up for catfish... i plan to go with 2 buddies on pool 2 and fish later evening and into the dark.

one of my questions is how to rig up a cat rig. i am assuming it is kind of similar to what i used up on the rainy for sturgeon? i have the pyramid sinkers, but im going to throne bros today to pick up some of those no roll weights that i have read a lot about on the older posts in this forum. what size no roll sinker would you recommend for right now? i was thinking somewhere around 3 oz.

as for rigging, do i just attach the no roll sinker onto the line, and then add a barrel swivel to about a 12-24 inch leader with the hook? for hooks i think i am going to use a gamakatsu octpus, size 8 or 9/0. is 12-24 inches a good size leader to use?

also, we are planning on using suckers for cutbait, as we don't have access to any bullheads (right now), and maybe using some crawlers we have too.. does anybody have any suggestions on what else to use?

thanks much

[DTro]

Sturgeon Rig = Catfish Rig

Same thing.

Everyone has their own opinion, but I like to keep my leader 12" and under.

Lately I haven't been using anything besides live and cut creek chubs. Find some snags this time of year, and after the sun goes down, down be afraid to go really shallow. (8ft and under)

[jwmiller33]

Thanks Dtro. I was thinking a shorter leader as well, like around 12 inches, but a friend of mine said he had used a 5 ft leader and had some very good results so I was j/w. What do you use as a leader?

Where do you get creek chubs? Do you catch them in minnow traps or can you buy them somewhere like sucker minnows?

Any recommendations on weight? How big of no roll sinkers should i buy?

[mrklean]

sinker size will depend on current have used anywhere from 1-4 oz sinkers

[Alagnak]

It doesn't matter what type of sinker you use so much. I'd have some 2,3,4 oz with- maybe 5 if you were using live bait. You just need enough lead to keep it on the bottom, thats it.

In regards to your friends' long leader. I can't see an advantage of that unless you were using live bait and REALLY wanted it to be able to roam and there were no snags at all in the area. There is no other reason ever to use a leader that long in my opinion.

Chubs you gotta catch hook n line or trap (tough to trap). Leaders can be the same as your running line or one size smaller so it breaks off your leader and not the whole rig. Heavy hard mono works great around a lot of rocks too.

[DTro]

I've done quite a bit of scouting for creek chubs and have even knocked on a few doors to get permission to fish creeks in spots I don't have to worry about others hitting.

They are kind of a feast or famine though thing depending on time of year and creek conditions.

Small U/L rig with a small flu flu and tiny piece of worm works great

You can buy them at a few places. 169 spirits in Belle Plaine, The Dam store in Rapidan, Vados up on the North side. Even then though, I would for sure call ahead to make sure they have some in stock.

[rushing]

down be afraid to go really shallow. (8ft and under)

Sometimes 8ft is a deep hole around here. lol

[jwmiller33]

thanks for the input guys... ill be sure to let you know how i do

[Gordie]

big live suckers work great and the creek chubs like everyone else is saying but finding them can be tough depending where your at. rigging has been covered very well.

[DTro]

Sometimes 8ft is a deep hole around here. lol

I hear ya man.

I caught a flat in about a foot of water 2 weekends ago. Funny when you hear the splash before you see your rod buckle.

[Scott K]

I had a big one that I lightly hooked, and lost this past weekend, in less then 2 feet of water. Set the hook, and splash, looked like a good 30 pounds, I think it thought it was a bass, because most of its body came out of the water. Then it took off, and came unbuttoned.

[Gordie]

I love that sound DTRO its almost like topwater action

[jwmiller33]

big live suckers work great

how would you hook one of these? and how big of a sucker would you use? are the suckers better live or cut up?

[Jeffreyyy]

i just learned a bunch myself. thanks for this thread on top of the others. good questions man!

[blakeb]

jwmiller33

pool two is my home stetch. I fish it 4 days a week, had pretty good fishing all summer so far, i would say what has been working is still cut shad, im also haveing fish hit on redhorse fillets.

Three oz weight, look for sand bars and like stated above 8 foot of water or less, dont have to find snags but should find a medium current off of the main channel, ox bows work good this time of the year for me,

I have still been trying the cut and live bullheads, they aint haveing it.

If you wanna make it out on tuesday night 8-12 let me know i think i have an empty boat.

[Boker001]

Always better live for flats. I use a Gamakatsu circle hook. I try and match the gape of the hook with the width of the back of the bait. I use 4/0 - 7/0. So 4/0 for the 4-5in chubs and 7/0 for the 10in plus chubs. That makes it less likely to get snagged up. I hook them just behind the dorsal fin in between the lateral line and the spine.

[jwmiller33]

blake-id love to get out tomorrow night with ya. do you want to email me? jwmiller AT stthomas DOT edu. i know we were talking a few weeks ago about getting out sometime on pool 2 and i think this would be an ample opportunity. where do you usually launch from?

[blakeb]

i launch at Lions Levee in st paul park.

Call me seven one 5 four 9 seven 9 three 3 eight

[blakeb]

Always better live for flats. I use a Gamakatsu circle hook. I try and match the gape of the hook with the width of the back of the bait. I use 4/0 - 7/0. So 4/0 for the 4-5in chubs and 7/0 for the 10in plus chubs. That makes it less likely to get snagged up. I hook them just behind the dorsal fin in between the lateral line and the spine.

So untrue, I cant count the number of nights that cuts have out fished live,

[Alagnak]

It looks like you're talking about two different bodies of water too. Are you talking big fish or just numbers of fish???

[Gordie]

how would you hook one of these? and how big of a sucker would you use? are the suckers better live or cut up?

from 6 inches to (spearing decoy size) 12 inches tail hook them and if that doesnt work you can always use it for cut bait

[TruthWalleyes]

When the suckers or bullheads are live and bigger than 6" i use two hooks. Always 1 hook behind the dorsal fin, and the other hook will go in either the tail or the head depending on the current and situation.

DOn't forget a bead and blade when using more than 1 hook.

I try to keep leaders under 12", though i had a new guy in my boat friday night on P2 and he was using at least 3-4.5 foot leaders with cut bait.

I use strictly bank sinkers and will attach them to my line with a snap, this way the weight does not damage the line. I will use up to 6oz weights, I don't like my bait to move an inch when i cast into a spot.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Good info Truth

[pureinsanity]

I've done quite a bit of scouting for creek chubs and have even knocked on a few doors to get permission to fish creeks in spots I don't have to worry about others hitting.

They are kind of a feast or famine though thing depending on time of year and creek conditions.

Small U/L rig with a small flu flu and tiny piece of worm works great

You can buy them at a few places. 169 spirits in Belle Plaine, The Dam store in Rapidan, Vados up on the North side. Even then though, I would for sure call ahead to make sure they have some in stock.

I agree with Darrens post except I do a plain hook and different kind of bait that bullies and creek chubs seem to LOVE.

I still hit the occasional creek chub spots that everyone and their brother goes to and have some luck. Banging on doors is by far the best way to do it. I have some land owner permission to get access to better parts of certain creeks and that works the best for finding the larger creek chubs.

I will say that sometimes the places youd least expect there to be any fish might become your honey hole.... Ive seen small ponds and shallow creeks loaded with plenty of cat bait. And I never even thought about fishing it, but glad I did one day...

Just do your homework: When I had my bait tank set up I seemed to bait fish more than catfish. Equally as fun in my opinion specially with an ultra light rod!

If you want to buy some: I know Reeds in Onamia has creek chubs for sale 10 bucks a dozen. but they dont always have them and its a bit of a drive (Just if anyone is in the area or despertly wants them) I would call in advance as well.

[Boker001]

Any creek or small river has creek chubs and suckers. In my experience using canned sweet corn is the best bait for creek chubs. Any bend that has some depth is a good place to start. I've never had a problem with finding chubs but I think I'm one of the lucky ones. Mankato area has loads.