How to Rig for Catfish

[Kaby Mud Bug]

I am thinking about trying a little Cat-fishing in the ole ‘Miss this spring, but only have experience with Walleyes/Pike/Bass. Do you guys have recommendations on how I can get started?

Do I need new equipment? What size hooks? Line?

What bait should I use?

This may sound wimpy, but do I need a glove to take them off the line? Stingers, Barbs, etc?

I don't want to go all in before I try it a few times, so any beginner tips would be helpful...

Thanks guys!

[Mr Special]

You might want to check out previous post on this subject. It gets brought up often.

But for starters

If you plan on channels cats. Heavy walleye or bass gear will work fine, with #15-#30 line.

The basic rig is a slip rig, just like Lindy but with heavier weights and bigger hooks.

Weights depend on the current your fishing. 1oz-3oz No-roll, bank, or bell sinkers should hold in most situations.

Hooks range from #1-#4/0. Types can be Gama Octo, Khale, Circle hooks, or just plain baitholder hooks.

Baits I'd recommend would be cut sucker, chubb, mooneye, or fresh shrimp.

Gloves help but aren't needed. Just watchout for the three main fins.

Hope this helps

[Ralph Wiggum]

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Gloves help but aren't needed.

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And they're for wienies

Good advice from Mr. Special. I'd recommend just searching the posts from the past couple of months, like he said. It's been brought up several times.

Good luck! I was in your position last year, now, I'm hooked on the slimy buggers.

[Mr Special]

"Hooked" that's an understatment. Have you seen his avator?

[DARK30]

Usually its the guys who catch a few cats and turn into overnight cat pros who don't need gloves. I always have a pair of leather gloves available for a few reasons

Now go wrap that power pro around your bare hand and pull her loose son

[Ralph Wiggum]

There's no need to get crabby, Dark. The means that I'm just joking around. I didn't mean to offend you.

[DARK30]

No offense taken Ralph. I was just joking too..that's what this means..

LOL

[Ralph Wiggum]

[hanson]

I think that last smily is what Dark does when he lands a "sumo" Lockport kitty cat. At least thats what I saw in the video anyway.

[DARK30]

Course I'm not trying to insinuate that I'm a pro...I'm not. Pros get financial rewards for fishing.. I don't. A river runs through my brain that's all

[Dennis Steele]

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A river runs through my brain that's all

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I thought your brain was full of rocks.

A guy doesn't need to get new equipement to give cattin a try. If you have some gear for pike, or heavy bass, that ought to work good enough.

I'd reccomend 12lb line or better, 4/0 kahle hooks and some sinkers in 1oz or bigger. Tie up your basic lindy style rig and your ready to roll.

Basic baits for channels are hunks of large sucker.

Toss the rig out upstream of downed tree's or on the edge of fast and slow water.

Typicaly when a cat bites it will pick up your bait and turn downstream. When I use smaller gear, I hold my rod and wait for the bite. When you feel a tap or a slight pull on your line, keep gentle tension on the line and follow the fish downstream with your rod tip. When your rod is horizontal, WHACK HIM!

Gloves???

You don't need gloves. Just don't put your hand in a channel cats mouth. They bite and do have lots of tiny little teeth that can strip the skin off your fingers.

I hold channels under the two pectoral fins. They do have spines, but only the little cats will sting. Up to about a pound or pound and a hlaf. The older they get, the serrated part of the spine wear off and you don't get stung.

[DARK30]

Yes, Rocks too I guess.

Gloves?? Of course you need gloves. Take um off before you drink your warm miller so you don't get any mud in it....I thought I taught you better man

[Guest]

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Now go wrap that power pro around your bare hand and pull her loose son

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We dont need no stinking gloves..

Dark.. try wrapping that power pro around a stick or a bait net handle when pulling on a snag!

Im not sure I want to know your other *few reasons* for wearing gloves when fishing

I take that back, I did wear gloves a few times this year.. it was COLD outside!

[DARK30]

Cold is a good reason but your right. Gloves are not necessarily needed downtown murderapolis....your net,a stick, some piece of trash..maybe you could even find someone else's severed hand if you look around hard enough. Besides, A glove would make it hard to draw and fire your.357

Sorry to destroy your post Kaby Mud Bug, we don't always have this much fun on here

[Mr Special]

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