Getting ready for another trip to the lake soon so I'm wondering if using catfish leaders and tightline rigs really make a difference in the results?
Catfish rig
- Thread starter Brazen Rigsby
- Start date
Ive had bad luck with leaders on catfish. I had one break on me and sever used another leader. I have walmart, bass pro, dicks, cabelas leaders, for catfish and musky, some were cheap, some weren't. I cant remember the one that broke but it was enough for me. I will use them on gar here and there but thats about it.
I like using fluorocarbon leaders. But the main purpose is to divide my line so I get a swivel, bead below my slip sinker. Beyond that swivel is where I tie about a 15" leader and my hook. I use pretied hair rigs as leader for carp and the same slip sinker rig.
My last trip I went on a BIG channel cat snapped my leader, and that was the only thing that had bitten my line that day... I was pretty disappointed 
What do you recommend for cats?
What do you recommend for cats?
for the lake I would use (1.5 oz sinker---->bead----->SPRO size 2 swivel------>flurocarbon leader----->4/0 hook) and small live or cut bait for channels. I use 20 pound test on my channel rods and would use a 15 pound test leader. If I were fishing for bigger cats, I would step everything up a bit. If it snapped your line then you had too light of line on there. Tie good palomar knots and you wont have a single problem. Most people who are new to fishing tie bad knots and that is thier #1 problem.
My last trip I went on a BIG channel cat snapped my leader, and that was the only thing that had bitten my line that day... I was pretty disappointed
I use power pro for the last 3 years now. Never had an issue with losing any fish. Only thing that sucks is when you get snagged, its impossible to break so I just cut it off. I use Abu's for my catfish rigs, extra heavy musky rods and 6'6" and 80-100lb test that has the diameter of 20lb test. I dont like going too thin so thats why I use 80-100lb test. I also dont like the idea of tyin a swivel here and a swivel there, adding more knots, kinks, whatever to the line. I like to have one link between the fish and I and thats my knot, which i use the palomar.
I use a 2oz sinker with a glass bead between the circle hook and weight just so the singer isnt slamming into the knot all the time, just for piece of mind.
I'm not really new to the sport lol but knots are probably my weakness, I'll try a palomar on my next trip! Thanks!
that palomar is the best knot for superlines. when i go catfishing and sturgeon fishing i use a 2oz slip flat river sinker(egg and bell sinker roll to much), then a beed(to save the knot), then a 80-100lbs swivel, then a 4/0-6/0 gamagotzu octopus hook. i dont like circle hooks they never work for me. my line is 65lbs power pro. i have issuses with 50lb power pro. my rod is a 7' extra heavy muskie rod with a cardiff 300 reel. i just use the same line as my main line, but a little lighter leader is best so if you do get snagged you dont lose everything. this rig works. i just put a smaller hook on if i go for anything else, but keep everything else the same. i have straightened hooks with this setup before when i went with smaller hooks and had big fish on so knots are more then sufficient even with the added knots. here is some pics of fish with this rig to show you if done right the knots WILL hold even with three of them between you and the fish. the first one is 62" and the second is 52" from this year. in the 52" pic that i am holding you can see my rod in the background.
Thanks for the help! I'm definitely making a trip to bass pro soon lol! and btw those are some really nice catches man! Good luck!
n/p, thanks and good luck to you!
you need the swivel so it doesn't tangle as much and only 15-20" of leader max. any more and it will wrap around the main line and tie up with your sinker. i also go with the tight line aproach. there is current were i fish so the less slack the better. if there is no current or bad wind slack lines will give you more time to react because all my cats take it and go they dont play around with it.
also light line dosent cause it to break alone. light line and over tightened drag cause it to break. i have caught 44" sturgeons on 12lb test and 13.5lb carp on 4lb test. i also got a 30" bowfin on 2lb test. not to mention all the 24-30" steelhead i get on 2-4lb test. you just have to play them out and not horse them. oh ya my dad has a 58" sturgeon on 8lb test.
you need the swivel so it doesn't tangle as much and only 15-20" of leader max. any more and it will wrap around the main line and tie up with your sinker. i also go with the tight line aproach. there is current were i fish so the less slack the better. if there is no current or bad wind slack lines will give you more time to react because all my cats take it and go they dont play around with it.
also light line dosent cause it to break alone. light line and over tightened drag cause it to break. i have caught 44" sturgeons on 12lb test and 13.5lb carp on 4lb test. i also got a 30" bowfin on 2lb test. not to mention all the 24-30" steelhead i get on 2-4lb test. you just have to play them out and not horse them. oh ya my dad has a 58" sturgeon on 8lb test.