How to Catch Big Catfish With a Fishing Rig
Catching big catfish is a matter of getting your bait down to where the big cats live and feed. This usually means that your line should be rigged to the bait of choice down to the bottom of the river, stream, pond or lake. A variety of fishing rigs are used by anglers when attempting to lure catfish, and may require some in depth rigging and more complex knots. However, there is a simple rig that is easy to set up and is used for a wide variety of fish, including big catfish.
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Things You'll Need
- Monofilament fishing line
- Slip weight
- Barrel swivel
- Bead
- 1/0 to 2/0 Kale hook
- Scissors
Instructions
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Cut a 12 to 18 inch length of line from the end of your monofilament fishing line to use as a leader. You will need to use at least a 10 pound test monofilament line or heavier when angling for catfish. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut the leader length.
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Slide a 1/4 to 1 ounce slip weight onto the main line followed by a plastic or metal bead. Attach the end of the main line to a barrel swivel with a Trilene knot. Begin forming the Trilene knot by feeding 5 to 6 inches of your main line through the eye of the swivel.
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Wrap the free end around and through the eye of the swivel once again. The line will now be doubled through the eye of the swivel.
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Wrap the free end of the line around the main line just above the swivel eye. Make three wraps around the main line starting near the eye and working up the line. This will also form a small loop in the line just above the swivel eye.
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Turn the free end of the line down and feed it through the small loop in the line just above the swivel eye. Moisten the knot, pull down tightly and trim excess from the free end with scissors.
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Attach one free end of the leader to the opposite end of the barrel swivel once again using a Trilene knot. Tie the other end of the leader length to a 1/0 or 2/0 size Kale hook with a Palomar knot.
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Form the Palomar knot by feeding several inches of line through the eye of the hook. Turn the free end back and pass through the eye once again. This will form a loop to one side of the hook. Adjust the line so that the loop is about 3 inches long. There should be 3 to 4 inches of line at the free end.
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Place the 3 to 4 inch free end of the line next to the main line and hold in place to form a short doubled line length. Tie an overhand knot with the loop and short doubled length. Pull the loop through the overhand knot and then around the bend of the hook.
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Moisten the knot and slowly pull the knot down tight. Make sure the knot pulls down evenly, and adjust the line as necessary. Trim excess from the free end of the knot with a sharp pair of scissors.
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10
Attach live bait, dough or prepared stink bait to the hook and cast it into the water. Select deep pools with still or slow moving water. Allow the weight to settle to the bottom with the bait. Slowly drag the rig across the bottom to disperse the bait scent and attract big catfish.
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References
- Photo Credit catfish image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
