| There are few more simple pursuits than fishing | | | | leader. Use the final eye of the swivel to tie a 20" |
| for catfish in the summertime, but you still need | | | | leader of 15 pound test. To this leader, attach |
| to know the basics to be consistently successful. | | | | your hook. If you use this rig, your rig will not |
| It can be a relaxing, enjoyable way to spend a | | | | float down the current, and you can keep your |
| summer evening, so long as you know where to | | | | offering in one place for an extended period of |
| start. In this article, we'll keep the techniques fairly | | | | time. This is often the best rig for large catfish. |
| simple and straight forward, so you can get | | | | There is a huge variety of catfish baits. Perhaps |
| started right away. | | | | the most common (and effective) is a simple |
| The rod and reel you use is very important. A | | | | nightcrawler. Thread the worm on a size 4 hook, |
| medium action spinning or baitcasting rod is a | | | | and let it drift down the current while bouncing |
| good place to start if you just want to catch | | | | the bottom. This is quite possibly the best way to |
| eating size catfish. Spool the reel with 10-14 pound | | | | catch a stringer of eating size catfish. Live |
| monofilament. If you want to catch larger fish, | | | | minnows are also a very effective bait. Smaller |
| especially Blue or Flathead Catfish, you'll need | | | | minnows work very well for smaller catfish, while |
| much heavier equipment. A heavy action | | | | 3" to 7" baits are commonly used to catch very |
| baitcasting set up is necessary. 20 pound | | | | large catfish. Common fish species used for bait |
| monofilament is adequate for most pursuits, but if | | | | include shiners, chubs, carp, goldfish, and sunfish. |
| you are after very large fish, you may want to | | | | Cut bait is also a very good bait for all species |
| bump it up to 30 pound test. Besides a rod and | | | | and sizes of catfish. Almost any kind of fish will |
| reel, you will also need several pole holders to | | | | work as bait, although shad and sunfish are most |
| prevent a big catfish from stealing your rod! | | | | often used. Most people fish cutbait on a three |
| How you rig up depends on how you want to fish. | | | | way rig. Chicken livers and various homemade and |
| Sometimes, you will want to let the bait drift | | | | commercial stinkbaits work very well for channel |
| down the river, while bumping the bottom on | | | | catfish. |
| each cast. To accomplish this, all you need is a | | | | However you choose to fish for catfish, it is |
| medium sized split shot and a hook. This is the | | | | extremely enjoyable and relaxing. Using these tips, |
| most simple catfishing rig in existence, and it | | | | you can catch a lot of fish as well. Don't forget |
| works very well for smaller catfish. The other | | | | that catfish are one of the best eating fish |
| common way to rig up is using a three-way | | | | around. Brush up on some recipes (find catfish |
| swivel rig. First, tie your line to one of the eyes | | | | recipes as well as a multitude of other wild game |
| on the swivel. Then, tie a 12" leader of 8 pound | | | | and fish recipes)so you'll be ready to head to your |
| test to another. Tie a small egg sinker to this | | | | nearest river, lake, or pond, and try these tips. |