Catfish

[CheapPelican]

Got signed up for a Catfish derby this weekend. The only one I've ever caught was at the river on a piece of cheese that fell off a cheeseburger.

I can't figure out how to rig for this. From what I've been goggling, people use every rigging option from bobbers to carolina and dropper rigs. What bait and type/size hook should I use?

I'll be fishing for stockers.

[Hellboy1500]

When I was stationed in Yuma I would use the cheap frozen shrimp from wal-mart or chicken liver that has set out for a while. The size hook was about the size of the last digit of your thumb and I would have about a foot and half to two foot leader attached to a swivel with an egg weight.

[MrM]

We caught a bunch of catfish at Lake Powell last week. None of them were on the surface. Hotdogs or cheese seemed to be the easiest. Also caught a couple on worms. Carolina every time.

Good luck to you!

[catchnfish]

carolina rig a 3/0 and put on some fresh mackeral if u got it chicken liver will work but make sure it isn't frozen because it will fall apart on you, cats like structure and will cruise the banks at night

[dc1983]

If your fishing one of the stocked lakes go to their web page and look at the tips section or fishing report they will normally say on one of the two areas what the fish are biting on and what rig to use. But most stock lakes say to use chucks of mackeral flylined. Good luck

[CheapPelican]

Thanks for the info.

Are all these dough and dip baits just gimmicks?

Do you add extra scent to the bait? I've read about marinating the bait along with garlic or shrimp paste. I talked to one kid who said he used shrimp with soy sauce. Thought he was BSing me until he pulled his stringer out of the water.

Will a chicken liver stay on a circle hook or do i need to get some bait holders?

[icelogger]

Throw in a white spinner bait if the fishery is a low oxygen eutrophic lake with temps above 70. If the lake has an aerator go cast next to it for cats. Good luck.

[StinkyMatt]

Which lake?

What hours will you be fishing?

[CheapPelican]

It's a private lake in my buddy's HOA. 4am-10am.

[lowprofile]

Meal worms and cheese marshmallow. Use a #1 bait holder, thread on two meal worms then two marshmallows over the Barb. Use a c-rig with18" leader.or get some crawdads.

[danjor]

Dont forget the big fat earthworms. If it swims in freshwater it will eat earthworms

[StinkyMatt]

Chunk a frozen mackerel, no weight, just let it sink to the bottom. The natural oils in that bait will send out a nice little slick.

Good luck

[PapaDave]

^ What he said ^ :rolleyes:

[Jimmyz123]

Keep it simple, rig up using a Carolina rig, get some mackerel from the bait store or go catch some. Dip them in Unibutter and cast them out. You're sure to get bit. Yes, I said Unibutter in Freshwater, it works. Either that or buy some stinkbait but Unibutter is better.

[mtnbykr2]

Keep it simple, rig up using a Carolina rig, get some mackerel from the bait store or go catch some. Dip them in Unibutter and cast them out. You're sure to get bit. Yes, I said Unibutter in Freshwater, it works. Either that or buy some stinkbait but Unibutter is better.

I will have to remember that neat little bit next time I go catfishin' thanks Jimmy...:D

[MWC359]

Since people love to catfish out where I live Ive learned a few tricks while useing chickin livers. Take some of the finger wrap that doctors use when dressing a bandaged finger and stuff your livers into them. Tie them into a small knot or sew the ends with string and stick your hook through it. This stuff is a webbing so the catfish will feel and taste the bait but cant pull it off the hook. If you cant find the dressing use a piece of womens panty hoses or nylons. make little slits in them so pieces of liver stick out.

[CheapPelican]

C-rig? Mackerel? Flyline? Unibutter? Sounds like you're getting me ready to fish Dana point.