Catfish Been Bitting

[junkman]

I thought I would post a pic from last Thursday of one of the cats I caught on my job location in Kansas. I have really been tearing up the blues and flat heads. 10 and 15 pounders have been common as long as some even larger. this one in the photo went 25lbs. It was actually the first fish caught on one of my new big cat rods. where I am working the owner has over 3 miles of river frontage which makes it nice for I can fish all alone. I have more pics but can't get them off the camera. tight lines.

[hoglaw]

Can you share a bit more about what you're doing? You're fishing a river I take it...don't need to know where, but would be nice toknow a bit more about your technique...time of day, presentation, bait, etc.

[junkman]

Actually I have been fishing the Marais des Cygnes river and I have been using exclusively live bait. Here is a write up I was going to post some day but I guess today will be fine. by the way I can't respond to this post during the week much, but will try to explain or instruct all that I can when I can. Mark

Catfishing a few helpful techniques

I thought I would post a few pointers for those that might be new to the world of catfishing. Now I must admit I’m no expert in the field, but growing up on the head waters of the Osage river and its tributaries, I have had a lot of practice catching the common cat and as well all the rest of the species our muddy water contributes. I could go through all the different techniques like trout lines, limb lines, and jug lines and such, but I really want to expand the minds of those that might not know the different rigs that can be used for a good ol rod and real. There isn’t anything much better then catching double digit cats on a rod and real.

Now a word to the wise; When you use such methods, it is wise to have the proper equipment. And we could go on and on about what proper equipment consists of but for time’s sake I will just tell you that my go to pole is a 7 ½ ft. medium/heavy action pole with an Abu Garcia 6000 spooled with 50 lb. braided line. You can use what you have but it is a great disappointment when you hook into that big one and he gets away. I’m not saying you need this kind of equipment for I’ve caught many on an old Zebco 606 and a light fiberglass rod. But then again I lost a many as well.

As well we need to know a little bit about bait. When growing up we knew where all the river worm beds were and used them almost exclusively for cats, carp and such, but I know for many, a good river worm bed would be hard to find and the price of night crawlers will eat you alive. And though I was raised using this bait as well as fresh chicken liver, there are many alternatives out there such as frozen shrimp from Wali World, or shad gizzards or sides for a common stink bait just to name a few. But the one I use pretty much exclusively use now is live perch.

You may be thinking I have heard of using live bait on trout lines, jug lines or limb lines but not on rod and real. Well let me tell you, to me it is the only way to go. No more the little peck peck from the ones that cannot even get the hook in their moth. But only the ones you might want to take home. A 3 pound cat can suck in a fair sized perch but so will a 20 pounder as well. Don’t get me wrong I have caught 20 pound flat heads on worms, but a lively perch ups the odds of catching him greatly. Now for you that have access to live shad maybe for lake fishing use them. But they seem to me to not be as tuff as perch.

Now for the hooks and rigs: Most of the time when fishing with worms, shrimp or liver I always used a 2/0 or 3/0 hook. Even when fishing with what I call a weighted worm rig I use this size hook. But when I switch to what I call a live bait rig, my hook size goes up to a 6/0, 7/0 or 8/0 hook. I have found that many times when using this larger size the fish will actually hook themselves which makes it a priority only to make sure your pole does not disappear beneath the murky depths.

For a worm rig as I call it you will need some large barrel swivels, some line beads or bumpers and some extra line like ten pounds lighter than your main line. First put on your main line the desired weight. If fishing in heavy current you might need a two or three oz. sinker. But for most general fishing a one oz. usually works fine. Next string on a bead or rubber bumper to protect the knot that will come next when you tie on a barrel swivel and complete the main line setup. Now tie a 12” or 18” piece of your lighter line onto the other end of the barrel swivel and then finish it off with your hook. Like I say this rig I primarily use for non moving baits, but can be used with live bait when you know the bottom is free of debris that live bait can hang you up in.

Now my live bait rig as I call it consists of a hook, extra line, weight, a large clasp swivel, and a three way barrel swivel. First you tie a three way swivel to the main line. Then you can tie your extra line lets say12” to 18” to the same swivel. Now on the end of this line I tie the large clasp swivel in order to connect my weight. Now to the third loop on your swivel tie about a 8” section of line preferably monofilament and then add your hook. (Mono in larger tests is stiffer which in turn seems to help hold your bait away from your main line.)

I will mention another rig I have used successfully when fishing at night on lakes and that is a main line weighted to hold your live bait down with a large Styrofoam cork keeping it afloat. Have had this method work well even on flat head cats.

I will note that when fishing either the worm or live bait rig, it is best to fish them with a tight line. You will not want slack in the line for your live bait to take advantage of. Also check your states regulations for not all bait sometimes referred to as perch is legal for bait.

I know for many this might seem like generic info and maybe it is. But it can and will produce cats, and in most cases bigger more quality cats. If some of you have a technique or rig that works for you please post it for not only I, but many others as well would like to know. I believe this is one reason for this great site, to exchange thoughts and ideas about the interests we like.

I hope someone can get some benefit from this post for it took me a long time to peck it out. Tight lines and don’t lose that pole.

[junkman]

Sorry Hoglow did forget to tell you that I try to fish in the evening until 11 or 12ish. Just depends on the bite Have fished lakes all night sometimes. Now if you can catch it when a front is on it's way it is a bonus as well. That is when I caught the flat in the pic. Finally got ran off by the lightning getting to close.

[Wayne SW/MO]

When I lived up in that many, many years ago the Marais des Cygnes had a rep as an above average flathead river, never knew why.

[MOsmallies]

Great write-up and nice fish! Thanks for sharing

Paul

MOSmallies

[drew03cmc]

Wayne, the Marais Des Cygnes, for its whole length is regarded as a darn good flathead river. I have heard reports around here (it runs fifteen miles south of the house) of people catching 50-60 pound fish from the river.

[junkman]

Tore up the blues again last night. Figured it would be good with the front coming in. Caught 8 blues between 3and 7 pounds, One 5lb. fat lipped blue, one 12 pound flathead and one 5 ft. gar. Headed out before 11pm. for the lack of bait but it was fun while it lasted. Sorry no pics for I forgot the camera. The pre spawn bite seems to be good but could be better if we had some more rain. tight lines

[Mitch f]

Great report and very informative Junkman! Do you use circle hooks for the perch?

[Blazerman]

Junkman, thanks for the great report and write up. When fishing with rod and reel, I have been using mainly stinkbait and minnows and normally save the perch for trotlines. Think i will start using perch on my rods from now on.