Calling Catfish Samurais

[mic]

Ole samurai mic'son needs your help....

I'm trying to learn to fish for cats (from the bank). I keep getting bites, but I just get one. The pool/line bounces once hard then its dead..nothing. I sure don't remember having this problem when I was kid. I'm using a treble tied with line to a swivel and then slip weights. I've tried tight lining, hanging a bobber on the line between eyelets, loose lining the real, and am going to try a slip bobber.

Any suggestions?

[fishinwrench]

My routine is basically a carolina rig dip worm smothered in Bowker's Original or Sonny's super sticky original.

Think structure just like when you're bass fishing and don't waste too much time in one spot if you're not catching fish.

Dip bait seldom catches really big channels but 2-7lbers won't ignore it, if they are there they'll eat it.

Take extra #4 trebles and collect your hooks later when you clean them. Just slide the worm up the leader and tie on a fresh hook after each fish......cuz they'll swalllow it 9 times out if 10.

That's the best (most dependable) way I know of to load the boat with eating sized cats anywhere that they swim.

[OzarkFishman]

You need circle hooks and either fresh cut bait or small live bait (2 - 3 inch bluegill/sunfish).

With the live bluegill, there is always a chance for a nice bass.

[Stoneroller]

I stopped fishing for cats with trebles under the water. I catch them on topwater with bass baits with trebles, but I only use circle hooks when fishing dip, cut, or live bait subsurface. With a circle hook all you need to do is pick up the rod and hold on, the fish will literally hook its self as it turns to swim away. If you attempt to 'set' the hook it will pull right out of the fish's mouth.

It's likely they are feeling the hook or some other part of your rig and dropping the bait. I throw a line out with a team catfish furrythang circle hook and dip bait suspended from a bobber, and another line on a 3 way rig and a cut or live bait suspened less than 1 foot off the bottom. If you don't get bit on your dip bait within 20 minutes, move. Cut/Live bait 30 minutes, move. That can be as simple as casting to a different area or moving entirely depending on where you are set up. Personally I like to set up on a main lake point with a shallow side and a deep side, but a shallow bay is a great 2nd option.

[mic]

Thanks guys. I'm fishing a burrow pit (hole dug out next to an interstate bridge where the dirt is used for the ramp to the bridge). Basically, it is just a flat bottom farm pond. Like I said, getting the bites isn't the problem. Getting them to stay on or bite again is. I think I will try the circle hook on a bobber. I'm using hotdogs flavored in koolaid and garlic. I'm averaging a bite every 15 minutes. I'm looking for cooking catfish.

[Stoneroller]

techinically it's a 'borrow' pit. as in, they 'borrowed' the dirt from there for the overpass. but I know exactly what you are talking about, Illinois is full of them along the interstates. There are also quite a few along the levees. Some can be outstanding. others can completely suck. Are you landing any fish? could be full of bullheads that are small enough to eat your dog and not get hooked. I've run into that issue before.

[mic]

techinically it's a 'borrow' pit. as in, they 'borrowed' the dirt from there for the overpass. but I know exactly what you are talking about, Illinois is full of them along the interstates. There are also quite a few along the levees. Some can be outstanding. others can completely suck. Are you landing any fish? could be full of bullheads that are small enough to eat your dog and not get hooked. I've run into that issue before.

That is what I meant...darn spell check (I wish). The pit has both bullheads some nice size, channel, and some flat heads. However, I don't know what the ratio is. Whatever is hitting it is not taking the dog. I'm running the hook line through the dog and then it sits in on the hook...a very stable setup. Read it online. The water is gin clear... I don't know if that matters.

[Stoneroller]

Interesting. sounds like smaller fish picking at your bait or line, but if they aren't nibbling the dog, that's kind of odd. could be that they pick up the bait, feel weight and drop it. cats usually aren't that skittish though, that's more like carp behavior. shotgun some different rigs out there and see if any certain rig works better. you have me stumped.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Sounds like carp to me. Carp, more often then not, will pick up a bait and then spit it out, even if they intend to eat it. They are probably being spooked and leaving it.

I agree with Wrench, dip bait and I like the hooks that Stoneroller pictured. Sonny's or Secret 7 are good baits. In a stream a tree, a hole, or any type of obstruction is a good place for channel's.

[mic]

There are carp in there...and they are HUGE. I see them jump every once in a while. Maybe I'll keep trying. I only hit this place when time is an issue, but its been a big issue lately.