Catfish Rigs: Slip Sinker, Carolina, Bobber and Cut Bait

Which rig for which job

Why weight matters

Missouri says catfish usually search for food near the bottom, so you need weight to keep your bait near the fish. Oklahoma adds that catfish are not generally bottom-feeders despite their reputation: they are predators that seek food at various levels of the water column, which is why some rigs below suspend the bait.

Slip sinker rig

Iowa says to always use the lightest weight needed and a slip sinker, and to try cut bait or nightcrawlers on slip sinker rigs fished near the bottom. Alabama points out that the swivel acts as a stop and prevents excessive line twist. This is the same layout as the fish finder rig.

Carolina rig for catfish

Oklahoma’s build is a sinker on the line, then a stopper, then a barrel swivel, then a hook on a 12 to 24 inch leader. The bait floats a foot or two off the bottom, which Oklahoma calls usually a better strike zone, and the rig is perfect for getting bait into deeper water in summer. See the full Carolina rig page.

Bobber rig for channel catfish

The most basic channel catfish rig is a simple bobber with a baited hook hanging about 2 feet under it. Oklahoma uses a worm or a piece of hot dog on a medium treble or circle hook, held down by a split shot. See bobber fishing for how to set one up.

Winter cut bait rig for blue, channel and flathead catfish

Oklahoma’s specs: 20 pound monofilament, a 1 to 2 ounce no-roll or drag-free sinker, a 1/0 barrel swivel, a 12 to 24 inch leader of 20 pound mono and a 7/0 to 8/0 strong circle hook. A 2 inch slotted foam peg float goes on the leader a couple of inches above the hook so the bait floats in the strike zone. Oklahoma says natural cut bait from the water you fish is the most effective choice.

Live bait for big catfish

For large catfish, Oklahoma hooks a live bluegill through the lips or between the dorsal and tail fin on a sturdy 6/0 to 10/0 circle hook, on a 30 to 80 pound leader tied to a barrel swivel, with a 1/2 to 1 ounce weight on the main line.

Hooks and line

• Circle hooks. Popular with live or cut bait. Used properly they reduce the chance the fish swallows the bait, since fish are usually hooked in the corner of the mouth (Iowa), and are less likely to foul or gut hook a catfish than J hooks (Oregon). Oregon runs a circle hook with cut bait and a treble with dough bait.
• Treble hooks. Texas says treble hooks work best at keeping prepared bait from flying off during the cast. Oklahoma notes channel cats take prepared and “kitchen” baits that rarely appeal to blues and flatheads.
• Sizes. Arkansas lists no. 1 to 6/0 hooks for catfish, depending on the size of fish.
• Line. Iowa suggests 10 pound test for bottom-fished channel cats since the bait is often near underwater snags. New York pairs big river channel catfish with a heavy action rod and 15 pound line. Oklahoma’s winter rig uses 20 pound mono.