Catfish Rig Setup
Did you know there are almost three thousand different kinds of catfish worldwide?
Catfishes are fantastic fishes that are found all over the world except Antarctica. They are found mostly in freshwaters. They prefer a shallow water source that has running water.
These aquatic species are known for their cat-like whiskers. In many parts of the United States of America, especially in the South, people refer to catfish as chuckleheads.
Well, that made us chuckle.
With so much variety, it is quite inherent that people also love consuming this lovely fish specimen. People globally have commercially started selling catfish and earning tons of money. Not only are catfishes delicious, but they are also easily found and even easier to fish.
But if you want to catch a catfish, the most important step is the catfish rig setup. If you know how to set up a catfish rig and properly use it, catching catfish will be a smooth journey.
So, are you interested in catching these magnificent creatures?
Do you want to know how to perform the catfish rig setup?
Then continue reading this article as we discuss the most anticipated catfish rig setup.
Catfish Rig Setup: Know A Catfish
Before jumping into the ins and outs of a catfish rig setup, it is important to know about the basics of a catfish. Even though most of the catfishes that belong to 2,900 species in the world live in saltless freshwater, some species live in salty marine or coastal water too. Also, unlike many catfishes who enjoy living in the cool mountain streams, some enjoy the stagnant state of lakes and ponds.
Further, catfish like to go low, meaning they are bottom dwellers. And like many people who enjoy nightclubs more, waking up early and doing yoga, catfishes are also more active during the night and are quite lazy during the daytime.
Did you know that catfishes are well-known scavengers of the aquatic ecosystem? Catfishes are scavengers and can feed on any part of a dead plant or animal. Like many aquatic species, catfishes are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. Also, it might surprise you that catfishes show varying degrees of care for their offspring.
With a huge number of different kinds of species, you can find catfishes of different sizes. Their length can vary from 4 to 5 centimeters, around 1.5 to 2 inches to 4.5 meters, or around 15 feet. Because of the size difference, many smaller catfishes are used as aquariums. At the same time, many big catfishes are used as a delicious food source.
Catfish Rig Setup: An Introduction
Catching a catfish requires a perfect harmony of good rigs and ample patience. They include a tackle attached to a piece of fishing line, also known as a leader line, to provide bait for catching a catfish successfully. These catfish rig setups can be used from a boat or shore.
Most catfish catchers globally use the bait of their choice with their setup to invite catfishes. Although catfish rig setups are important, they are just a part of the catfish fishing process. The bait you use must be suitable to the type of catfish species you are aiming to fish.
You also need the right type of bait and the perfect fishing location to be successful in your fishing endeavor. Also, learning how to pattern and find a catfish correctly is equally important. Because catfishes are obsessed with living at the bottom of their house, they need help to locate them. So, creating a pattern and location map is important.
For example, if you are trying to catch a channel catfish, knowing its location and the perfect bait would help. Then you make a simple catfish rig setup, and the chances you catch it will increase significantly.
Even though many fishermen worldwide say that fishing catfish is a simple task, it does require the right bait at the right place and time. In addition, you need a good catfish rig setup to hold your bait properly in a potential catfish-infested place without shaking or tumbling it.
Catfish Rig Setup: Advantages Of A Simple Rig Setup
Although you might get tempted to make your catfish rig setup as complicated as possible, the requirement is the opposite. You must insert as few components as possible in your catfish rig set up so that the chance of any component failing is automatically minimized.
Also, fewer compartments mean the rig will look more natural to an aquatic ecosystem and have fewer knots that can break easily.
Adding to the advantages of a less complicated catfish rig setup, they are easier to build underwater. Because a catfish rig needs to be set up inside a water source, the less complex it is, it will likely be an easy process.
Also, if your catfish rigs’ setup parts, like abraded leaders or snags, get damaged, they can be replaced or found easily. In addition, tying a catfish rig setup more sparsely or less allows it to cast even further and tangles less with itself.
However, while we admit that we are giving more importance to the simplicity of a catfish rig setup, it doesn’t mean that we are compromising on its usefulness and quality. But there are many ways you will find “the perfect” catfish rig setup. Look for the one that works for you.
Catfish Rig Setup: Some Examples Of A Simple Setup
For example, you can check how you can present bait in the best possible way to your catfish. After finding the perfect position for your bait, choose the simplest and easiest way of a catfish rig setup that works for you.
One of the simplest catfish rig setups consists of mainly two components only. It consists of only a bait and a hook. This setup is common among fishermen from Florida who fish bass. They usually use the freeline big live shiners to fish for a trophy largemouth found under dense weed mats.
Also, Al Lindner, a famous radio personality with an immense love for fishing, uses the simple two-component rig setup. He used it for fishing big pre-spawn channel cats found especially in the Red River.
The mechanism that Al Linder uses is that he slips a 2/0 hook through a sucker in the corner of its fleshy cut piece and places the bait in the shoreline eddy. Then the bait settles in the bottom of the river via the water’s current channel.
Catfish Rig Setup: Know Your Components
If we say a catfish rig setup, it will have several components. Components are what make a setup complete and ready to use.
Want to know about the various catfish rig setup? Then, continue reading this article.
A Hook
Hooks are one of the most important components of a catfish rig setup. These hooks are used to attach catfish bait. They are also responsible for a catfish once they go for a bite of the bait. There are three common hooks: j-style hooks, treble hooks, and circle hooks.
A Catfish Bait
A bait attracts a catfish to a hook and, eventually, its capture. Anything works dead, alive, artificial, natural, whole, or cut as bait. However, it would help if you always chose your bait according to the species of catfishing you are willing to fish.
A Main Line
A catfish capturing the main line consists of a braided line or a spooled microfilament. If you wish to capture a big catfish, you must invest in a good quality main line because the bigger the size, the higher its strength, death rolls, and fighting capability.
A Lure
Whenever we want to capture something, we have first to lure them. Similarly, while fishing for a catfish, their catfish rig setup must consist of a lure. The lure can be anything that can stimulate sound, movement, or the color of prey. A lure is essential because it can trigger a catfish to bite into the hook via bait.
A Snap
It would help if you used a snap to modify your catfish rig setup quickly and easily. Snaps can be easily bought and may or may not have a swivel attached. Also, they can be closed or opened without needing any external accessories. Finally, you don’t have to untie or retie your catfish rig setup once you use a snap.
A Swivel
Swivels are an interesting catfish rig setup component. They are used to separate a leader from a main line. They also help in preventing the movements of a catfish twisting the main line. Additionally, widely used by fishermen, a swivel is also used to swap leader materials in varying fishing conditions easily.
A Sinker
As the name suggests, a sinker keeps the catfish rig on the water’s surface without letting it float.
A Leader
Call that line a leader if you have a secondary line connected with the main line. It is as if the main line is the boss, and the leader is its supporting sidekick. The leader also connects the main line with the whole catfish rig setup. Depending upon your requirement, your leader can be one foot or longer.
A Sinker Slide
A sinker slide is a perfect component for modifying your sink, be it its type or weight. In this way, you don’t have to retie or cut your whole catfish rig setup while you use a sinker slide.
A Float
Floats can be in any form; an inline bobber or a foam device. They are one of the most important components of a catfish rig setup used to suspend catfish baits, lures, and hooks away from the bottom out of any snags. And reach your area of interest or strike zone.
A Bead
The decoration is also very important. Beads add beauty and decoration to your main line, creating a flash factor. They also help in protecting your knots from abrasion.
A Rattle Or A Versa
A versa or a rattle is used to mimic sounds. What?
Yes, these components mimic the sound of a wounded bait to attract a sadistic yet delicious catfish to your bait.
Catfish Rig Setup: Knots To Look Out For
Catfish rig setup requires a variety of knots. There are some simple knots out there that can be done by beginners too. It would be best to practice tying these knots, and you will be good to go. The knots mentioned below would be perfect for every possible catfish rig setup.
Dropper Loop
If you want to add leaders to your catfish rig setup, then what do you use? In this situation, the dropper loop would be perfect.
Palomar Knot
Palomar knots are the most common knot among catfish anglers. And you should know them. These knots are among the strongest in a catfish rig setup. As strong as they are, they are also very easy to tie.
Easy Snell
What knot will you use to attach circle hooks to a leader? Well, the answer would be an easy snell. Also, if your main concern is snelling a hook in a catfish rig setup, the easy snell knot is one of the easiest and strongest ways.
Trilene Knot
Use the Trilene knot if your priority in a catfish rig setup is tying a terminal tackle. Like the Palomar knot, the Trilene is also very strong and extremely easy to tie.
Catfish Rig Setup: Types Of Rigs
With so many catfish rig setups, we bring our three universal ones that work on every occasion.
A Carolina Rig
If we talk about a rig setup, we will discuss the Carolina rig. You might ask, what is the reason behind its popularity? The answer to this question is simple. This setup is effective and has resulted in many fish catches. Also, the attractiveness of the Carolina rig is famous among the catfish community to fight or feed.
Since the Carolina rig moves in an interesting circular motion, it is very captivating to a catfish’s eye. Also, they can be dropped closer to the lure so that a catfish can do a weak bite, and you can easily capture it.
So, to create a Carolina rig, you will first attach a sinker to your main line. For this, use a bullet or an egg-type weight. Then, add a bead behind the mainline and tie that bead to the swivel. After that, please choose an appropriate leader and tie it to a hook. For the bait, use any soft plastic material.
A Carolina rig can be used in any open water and is especially effective during windy days. They also are best when the water has a relatively lower temperature.
A Floating Rig
As we all know, catfish are bottom feeders, meaning you will find them mucky or muddy. You can see them cruising on the bottom, looking for their meals.
If we look at a traditional catfish rig setup, they sink directly to the bottom. This is not an idle condition since they also destroy the scent trail left behind by catfish.
So, a floating rig comes to the rescue. As the name suggests, they float a couple of inches from the bottom to have a higher visibility rate than traditional rigs.
To set up a floating catfish rig setup, just add 1 or 2 inches of inline cigar float to your leader before you attach it to your hook. This setup will ensure that your setup floats at the perfect pace making it enticing to your catfishes.
A Three-Way Rig
Did you know that a three-way rig is also called a wolf weaver rig? Use the three-way rig if you are thinking about fishing on big rivers with the slip drifting. Also, this rig can be used in large reservoirs with drifting wind-blown flats.
The leader you will use to build a three-way rig must be 2 to 3 feet. Also, the length of the dropline must be 6 to 24 inches, anchored by a bell-shaped sinker. The weight of the sinker depends upon the flow of the water.
If you set up a three-way catfish rig on still water, the sinker’s weight can be around 0.014 kilograms. However, if you set the rig in dams or moving channels, the sinker’s weight should be around 0.22 kilograms.
