Five Catfish Rig Mistakes

If you fish for catfish, then you will need a catfish rig. However, there are some simple mistakes that catfish fishermen make when making these catfishing rigs. There are many different catfish rig combinations out there, and all will catch catfish, but there are some simple things you can do to make your catch rate on catfish a lot higher.
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[@abpob6052]

I have used the same 20# yellow mono with 30# green extra tough mono leaders for all fresh water and ocean fishing that doesn't require a wire leader. Have caught thousands of fish and only had a hand full break. Always check your leader after every catch. Use quality rods and reels. And check your rod eyes for nicks or abrasions that can damage your main line. I have caught 80# sturgeon with this combo. You just have to take your time and know how to use the drag effectively. Love your content! Thanks

[@HillJackCatfishin]

Great Info for people new to catfishing

[@pedrocruz4710]

thanks for the tips Dieter!

[@lonnietoot1915]

Get Hagen and Landon on the Podcast ASAP

[@benlynch4218]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@fredfreiberger7878]

Thanks Dieter very good information

[@timothymcvay7286]

Great video buddy thanks for sharing

[@CGLFishing]

I definitely agree on braid being a bad line for leader material. I use braid as my main line and mono as a leader. I despise mono as a mainline for a list of reasons haha Also... I definitely use too big of a hook most of the time lol I need to do myself a favor and chill out on the hook size haha

[@bulletsbbq2576]

Great info especially the one about no sinker slide when using the santee rig.. took me a while to figure it out why my bobber kept coming to the top

[@franciscahazlet4021]

Great informative video I hope some people take some of your great advice. I know I will thank you.

[@jeffchaffee1235]

Thanks for the info

[@mr.gadgetfishing2134]

Great job. I agree 100%

[@lancedennison9341]

Thx for the vid.I might need to rethink my Santee rig ..I use pretty heavy wieght but might be floating a bit high if dont het my slack out ..

[@woalmann6288]

Helluva video Sir, Thank you!

[@charlesh1735]

I typically use 30lbs test line and 25lbs leader line for my two 10 foot open face reel contender poles. I always go a little lighter line on my leader just in case it breaks,then I only lose my hook and leader line. I still have my barrel swivel,sinker,slip bobber,beads and slip knot. I use 25lbs test line for my two smaller poles. With 30lbs test line you can catch a monster 50 or 60 pound catfish with no problems. I tried using 50lbs test line one time and I couldn’t even get the beads on the line. It’s like fishing with weed eater string when you use 50lbs test line.

[@chriskautz6357]

this dude is the best!!!!

[@DieterMelhorn]

If you’re talking about me, you’re too kind thank you…..

[@chriskautz439]

OF course i mean you! You have such an easy way of communicating to people, a pleasure to listen too. You are obviously very skilled and experienced, yet i detect zero arrogance from you.

[@conrailfan6277]

Nice points Dieter, at the end of a night of Catfishing here in Central Indiana I cut my lines at the leader and reel them up before leaving, also with the Channel Cat here a #5 circle hook works great with my cut Blue Gill and Crappie so the Cats can swallow them!!!!

[@catfishstalkeroutdoorswith530]

Great video! Thanks

[@fishin-impossible2992]

Good info Mr Dieter , I always put a bead between my rattle and cork I think the rattle doesn't spin if it's against the peg of the float. Thanks for sharing buddy

[@DonR]

Good Info

[@Michaelstew]

See i would use smaller hooks because we normally do catch 10-15 pound fish but the same area we catch those we have 8/0 hooks straighten so idk what to do about that

[@eddieh1985]

Also. The fish broke my 50lb line… I’d say maybe it was just a bad knot. The line didn’t break, the knot came undone

[@kcookish]

I purchased a 1/2 lb spool of 20 lb test Ande Monster Line, and I have to admit, the first couple times out, the line was great. But I was disappointed to see just how much memory the line has,,, it started looking like I was reeling in a slinky dink toy. I will continue using it for leader line, but am going back to braid for the main line...

[@andrewmurphy5651]

Using snap swivel for sinker instead of sinker slide will that have effect fish feeling weight more when it eats bait?

[@koreywilliams4570]

I've been using 1/0-5/0 for the areas I fish.

[@shootinon3]

Best tips on yt

[@jeremiahwright3959]

Hey man about how deep do you try to drag during late summer or early fall

[@markreeves2491]

I always check the last 6 feet of line before each trip and once during to avoid a lost fish due to line damage . I follow your advice about hook size as well ! I generally fish in a rocky reservoir with very little flow and wonder if any type of rattle would be helpful ? 🤔

[@gunfisher4661]

I notice a lot of people are starting to use the rattles, but in my thought does it even really rattle at all as most rattle baits for top water have spin blades to agitate the rattles vs catfishing where there is virtually no agitation and if there is the rattles are stream lined and won`t wiggle, just my thoughts. I used to strip 6-7 ft of line back in the day but I walked to some of the fishing holes I learned to use rod bags that would hold reel and all. I later found that my line stayed in much better condition and by far outlasted line that was`nt kept in a rod bag. I`m not sure if light is an enemy of mono line but it sure seems to make the line last and hold up. Of course if I have a trip where a good bit of my line got really stressed i`d change it out, but I`m sold on for bags, thing is you can`t buy rod bags that fit both rod and reel you have to have them made but that`s the way I`ve been doing it for over 40 yrs.

[@zacharyfelkel7924]

Santee rig with swivel being up front, then a cork stopper plus bead, then a cork and the rattle with another bead behind it and another cork stopper 3” or more away from the hook. Allows the cork to fluctuate and bounce the rattles around but not interfere with the rest of the rig.

[@240LTS]

... 1:03 ... Go to the craft store and buy beads with the hole large enough to go OVER the main line KNOT to the swivel. For decades or longer, people say, " Add a bead between the swivel and inline egg sinker to, "Protect the knot". Well, if the hole in the bead is too small to go OVER the knot, you are actually damaging the knot every time the egg sinker hits the bead then the knot. This is also true for, Fish Finder Rigs. Anything that slides on the main line, above the knot tied to the barrel swivel, should have a bead that will fit over the knot. The pressure will be: - Sinker (fish finder rig) bead, barrel swivel. NOT - Sinker (fish finder rig) bead, KNOT, barrel swivel. ... Jeff ... .

[@russellbolte6784]

What length and power rod would you recommend for boat drifting, 15-30 feet deep and the average channel cat size is 5-10 lbs?

[@caseydunigan]

Braid also breaks easily compared to mono. I don’t even think about it anymore.

[@itllkeal]

I've had hooks break but never a 40 or larger line

[@Jlmccurnin]

I can't help but disagree with the monofilament leader situation. I've been fishing the lower Mississippi river near baton rouge for 10+ years and I run straight 80lb braid. My personal best is a 71 pound blue cat and I've never had an issue with running straight braid. Of course after catching a fish I always briefly inspect my line, but I've never once had a breakaway.

[@angryattheworld00000]

I'm a braid guy as well but lots to get snagged on where I fish so I run a mono leader and can snap if necessary. Just caught my PB on Tuesday a 41lb blue 👍

[@JohnDRambo]

Braid is where it's at

[@aaronwood3540]

Im happy to report i have not made any of these mistakes and i normally run exactly the way you answered all the issues.

[@mikeedwards2384]

It helps if you don't spray down your lines with off while you're dealing with the local infestations

[@mostrosticator]

I was fishing for catfish yesterday here in Northern California at an elevation at or around 2500'. I'm certain after watching this that my hook was far too big. Also a question if you will...while fishing in clear water for catfish do you have any suggestions that might help with catfish? I can catch trout and salmon pretty easily...however these catfish are illusive as heck. I seldom ever get bites. I'm fishing from the bank.

[@240LTS]

... If I may. Clear water= Fluorocarbon line. The thinnest lb test you can get away with. Try using smaller hooks and bait and if that is working, move up in hook and size. See if that hurts or helps in fish hitting. . . Jeff . .

[@mostrosticator]

@@240LTS thanks for the advice 👍🏼

[@koreywilliams4570]

I'm at a new river spot this morning trying chicken breast. No luck so far.

[@justinroberge3556]

I think the most common mistake I find is in the knots. If you don't tie proper knots your knots will break.

[@terryhancock]

A fish broke my 30 lbs line and no fishing line mistake

[@the_catfish_hunter]

I've been river fishing for 17 years now an needless to say your wrong when you say a fish can't brake 50Lb line I use 50Lb high performace 8 strand PE abrasive resistant braid from reaction tackle an I tie on a fresh leader an line each time I go fishing just last week I've been broken off by a fish! I even had a fish break 65 pound braid big game already! you clearly have no idea how powerful some fish are! heck I've even had musky rip through 80lb mono leaders like they where thread already! even on my channel one of my reels i posted i had a fish break me off last year on 60lb braid! it depends what your fishing for the spot your at an what size fish live there the places i go i normally have people catch 20 30 even up to 50 pound fish out of!

[@DieterMelhorn]

If your drag is set properly it’s impossible for a fish to break your line. Now, if you “thumb brake” it trying to stop it, sure, you can break it, but that’s poor angling skill. Don’t Muskie have teeth? If so, that would explain biting through a leader.

[@the_catfish_hunter]

@@DieterMelhorn yeah musky have teeth but I’ve yet to catch one of them. Are river is loaded with them tho from what I hear. I normally catfish though an go after flatheads. I always have my drag set as well it’s impossible nearly to miss a fish on a bait runner as well. But that’s what happened to me last week. I let it run for like 20 to 30 yards an set the hook as soon as I clicked my reel off that thing snapped it immediately. I’ve been broke off by musky before which is what I’m thinking this could have been. But I’m not entirely sure cause I don’t really fish for musky an I don’t think a musky will eat cutbait I could be wrong tho. 🤷🏻‍♂️ who knows I’ll never know cause I didn’t get to see the fish.

[@hotramen5952]

@@the_catfish_hunter musky will eat cut bait if its right in their face. i use 130 lb flouro leaders when lure fishing. with small suckers and circle hooks i use a 40 lb flouro leader and never had a problem. give 40 a try. musky will cut through any mono like butter.

[@koreywilliams4570]

3 days and 0 luck. Got one small fish the first day then absolutely no bites for the rest of the time.

[@chrislayton5404]

I don’t understand why people think braid is so much better!

[@redneckcatfishing]

Braid is amazing for when you wanna feel the bite and bump fish

[@240LTS]

... Note: I tried 65lb braid on one of my rods. I went to a Carolina rig because the fish finder rig was always getting tangled up. PITA. I have 15lb and 30lb mono on my reels, . Braided line- When fishing in current, tide, deep water, etc. braid, as we all know, has a much thinner diameter. The thinner line has less drag (resistance) in current. Sinker weight- Less sinker weight can be used to keep it on the bottom. Rod action- Because braid has almost no stretch, a medium action rod should/could be used instead of a medium-Heavy or heavy rod action. The medium rod will, "give", (bend) when the fish surges because the braid will not, "give". . . Jeff . .

[@jamesjordan6005]

...and if you've got a brother like mine who couldn't hang on to a fishing rod to save his life, leave him at home with the women.