The Best Catfish Rig - Tying the Santee Rig

This is how to tie the Santee rig. This is the best catfish rig. It is an excellent catfish rig for bank fishing and for fishing from the bank for catfish.
The Santee catfishing rig using a circle hook and a peg float weight to suspend cut bait and fresh fish off the bottom, making it easier for a big catfish to take the catfish bait.
This is the best catfishing rig because for big catfish, because it suspends the catfish bait off the bottom for easy attack and catfish bait scent dispersion, and this catfish rig uses a circle hook which easily sets the hook into the corner of the catfish mouth very consistently.
The Santee rig, or Santee Cooper rig, is one of the best fishing rigs for catfish.
🔴 🔶 🔴 🔶 FOR A GUIDED FISHING TRIP WITH ME CLICK HERE: dietermelhornfishing.com/guid...
TO CHECK OUT OR BUY THE GEAR I USE CLICK HERE:
dietermelhornfishing.com/gear
🔶🔷🔶 AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS TO GEAR WE USE 🔶🔷🔶
🔴 FISHING LINE
Ande Monster Monofilament Fishing LIne: amzn.to/4b8ByF0
Ande Leader Line: amzn.to/44zmvlr
🔴 REELS
Ancient Mariner Reels: amzn.to/3QD7tp2
Catfish Pro Baitcasting Reel: amzn.to/4bbfPfz
Catfish Pro Spinning Reel: amzn.to/3QG7ubv
Lews Laser Baitcasting Reel: amzn.to/3JXhOs1
Piscifun Baitcasting Reel: amzn.to/3yjHhJO
Piscifun Viper X Spinning Reel: amzn.to/3QDgkXC
Runcl Titan II Spinning Reel: amzn.to/3QITo9r
🔴 FISHING RODS
Catfish Pro Spinning Reel Rod: amzn.to/4baXNu3
Catfish Pro Baitcasting Rod: amzn.to/3wko8H2
Ugly Stik Baitcasting Rod: amzn.to/4dPckNV
Ugly Stik Spinning Rod: amzn.to/3JYx6wy
🔴 TERMINAL TACKLE
Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks: amzn.to/4ah3DJ7
Bank Sinkers: amzn.to/4afMjEi
No Roll Sinkers: amzn.to/4bCPxmx
Snap Swivels: amzn.to/3yi8Nr2
Barrell Swivels: amzn.to/4bfpMso
🔴 ELECTRONICS
Lowrance HDS 12 LIVE Fishfinder: amzn.to/4dAo9qO
ACR ResQLink 400 -Personal Locator Beacon: amzn.to/3ygkAWO
Uniden Fixed Mount Marine VHF Radio: amzn.to/3JWGUqV
Uniden Handheld VHF Radio: amzn.to/3QIeAwp
⚫️ 🔵 CONTACT INFORMATION 🔵 ⚫️
MY WEBSITE: www.dietermelhornfishing.com
EMAIL: [e-mail]
If you have products you would like us to demo, or others items you would like to send by mail, you can use the following address. For a street shipping address for larger items please email us.
Dieter Melhorn
PO BOX 172
Cramerton, NC 28032
#bestcatfishrig
#santeerig
#catfishingrig

[@vampyfiend3]

the first time i used a santee rig from one of you older videos i caught 20lb flat head cat and 3 6lbs channel cats. That was a good night of fishing and have been hooked ever since

[@JosephGross17]

Good cheap stop is a piece of rubber band tied and cut. Just a po man's rig😂 great video

[@docd-monik4380]

The santee rig is one of three rigs I generally use.

[@jeffreyneely9283]

Dieter great video,thanks for all the information you help the fishing community with .👍👍👍

[@southernkid8109]

You are a huge help I'm 12 and looking for the catfish of my dreams

[@DieterMelhorn]

Glad to share the knowledge. You’ll get that beast if you stay dedicated!

[@jimmyedwards2252]

I love the rattles. They seem to work pretty well ❤

[@stephenhebert3]

Great video. Quick,simple and to the point never used this setup but definitely will give it a go today. Thanks brother God bless.

[@timothyhaley6187]

Tried it in Mississippi river fishing from bank. Does work that well

[@bradbex9051]

can not go wrong with using this rig!!

[@rustykimble5945]

I use 50 lb leader. I use 2, 3oz no roll sinkers. I tried the float on the leader, here on the atchafalaya the blues will not hit it.

[@rexnoel1419]

Very good video,Thanks for the information, I have got to try this.🎣👍.

[@conrailfan6277]

I've been using slider sinkers for years fishing for Channel Cat here in Central Indiana, I've never had my bait come to the surface yet but I could see that happen, I'm going to try the swivel with my sinkers now!! Thanks for the video Dieter!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@rider660r]

An it'll never happen if you use a heavy enough weight and reel the slack out till you feel it hit the slider.

[@TheGmess1982]

I used the Santee rigs before with mixed results. I typically use a Texas rig with the weight on the bottom and the hook on a leader a foot to two foot up. Great video though!!

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Very useful. Thank you

[@samuelramirez7789]

I use those floats, great video and tips bro.

[@LifewithJames]

I don’t try for catfish often anymore because I haven’t had much luck (bluegill and bass have been what I’ve had luck with so far in my newfound hobby) but this was the rig I found online and have been trying and now that I’ve seen this video, I’ll be making some changes on how I have my weight on the line and perhaps that was my issue all along. 🤷‍♂️

[@Firewoodmaninvirgina]

Good info 👍.

[@st93er]

thank you Dieter!!

[@GmGarlo]

with the snake weight ,is it hard to tell if the fish is on because of the weight ? great info !

[@bradleyfarnham2951]

Off topic what a good rod to cast this out with, I'm going with the pecsifun you recommend, just want to recommendation on a rod .. please and thank you Happy fishing

[@micker61]

After seeing the eye-loop on the belly of the demon dragon, I'm thinking it might be possible to pass a loop of the leader line through it and wrap it over the eye-loop. The friction would keep it in place and eliminate the need for electrical tape (which could lose its grip on the leader line, allowing it to move). Just a thought. Have not tried it in practice.

[@robbiesmith9786]

I like them wisker seeker float rig nice hook and wire leader just incase that state record musky or gar bites

[@lilcaesarman]

It would be great to see it in clear water with bait to see how it behaves with the cork

[@user-cb6hc3pw7r]

What are your thoughts on the rigrap yourself?

[@Dopey_Fudd]

Question. My lakes have a ton of grass. How long of a leader for that?

[@davidlyons5614]

Is this rig for live and dead bait? I just use an old fashion Carolina rig (egg weight, bead, swivel, leader, and hook) like I’ve used for bass fishing for many years.

[@williamster2015]

Ive done the Santee rig and different variations of it all my life in the southern end of region 4 of Indiana as well as the rest of the state. I like to sue 4mm OD x 2mm ID tubing about 3 inches long right above the hook . This prevents snagging very well.

[@SmurfedYurMom]

I’d use a sinker slide or slip sinker with a bead above the swivel

[@ProjecthuntanFish]

Very helpfull thank you

[@perseusbeatkraken]

Do you use the foam style floats vs the demon rattles for any particular reason? I've been using Danielson egg shaped slip bobbers because they're $3 but they don't rattle. Does this make much difference?

[@fisherdaddy]

You can purchase unpainted pencil baits for like 10 for $10. Slap some spray paint and you got yourself a rattle bobber.

[@BrandonSmith-jz3zt]

I have tried this rig a few times and honestly never had much luck. Of the few bites i got the hook ups werent great.

[@TheGmess1982]

I’ve tried it also with the same results.

[@joedarden2276]

Well Done

[@maisoncardwell3786]

Is there a reason with using the fishermans knot I like using the uni knot will it work?

[@geraldlathan2355]

I have been using it for about 5 years. Want use anything else.

[@user-cb6hc3pw7r]

I want to get my husband a new scale for our anniversary, and I wanted to know if you have any suggestions for one? Should I get a digital or a weighted scale

[@DieterMelhorn]

Check out the one RigRap makes.....its digital and is very accurate.

[@user-cb6hc3pw7r]

Awesome thank you so much I'm going to order it

[@user-cb6hc3pw7r]

What are your thoughts on the rigrap itself? They look like they would work awesome.

[@jimkindle3563]

💪👍👊

[@NorthernviewOutdoors]

If I have a sinker slide on my rig and I'm anchoring up, I would unsnap the sinker slide and snap it into the eyelet of the swivel to the main line to keep it from sliding.

[@615JOHNLEE]

Great idea.

[@gregory5671]

I came up with a great idea, started up those big clear floats used saltwater fishing for Spanish, you can pull them apart and add water to give the correct amount of float depending on bait size, and here’s the trick Open em up and add lead shot or bb s and give you a rattle, played with them a while and got em working. You will thank me if you try em, also paint them any color you choose 🤔🫵🏿💪🏿🧐

[@Peterpiperofthes]

Do you think the catfish would drop the bait if they felt the weight of the sinker?

[@NorthernviewOutdoors]

​@@Peterpiperofthes I use 1.5 oz to 2 oz drifting sticks. Not a lot of weight there.

[@elijahadams2588]

About how heavy should the bank sinker should be?

[@josephduffelmeyer7893]

Do you use mono or carbon line for lead and line

[@johnleonard5323]

He really favors Ande mono. This mono is really a great choice. Look thru his video library and find the ones where he details how he sets up rods reels and line. This guy is one of the best creators on U Tube

[@walkaboutclive]

Use this rig with success on Norman

[@David-vo8zf]

There are many different ways to tight snell knots. Your look like more improved snell knots.

[@donprater2754]

You never listed the floats You use.

[@VoroninFishing]

Ничего не понятно но очень интересно))

[@CastBlastCamp]

The Santee Cooper rig has landed me the biggest fish of my life! Dieter knows what hes doing! Getting ready to head to the lake now! @Dieter - Have you ever used creek chubs or horny head chubs for bait?

[@w12p67]

I'm new to this, so this is a genuine question. Why use the snell knot on the hook instead of the improved clinch knot?

[@johnscott6745]

Using the snell knot on the hook rather than clinch forces the point of the hook to drive home better, meaning better hook sets and higher ratio of hooked up fish vs spit hooks.

[@rider660r]

Just depends on what type of hook you use and how the eye is on that hook. The upturned eye (away from hook point) and if snelled properly will act as a fulcrum and make the hook "bite" better. If it's snelled improperly it'll have the opposite effect and pull the hook away from getting a "bite". If you tie to a hook eye say with the clinch knot you want that hook eye to be straight or down turned (pointing towards) the hook point,never with an upturned eye.

[@Kianquenseda]

The biggest problem potential fishermen have is access !

[@Pwrcritter]

Rule # 1.. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission..

[@Peterpiperofthes]

if you were bank fishing would the catfish feel the weight after grabbing the bait and let it go?

[@rider660r]

Yes they will feel it.Will they let go....some do and some don't. Here many would an all I use is a proper Santee with a slider,even then some feel (or "hear") the baitrunner/clicker through the line and drop it after a couple foot run. I have caught many after forgetting to set the runner/clicker but no where near as many that was able to run with it a few yards and who knows how many it missed by not being set.

[@sunracer1869]

The Santee rig 🤔 Was it invented in Santee CA?

[@DieterMelhorn]

Close….Santee Cooper SC…😉

[@JessAnderson-jr2qo]

I’m 14 gone fishing abt 2 times second time almost caught a catfish 😅

[@calebpartenheimer7636]

I'm not understanding why the cork gets put on if your putting that other flexible weight on there. I guess there's a lot going on with this rig and I'm not understanding certain parts yet.

[@rider660r]

Even watch the video? Around 7:10 he shows you what it does. One can explain things to you but one can't understand it for you too...

[@rider660r]

Why even use a snap swivel? I use the sinker slides and reg swivels to connect my braid to mono leader but I always use the slide and bead. To attach the weight I use paperclips on the slide. If you get caught or if you get a fish and it gets you caught up by the sinker you can just pull it free and still have everything else left and the fish too if you had one on. Yeah you can do that with snap swivels,but only a handfull of times if you're lucky before they're no good.Fish also can't run with it without having to drag that sinker too.. at times here the cats are so picky/skittish that if they feel or maybe "hear" my bait clicker through the line they drop it. Paperclips are a dime a dozen compared to snap swivels. I fish almost every 50*F+ day in the mountains of PA (hands can't take it any lower) and there's a couple rocks that inhabit our rivers and lakes,but still never lose many sinkers over the course of the year. The bait/float rising with a sinker slide only happens if 1.... you're not using a heavy enough sinker. 2...if you drop or cast and do not reel the slack in till you feel the swivel come in contact with your bead an slider...it's like windknots....users error/fault. If there is much current the bait isn't going to rise very far off the bottom anyhow as the current will push it down. It will drag it along and it may end up feet from where you think it is to many yards. Again if one reels in slack to they feel the slider/bead against the swivel this won't happen...an if they can keep the current from running off line when using the baitrunner/clicker. An if you're dragging,that slider is always going to be sucked up to the swivel anyhow. Another thing I do is snell my hook 1st before anything else. Takes 2 seconds,then I add my float and then swivel. I'll have extra leaders ready to go with just snelled hooks in my leader pouch. Just grab a float an add it to the leader then tie leader onto the swivel. It's quicker than snelling the hook after adding everything on the leader. I put the floats 3-4 finger widths from the hook. If I want the bait at different depths I use different length leaders,I have 24",36" and 44" already snelled and ready to add the float depending on how deep or far off the bottom I want it. Those demons are a marketing gimmicks,cats are like 1 big tongue. They're not infants,they don't need a rattle to get/keep their attention. They probably already smelled or tasted it long before a rattle does anything for them and they home in on the scent of the bait like a hornet will home in on you if you wack their nest with a broom.... If one really needs rattles,go to the bassboys and get their slip on jig rattles,they'll be just as effective..

[@KickenChickenNetwork]

Only rig i use