Must Have Catfishing Equipment

There is equipment that you should have for catfish fishing. You have to have the right bait, reel and rod, test line and hooks and use a rig that will help you catch the fish. Catfishing is not like fishing for walleye or bass.

In some cases fishing for cats means having a simple pole, hook and bait. You will find that the catfish are not as fussy as other fish and do not require expensive equipment to catch. If you need something more than just a pole and hook, here are some resources that will help you start up catfishing.

Bait

The bait that you use will mean the difference in the amount of catfish you catch if any. Younger catfish seem to feed on anything you offer, but the older catfish need more coaching to take the bait. You can use chicken liver, dough balls or even hot dogs. You can use ivory soap or live crappies or perch. Fish heads also work for catching the big ones. Many anglers will forgo the stink bait and work with minnows. This is god for the smaller catfish, but not so much for the larger catfish. You are going to experiment with different baits before you find the right one.

Rods and Reels

When fishing for smaller catfish, you can use a six-foot rod light to medium in weight with a spinning reel. If you are looking for the big cats, use a heavier pole with a baitcaster reel. Younger kids that are just beginning can use a child's fishing pole for small catfish. Adults fishing for larger catfish that are going to fight want to have a strong rod and a reliable reel. Then you also have to consider the test line and the hooks.

Test Line and Hooks

The first thing you need are strong hooks. The hooks should be sharpened to hook the catfish. Many anglers will sharpen their hooks right out of the package and each time they fish. Dull hooks can mean the difference from catching a fish to losing it. Gently use a hook file to do the three sides of the hook. Circle hooks work great for catfish fishing. If you are fishing for smaller catfish, a ten-pound test line will do just fine. If you are fishing for the big cats, you may need a twenty to thirty pound test line.

Catfish Rigs

The Yo-Yo is a rig that you could use. This is a lazy mans way of fishing. You attach the Yo-Yo reel to the side of a boat or to a dock pole and set the bait.