Last year was the first year I ever caught a catfish and I wanted to do it again this year so I went to the same lake in the same exact spot with chicken liver on a circle hook and a bobber on.  when the bobber starts going under a little bit I get really anxious and try to set the hook maybe too soon but I never  can hook into anything.  Sometimes I foul hook a bluegill.  If it is a catfish at my bait how do I set the hook?

I f you are using a circle hook, do not strike, just increase the line tension. Also it might not hurt to let the bobber go all the way under> try different things.

Little catfish loves to play with the bait. I would subscribe to a sweep of the rod tip to the side much like a slow rip of a jerkbait.

Posted By slipperybob on 28 May 2011 12:06 PM
Little catfish loves to play with the bait. I would subscribe to a sweep of the rod tip to the side much like a slow rip of a jerkbait.

X2. I would also go to cut bluegill for bait, larger channel cats prefer the food they find normally in their waters over a "freak find" type bait. I have caught big channels on frozen squid though.

Bass or Bass how big of a piece of cut blue gill do you use and what type of hook ? or rig ?

Posted By jaysun7776 on 01 Aug 2011 03:20 PM
Bass or Bass how big of a piece of cut blue gill do you use and what type of hook ? or rig ?

jaysun7776: I fish cutbait on Gamakatsu Octopus circle hooks, 4/0 to 6/0. Just rig a standard catfish setup: egg sinker, bead, swivel, 12" to 24" leader to your hook. As far as the size of the cutbait, just use your best judgement(more important, leave hook point exposed)

If you want the excitment of 'setting the hook', then use standard j style hooks. Circle hooks are designed to use tension to self-set the hook.If you try setting a circle hook as normal, you just pull the hook right out. Two different techniques must be used and mastered. It all comes with practice. I typically fish with three rods from the bank using different hook styles and have to remember which is which all the time. I would also just use a sinker rig coupled with a #1 baitholder style hook to start out with and fish off the bottom.Wait for the rod tip to start bouncing and ram it home.

Do you want your bait to float up off the bottom a little should a peg float be used an inch or two below the hook . Also how do you know when to set the hook my reel has a baitclicker on it should I just wait for the fish to run??? by the way thanks for all the help guys I have really learned a lot about catfishing on this forum I love to talk fishing of anykind

MO65 I went out and got me some Gamakatsu Octopus circle hooks WOW are those bad boys razor sharp no wonder they set themselves lol !!!!

Yes, they are great hooks. Like the other guys said, don't rear back on them like a J-hook. When you here your clicker, reach down and turn it off. Pick up the slack if there is any, then sweep to the side. Oh, most important....HANG ON!

Great info going fishing this sat night for some cats !!!