May 2014 – CatsandCarp.com

For a beginner it can be really intimidating picking the proper rig to go cat fishing. There are hundreds of different rigs and styles out there. So I am going to walk you through a rig that works all over the world and is the most versatile and simple of any cat fish rig I know: The basic fish finder rig.

Classic fish finder rig. A super easy beginner catfish rig.

This rig is a super easy beginner catfish rig. What makes this so simple is that it can be fished just about anywhere, it only requires three pieces of tackle to make and the whole thing is tied with only three knots.

The basic fish finder rig is comprised of a sliding lead (“sinker”), a swivel, some leader and then the hook.

Why is this such a great rig for beginners?

Fish finder rig with an inline flat lead

The fish finder rig is great because it is simple, it doesn’t require any expensive parts, its sensitive and it doesn’t spook fish. This rig is sensitive because every little movement of the hook sends vibrations straight back to the rod without the lead interfering. If the lead did not slide, the vibrations would be dampened by the lead.

The fish finder rig doesn’t spook fish as easily because the fish don’t feel any resistance when they pick up the bait. Because the lead slides along the main line, the fisherman can control how much resistance the fish feels. If the fisherman fish’s with the main line tight, the fish feels tension right away and the hook pulls into the fish’s mouth sooner. If the fisherman fishes with slack line the fish can swim away with the bait before it begins to feel anything. This allows the fisherman to adjust the tension in the line depending on whether the fish are bold or spooky when they bite.

How do you fish the fish finder rig?

This rig belongs on the bottom. You use it when the fish are feeding on the bottom. Most of the time cat fish are feeding at or near the bottom. You cast this rig out where the catfish are  and let it settle to the bottom. Once on the bottom you reel the line in slowly until you feel tension when the lead hits the swivel. Most of the time I fish this rig with my line tight enough that there is a very slight bend in the tip of my rod. If the fish are grabbing the bait very cautiously and not immediately running away with the bait, then I switch to putting about 12-18inches of slack into the line.

Choosing the sinker.

Inline flat lead: great for rivers.

There are two ways to make a sinker or lead slide along the line. First option: you use an inline lead. An inline lead is basically a big lead bead. You feed the line through the hole in the center of the lead and you are done. Second option: you use a slide with a clasp on it and you clip the lead to the slide.

Slip clips are essential for fish finder rigs.

Using an inline lead is my favorite way to go but it has its limitations and its benefits. An inline lead is less likely to get tangled in the line and it requires one less piece of hardware. However, using a slider allows you to easy change leads. If you are fishing in a river you may need different amounts of lead depending on where in the current you are fishing. More current, more lead. Less current, less lead. If you have a slider you can adjust your lead to match the current instead of cutting your line and retying each time.

When choosing the size of your lead, you definitely want enough lead to cast far enough and enough weight to keep from being dragged away in the current or wind. But once you have got enough lead to do those things you also want enough lead to set the hook. The lead is what helps the hook dig into the fish’s mouth before you grab the rod. I prefer at least 2 ounces of lead when fishing for catfish with a fish finder rig, but 3/4 oz will do in a pinch if you are using sharp smaller hooks.

The shape of the leader depends on whether you are more concerned with casting distance or preventing your lead from rolling around. Flat leads tend not to be as affected by current. Round leads tend to cast further. So pick your shape based on what you are trying to achieve/prevent.

The swivel.

Korda helicopter sleeve helps protect your swivels

The swivel’s main purpose it to stop the lead from sliding all the way up to the hook. Generally you want there to be about 6-18inches of line in between the hook and the lead. However, you don’t always need a swivel. When fishing in current, you can put the lead above the hook without a swivel. After the lead settles to the bottom you can let out 12 inches of line and the current will sweep the hook downstream away from the lead. So the swivel is really only necessary when you are not fishing in significant current.

When I do fish with a swivel I like to have something rubber or plastic in between the swivel and the lead. Without a stopper or bumper inbetween the swivel and the lead, sometimes the swivel will partially jam into the inline lead or the slider and prevent the lead/slider from sliding. A bead or rubber sleeve can prevent this.

Korda micro swivels

I attach the lines to either end of the swivel using a Palomar knot. I also like to use a helicopter sleeve to protect and camouflage my swivels. The swivel you choose should be as strong as your leader or better. If the swivels don’t tell you their strength on the package, I generally use a #8 swivel for my beginner cat fishing rigs.

If you want to get fancy you can get put a fancy little swivel clip on the leader end of the swivel so that you can switch out leaders and hooks easily. This is nice for switching rigs quickly.

The Leader.

You want an abrasive resistance leader. I love braided lines and highly recommend the Spiderwire Stealth. The leader should be slightly weaker than your mainline so if you break off it breaks off bellow the swivel and you get your lead back. The leader should be about 6-18″ long.

The Hook.

Gamagatsu Circle Hook

Circle hooks are far and away the best choice for beginner catfish rigs. Circle hooks work by only digging into the catfish’s mouth as the hook is being pulled out of the catfish’s mouth. This means that catfish rarely swallow circle hooks. You’ll find that almost all of the cat fish will be hooked in the corner of the mouth or in the lips. If you choose to use a J hook the fish may swallow the hook and get it stuck in their throat or gut. Circle hooks are so much easier on the fish and easier to get out. You do NOT set the hook when using a circle hook. You simply wait until the fish has hooked itself, then begin reeling.

I generally use a 4/0 Gamagatsu circle hook for most beginner catfish rigs, but if I am going for trophy cat fish I will upgrade to a bigger hook (up to 10/0).

I generally attach the hook to the leader using the improved clinch knot.

135 lb Virginia blue catfish that was caught and released in Kerr Reservoir

Virginia is one of the best cat fishing locations in the United States. It is absolutely amazing. The largest blue catfish (143 lb) in the world has come out of Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake) on the North Carolina/Virginia border. The James River is one of the best blue catfish rivers in the world with 60 lb catfish being common. Fishing guides like Chris Eberwien who fish the James River every day give a 30 lb catfish money back guarantee to their clients that is how confident they are in their ability to catch large cat fish.

The tidal Potomac is quickly becoming an amazing blue catfish fishery as the catfish grown with the rebounding gizzard shad and herring populations.

The middle James River, Smith Mountain Lake, the Rappahanock and the Occoquan Reservoir are great location for flathead catfish. And channel catfish can be found everywhere.

Virginia Blue Catfish:

Big blue catfish are in all of the big tidal rivers of Virginia and Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake). The tidal rivers and Chesapeake bay are home to commercial blue catfish fishing that provide the US with catfish fillet and live blue catfish that are used to stock watersheds across the US.

Anywhere in Virginia where you find large schools of shad or herring you will find trophy blue catfish. These large 2-3 pound shad are the perfect bite size for 50+ lb blue catfish.

In Virginia the ultimate trophy blue catfish bait is cut shad. On the James river 10  to 12 oz leads on a slider with 10/0 circle hooks and 1/3 a 3 lb shad is the ideal giant blue cat bait.

Cut shad works everywhere but it can be hard to get in many places, including the Potomac river where harvesting tidal shad and herring is not permitted. Cut blue gill, clams, halibut pellets, chicken liver and even worms work well.

Hi-low rigs are very popular for bank fishing for blue catfish across Virginia and in the large tidal rivers.

Virginia Channel Catfish:

A typical Virginia channel catfish

Channel Catfish are found through out Virginia and 4-5 lb channel cats are common. The state record channel catfish came out of the Rappahannock River at 31 lbs 8 ozs. Channel catfish are feisty and the action can be super hot. Cut bait fish, crab flavored boilies, halibut pellets, chicken liver, worms, punch bait, stink bait and works really well with channel catfish.

Channel catfish in Virginia tend to be along the shore lines and emergent weed beds in the summer time and in the deeper channels in the winter.

My favorite rig for catching channel catfish in Virginia is a fish finder rig with a 4/0 Gamagatsu circle hook and a 2″x2″ piece of cut bluegill or shad.

Virginia Flathead Catfish:

Virginia does not have the largest flatheads in the states but it still has some great flathead rivers and lakes. Smith Mountain lake and the Middle James river are well known for their flat heads. The New River is also pretty decent. The State record flathead came out of Occoquan reservoir at 66 lbs. 4 oz. The Occoquan reservoir has a small population of flatheads but they are very big.

The best rigs for catching flathead catfish in Virginia is using live bait on a fish finder rig or under a bobber. Flatheads lover live bait and it can be hard to catch them on dead bait sometimes. You can also catch flatheads on lures.

So remember, Virginia cat fishing is some of the best in the US, so if you live in the Virginia area and you have not gotten out and caught some catfish don’t put it off any longer.

In Virginia cat fishing for flathead catfish can produce massive bruiser like this 53 lber

Particle bait like this will keep carp feeding in a single area for a long time.

Carp fishing bait can be expensive. I can go through 15-20 lbs of bait on a heavy day of fishing. And I go carp fishing about three times a week, so you can do the math. Considering that I am a massive tackle tart I would rather spend my money on shiny gadgets than spend it on something that I am going to throw into the water.

Between my aversion to spending money on bait and the fact that importing boilies to the United States is expensive, I am a big fan of making my own carp baits. Far-and-away my favorite carp baits to make and the cheapest baits to make are particle baits.

Carp fishing particle baits are mixtures of seeds, grains, pellets, ground up boilies or animal feed.You throw several handfuls of particle bait into the area where you are fishing and then put several larger particles on you hook as a hook-bait.

The idea behind particle baits is that the small little particles of bait take more time to eat. The carp have to take more time grazing in your fishing spot while they try to gather up all the food and fill their bellies. This means that the carp come into your fishing spot and stay there longer sucking up the freebie particle bait until you can catch them all.

The larger grains are often more attractant and desirable to carp but the smaller grains take more time to eat and don’t fill the carp up to fast. A combination of large and small grains is often best. The larger grains get eaten first and help produce quick bites, then the carp stay trying to suck up the small stuff.

A Super Cheap Carp Fishing Particle Bait

Pigeon feed is a great cheap particle bait base for carp.

My favorite particle bait consists of pidgeon feed, white millet, hemp seed, barely or whole oats, and feed corn. A 40 lb bag of pigeon feed costs about $14.  A 20 lb bag of white millet is about $15. Feed Corn is about $12 for a 50 lb bag. 50 lb bags of barely and whole oats can be bought for under $20. And all of these can be bought at local feed stores.  Hemp seed in about $.50 a pound and can be bought from some US based online carp fishing supply shops.

All of these various particle feeds are purchased by their dry weight. So a 50lb bag of feed corn makes about 200 lbs of wet bait. So for about $100 I can buy enough bait to make hundreds of pounds of carp fishing bait. Enough to last me 1-2 years of heavy carp fishing.

How to Prepare Particle Bait for Carp Fishing

Dry grains and seed and feed are all prepared the same way. You soak them in water and then boil them until they are fully expanded and soft. Typically I soak my particle baits for 8-12 hours. Various grains take more or less time to cook. Corn takes several hours in my 3 gallon kettle. Smaller seeds like hemp seed and white millet take only 30 minutes. I tend to cook all my grains together except for the corn, which I cook separate and then combined afterwards.

Here is a great video on how to make a super cheap and very effective particle bait for carp.

Preserving Particle Baits.

Ok, once you have made you particle bait and it is all boilied it will mold and rot if you leave it out for more than about 5 days (depending on temperature). However, if you put it in the refrigerator is will last months. Bags of particle bait can be frozen and will last for a very long time.

How to Chum with Particle Baits.

Spod dumping particle bait

My favorite method for chumming with particle baits is a spod or spomb. Mixing small grains with large grains will help your particle bait fall out of the spod easily. Spoding just corn or just any one grain can often result in about 1/4 of the spod being full when you reel it in. Sling shots (catapults), throwing sticks, bait boats, pack baits or margin poles are all awesome methods for chumming as well.

However, you decide to chum, the key is to chum the right amount into your spot and then keep the food coming. Carp fishing is like hosting a party, if your run out of food, everyone goes home. You don’t want to over feed the carp or drown your hook bait in freebies but you never ever want the carp to eat everything or they will leave.

I tend to put out 10 to 15 spod fulls of bait out and then replenish with about 3-5 spod fulls after each fish. Here is a video of the results of an effective particle bait spodding campaign

Cat fishing in South Africa has never been as popular as it should. Most fresh water guys want to catch bass and carp, these 2 species represent about 90% of the fresh water angling done with only a couple of us die-hards specializing in catfish.  But for me, these amazing fish have turned from an interest to a hobby to an absolute obsession and my passion in life. My whole world revolves around the next catting trip. I just need to know what’s swimming in the water in front of me.

Vundu and Sharp Tooth Catfish (Barbel catfish)

Another beautiful South African barbel catfish

Here in Southern Africa we have 2 main species of catfish, the African Sharp tooth Catfish (referred to as a barbel) and the Vundu . The Vundu , unfortunately for me, is not found in South Africa. Both these fish will easily reach and get over the 80lb mark, with specimens of both being caught over 100lbs. In my opinion we have not seen the really big fish come out yet. I believe that fish up to 200lbs are swimming around our waters waiting for me to find them.

The small barbel are easy to catch and generally hold in a large shoal, I can remember one outing when I caught seven fish in under an hour, the bait didn’t even reach the bottom before the shoal was on it. Shoal fish are generally around 8lb in size. When I find a shoal, and I’m after bigger fish, I pull my baits out the water and move to a new spot. Large barbel are generally solitary animals, and being like a grumpy old man, dislike any form of disturbance and will leave an area to get away from the noisy youngsters in the shoal.

Finding the Best Locations for Catching Barbel Catfish in South Africa

Barbel, like most catfish, hunt more actively at night than during the day. This lends itself into the way most of us fish for them. Bank angling is the most widely used angling method, so we camp over a night or two with baits in the water. This can be hit and miss, especially when trying to land decent fish. Also the novice angler can get horribly frustrated with many blanks experienced flogging the water with no fish on the bank.

The normal procedure is to paddle big bait out as far as you can and drop it. However, this can be a waste of time if you do not put your bait in the right spot. Fish are moving around so one needs to understand how and why they are moving and what structure they are using to move along.

Big open catfish waters of South Africa

I will usually fish 3 rods, 2 with medium sized bait and one with either a large live bass or carp or a big cut bait. The medium sized baits I will place, one shallow one further out and one in the deep water. While placing the bait I will use a portable fish finder on my canoe to find structure and cover I know fish will use.

Any ledge or drop off is worth a very good look, and if I find a good slopping drop off, I know fish will be holding on it all night. My job is to find what depth on the drop off they are feeding on.  Once you find the cats you will have a good evening. It is not uncommon to catch 7 to 10 fish a night, but most often it is 2 or 3.

Because we are fishing a very big expanse of water, we need to find the paths these fish are using to get from feeding spot to feeding spot. Or we need to find anywhere that bait fish like to hold. I place bait about 50m away from a spot like this and one close. That way I can try get the fish before he moves into the feeding zone and not disturb the rest of the fish feeding there.

Best Barbel Catfish Bait / Best Sharp Tooth Catfish Bait

Robert Hellig with a South African sharp tooth catfish

As far as bait goes I am a natural bait man. These catfish can be extremely fussy at times and downright greedy at others. Summer the fish have eaten well in spring and slow down on the feeding slightly, now they eat what they want not was is there. So type of bait and presentation become extremely important.

I mainly use cut bait, as it is easy for me to catch fish when they are biting and freeze them. I am a firm believer of using fish from the same lake or dam I am fishing. This is because they are the species the fish know and are used to eating. You wouldn’t lure a vegetarian into your house by offering them a steak, so why offer the catfish something it does not know. Especially big fish, small fish will take anything.

I usually take a bass, carp or tilapia and cut them in half. Than hair rig the lips to the hook. I always fish a sliding sinker rig, this way the fish feels little resistance when it takes the bait and I refuse to use anything other than a circle hook.  I use the same rig for my live bait. Live bait can be a deadly bait and most of my bigger fish all come out on live bait.

Frogs are another fantastic bait and I often use them when fishing from my boat. These can be rigged live or as a dead bait and are deadly, the cats can’t seem to leave them along for long and feed on them greedily.

One bait that may be unusual is dead day old chickens. These are often very easy to get hold of, not for the weak stomach however. I usually skin them and remove heads wings and feet. The reason these are deadly is down to what a fish looks for in a scent trail: protein  protein  protein.

Robert with a sharp tooth catfish at Nagel dam

One of my favorite things to do is find an overhanging tree with birds nesting in it, when the chicks hatch the catfish wait under the tree for the unlucky birds to fall in the water. If you cast a weightless dead day old under that tree you best hold on as it will be attacked with the utmost power and its game on.

I hope you guys find something interesting in this article and look forward to sharing more of fishing for cats under an African sky.

This article was written by Robert Hellig. Robert lives in South Africa and is an avid cat fisherman. Robert Hellig also works with Catfish Africa, an organization dedicated to promoting the sport of catfish angling in South Africa.

Lake Fork is without a doubt one of the premier destinations for a host of species in the United States. The usual suspects come to mind; Largemouth Bass, Black and White Crappie, Channel and Flathead Catfish, White Bass, and others. What people don’t know is that Lake Fork is also one of the best destinations in the United States for massive Smallmouth Buffalo, Mirror Carp, and Common Carp.

Small mouth buffalo guide Austin Anderson is putting clients on 50+lb small mouth buffalo in Lake Fork Texas.

Fork is somewhat unconventional when you compare it to the waters generally thought of as carp waters in Europe and other parts of the world where they are revered as prized specimens. It stretches a massive 27,000 acres across the piney woods of East Texas. Fork is loaded with natural cover, huge expanses of flooded timber and other structure. It’s literally a paradise for fisherman of any kind.

So what makes Fork so special? Lake Fork has huge fish, simple as that. The nutrient rich waters are loaded with food and the large amounts of predator species help keep the numbers of carp and buffalo in check so they have the capacity to grow very large quite easily. Fork regularly produces carp over the 30lb mark and frequently produces buffalo in the 50lb and up range. The largest Buffalo and Common Carp captured are an unbelievable 68lb 7oz and 40lb 4oz respectively.

Lake Fork Carp Fishing Guide Austin Anderson is catching massive wild common carp.

Lake Fork is also home to the now world famous Texas 44 Lake Fork Carp and Buffalo Challenge, hosted by Wild Carp Companies (www.wildcarpcompanies.com) and CarpPro magazine (www.carppro.net). In the past three years, the competition has brought world fame onto the lake, with anglers coming from all over the US and even as far as Hungary, Romania, Italy, South Africa, Canada, and the United Kingdom to fish in the competition.  The Lake Fork Sportsman Association and the tournament is having a huge affect in promoting and introducing carp fishing to the area around Lake Fork.

Lake Fork isn’t easy, however. The water is loaded with snags and the fish are extremely strong. You have to be prepared to put in hundreds of pounds of bait in order to keep the fish in your swim and the trips can be grueling sometimes due to the sheer numbers of fish that can possibly be banked on a session. Fork really is paradise for the big fish angler.

I have been personally fishing Lake Fork for coming up on three years for carp and buffalo. I have put in a huge campaign over the past three years, logging as much time on the bank for Carp and Buffalo as basically anyone.

My massive campaign has paid off for me in the long run, with numerous breaks on my personal bests and, along with my partner Shane Hine, a win of the Big Four Carp division of the Texas 44 in 2013 and third place on big four buffalo in 2014.

Lake Fork Texas also holds some rare trophy mirrors as well as buffalo and common carp.

My achievements on the lake include a Smallmouth Buffalo of 63lb 3oz, my personal best; the IGFA junior world record Smallmouth Buffalo at 50lb 6oz; and most recently, a Common Carp of 36lb 10oz. I’ve also had some special fish, including a few of the extremely rare and notoriously elusive Israeli strain mirror carp that can be found in certain areas of Lake Fork.

Lake Fork is known as a world-class carp and buffalo fishery, and it is definitely worth the trip down to fish it. If you are interested on information on fishing the lake, I operate the only guide service in Texas specializing in carp and buffalo employing English and European tactics. I offer trips for short day sessions up to twelve hours, and also long weekend sessions lasting forty hours or longer. All gear, bait, food, and drinks are provided.

More information can be found at www.texascarpguide.com or through email at [email protected] Also check us out on facebook, www.facebook.com/carpproguide