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Rigging Options

The slip sinker rig is an excellent rig for channel cats. Channel cats are sensitive to any kind of resistance that they encounter and meeting resistance when they nibble will often scare them away. This rig is fished with a tight or slack line and this allows the catfish to grab the bait and move with it before you set the hook. The egg sinker can be any size and tailored to the water conditions but make sure you use a heavy enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom.

You can also add a small float to the leader to keep the bait off of the bottom if you wish. This can help if the bite on the bottom is finicky.

This rig can be used with any type of hook or bait.

 

The three way rig is another good option but will sometime scare away channel cats. You have to be much more in tune with "the bite" to know when the fish are nibbling on your line. The fish are wary of the resistance sometimes but you can still catch them this way. You can also double up the leaders by adding another three way swivel and have two baits about 18" apart. It is a good idea to use a lighter weight mono line on the leader that goes to the sinker as this will help you break free when you get hung up (notice I said when and not if).

This rig can be used with any type of hook or bait.

 

The bottom bouncer rig works really well for drift fishing. Basically what happens is the bottom bouncer rig is a big wire and it bounces and drags along the bottom which keeps your line from being hung up. The bait floats free about 6 inches above because it is tied off the side on a leader.

Bottom bouncer weights can be purchased or you can make them yourself with a coathangar and some weights (the ones with the rubber inserts that "snap" on work well).

This rig can be used with any type of bait or hook.

 

Bobbers can be used for catfishing also. Bobbers are helpful sometimes if you are trying to keep your bait just off the bottom. A standard bobber will work but if you are fishing in deeper water it is much easier to manage your rod if you use a slip bobber and a bobber stop. The slip bobber slides freely along the line and stops when it meets the bobber stop which is tied on the line at the maximum depth you wish to fish.