Keeping Bait Up Off the Bottom

[BIG-G]

Here are a couple of pics showing a method I use to keep a bait susspended. We all know that 2 of the 3 main catfish species we pursue have an overbite while the third has an underbite so to speak. I fish primarilly for channels. I'm sure ya have noticed at times those bites where your rod tip bounces violently and when you go to do your hook set,wether it is "J" or circle style hooks ya miss the fish. Alot of times the fish is tryin to pin the bait to the bottom and work it around in order to get it in it's mouth. This method keeps the bait up off the bottom and allows the fish to easily get it into its mouth and go on about the bussiness of gettin itself caught. LOL! Its been "Tub Tested" and has improved my hook up ratio immensely. I fish with cut bait and live bait and have found that it is effective with both.

[BIG-G]

Lets try them pics again. LOL!

[BIG-G]

I know I'm doin somethin wrong. Just can't figure out what! LOL!

[BIG-G]

floats 001.jpg (13.5 KB, 0 views)
floats 002.jpg (13.7 KB, 0 views)

Lets try it this way. LOL!

[Jamey]

One more time katfshn50, 5th time's a charm!

[BIG-G]

Here are the pics that I promised. LOL! I hope.

[ryang]

Would one of those Red/White or what ever color bobbers work the same?

[Desperado]

Any color works, just the small foam in line bobbers work the best. Real cheap at Waltucky( Walmart )

[muskie_hunter]

i just got some of those the other day at wallyworld.....glad to here they work!

[Desperado]

Make sure you use the bigger ones to match the size of the bait.

[cat4life]

Those look like a good way to keep it up and visable. I'm working on a new method of making the bait float. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

[Desperado]

Which baits are you getting to float?

[Southernraised84]

Another way to do it is a three-way rig(thats what i call it anyways).To make this rig,tie the main line to one eye of a three-way swivel,and add drop lines 12 and 24 inches long to the other eyes. Tie a hook to the longer drop line and a sinker(bell, pyramid or bank) to the other.If you fish a place with alot of snags then make the line with the sinker a lighter test in case it gets hung the only thing you will lose(hopefully)is your weight.Hope this helps yeah borther!!

[akwolf41]

Guys:

If you want to keep your bait off the bottom and suspend large cut bait or large live bait, check out the KatBobbers on the Maine-Wolf Products website
in the sponsor links at the top of the page. It will help you set the hooks if using circle and kayle hooks too.

Gene

[CJ21]

A three way or float rig works.

[cat4life]

I'm trying to get the dipbaits to float on a dip worm with out using a bobber. Attach a float to the dip worm some how.

[davesoutfishing]

the float wont scare the fish away?

[catfisherman90]

Hey, im trying to put pictures on here but im not sure how to, can anyone help me?

[catfisherman90]

A good way to catch channel catfish is using Powerbait for catfish (blood) and dipping it in some melted Sonnys dipbait. Drop it to the bottom and one crank up. HAve a strike within seconds. We caught 90 catfish in 3 hours using this technique.

[davesoutfishing]

wow thats alot
the best catfishing I had was when I lived in Tx on lake Livingston early in the morning me and the boss would go out and catch shad in the shad net would be nothing to catch a 5 gallon bucket half full of small shad ofcourse the dogs would shove their heads into the bucket to eat lol but it would be nothing to catch 70 channels each evey morning it was the best god I miss TX

[CJ21]

Nope I dont think the float scares them.

[Butchy]

Try this one, its called a paternoster rig. You probably have heard of it.

http://www.hooklinks.co.uk/pike/navigation2/pikeframe.html?=flpat2.html

Scroll down and look under "Rigg types"

[flathead willie]

And I thought I was the only one out there Bow Fishin' carp! Cool Paladin!!!

[vacatfish]

I also buy the round plastic floats and take the centers out of them and put them on the same as above and take a small stick and plug one end to keep it from sliping so whatever bait i use no matter the size it will float it,

[WylieCat]

That is basically the rig I use.

No, LOL, the float does not scare them. 394 catfish in my boat since January have not been scared of it...LOL!! THEY MAY BE NOW!!!

As a matter of fact, sometimes the catfish will actually strike the float! There are many times I will get what I think is a hook-up that pulls loose and when I reel in I can see the bite marks on the float.

[s_man]

I just read an article somewhere that advised those in-line bobbers 4 or 5 inches up your leader from your hook if you have problems keeping your livebait swimming all night long. The bobber keeps tugging him up and he struggles to stay down. Win-Win.