floating slip rig (catfish)

[WaffleJaw]

Ive been doing alot of catfishing lately...But Ive been having really bad days at it..Either getting skunked or hitting up dinks....I did some research and read a few articles about how catfish will shy away if they feel tension on a bait...We use drop shots with rod holders and alert bells...Those little bells will go off for a split second and then nothing,so I thought ''maybe the tension of the drop shot is scaring em off''....I was looking to do a slip rig,but I dont like the idea of letting the bait rest on the floor..I know they feed off the bottom,but I wanted to suspend my bait just sightly off the lake floor.....I found a way after combining a few ideas,Im sure its been done before,lol

I took a normal slig rig, 1/4oz egg sinker and barrel swivel with a 12'' leader attached.....Then I bought the smallest bobbers I could,gutted them just for the foam,slip the bobber on the leader followed by a glass bead then the treble..The glass bead keeps the bobber off the hook....Then I took the plastic stem that I took from the bobber and slide it back in...With the line going through it held snuggly.

I field tested it (bathtub)...and it worked perfectly.....So now I can keep a tight line using the egg sinker,but leader/bobber floats freely for the fish to take.

Now Im waiting on the Secret 7 bait that I order to try it all out.....

[Captmikestarrett]

OK but those treble hooks are trouble. Also you might try kahle hooks instead. Oh and add a bead between the swivel and the egg sinker. It will protect the knot.



Snell the hook or it will not work well.

Capt Mike

[Captmikestarrett]

This a very popular rig for big cats.




Capt Mike

[nofearengineer]

I like this idea. I think the next time I go fishing for cats in Newburgh, I will try the cigar float. There is a ton of rip rap, and I'm convinced some times my skipjack is falling down between some rocks where the big fish can't get at it.

Waffle, you might also want to get a reel with a clicker. Then you can simply release the spool, but keep just enough tension on it to keep the line tight. It's also really exciting when you're just sitting there in the dark and your reel starts screaming.

[WaffleJaw]

Thanks guys.

CaptMike....I order some 4/0 circle hooks with the ''mesh'' on them to hold the dip bait.
Thats why Im currently using trebles,cause Im using dipbait as of now...(Im no good at netting live shad,lol) and hadnt had time to go and snag some bluegill to cut.
I also couldnt find cigar style float,although I was looking for a smaller one to match a 1/4oz weight.

Do you think the bobber will be fine that close to the hook?....Should I give it some lead?

Im not toO fimilar with ''snelling''...Isnt that wrapping line around the hook for extra strength?

[jmartin]

I am by no means a pro but I fish the James river for Blue cats about 10 or so times a year. What works for me is 7-8 ot circle hooks on a 3 foot leader with a 14 ounce cannon ball weight above the swivel. by using circle hooks they swallow the cut bait and you just gently pull the hook (not jerk) I see about 95 percent hookup rate.

Good luck,

Jerry

[jmartin]

Oh and I generaly smash my cannon balls to get the no-roll effect.

[Captmikestarrett]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukzfzws2jYY

Capt Mike