? Circle Hooks

[DaveIN]

OK, Ole PanFish Dave is going out of his comfort zone and ask about catfishing. During my 55 yrs I have geared up and fished for just about everything except cats. I have caught them by accident while chasing species but never geared up up for just cats.

I think Soupy and Schoe. I am going ask advice on hooks by two methods.

I have read Schoe's article on Trout Lines but it did not mention size or type of hooks if you are going for cats, lets say channel for lake or pond setting.

Next is pole in the same type of settings. Also, lets say you were interested in using:
Chicken Liver or
Nightcrawler
Stink bait

OK Folks, I am ready to be educated...........

[Sharon]

not sure what those guys will say, but in my neck of the woods, its.....

#4 red circle hooks for me.
chicken or beef (believe it or not) livers
live night crawlers.

I vary between the 3 for cats and even have caught a bass on night crawlers :confused0024: .
Also with the same hook and my Ugly stick using small piece of night crawler, is how I catch blue gills. Havent been fishing for them in awhile, but when I do, they are pretty decent size.

just my 2 cents worth. :icon_cool:

[Fishaholic]

if your looking for some good eater cats, your options are endless, a decent Med size rod, 6-12 lb test, I use 2/0 octopus circle hooks most of the time, but have 3/0 up to 6/0, about the only kinda hooks I use for cats. Dip baits a great option, havnt used much on the pond/lakes, but it will work, I dont use liver, I use shad or nightcrawlers. theres about a millioin and one options for cats...

[heath19]

I dont catfish as much as some of these guys but when i do i usually always use G&S cheesebait. There are a bunch of different brands but thats my favorite, also the only one i have ever used though. I normally use a 6' rod or so with 12lbs test. There are a bunch of different dip worms as well to dip in your cheese but my favorite for that would be J&N. I always fish rivers so i use an egg sinker to keep it on the bottom. For ponds though i have heard to put your worm with cheese under a bobber slighty off the bottom and mix it a little thinnner than normal since there is no current to wash it off.

[dipper69_2000]

i don't use dip baits,but i use shad (and other cut baits) chicken liver and shrimp(uncooked) for channel cats i use med. to med/hvy 6' - 7' spinning and baitcasting. spooled w/ 10-20# line(always mono for affordablity only. but good brand name stuff) depending wether fishing open water or structure.hooks r most normally eagle claw bait holders (bronze or red) in 1/0-3/0 and egg sinkers sizes vary on current and bait sizes. i have just started playing w/ circle hooks and flat river sinkers jury still out on these 2 things tho. they do have pros and cons just not sure which out weighs which.

[jason454ci]

From what you described on the type of baits you are going to try my methods my not help you. The only bait from your list that I occasionally use is chicken livers. And I do mean occasionally as in maybe once every two years. For the most part if I am fishing for channels I will use either cut shad or cut bluegill. If I should happen to get some large shad I will slice them up the belly and just use the guts for bait. If I am mainly going for channels I use 6/0 gamakatsu octopus circles although I have caught plenty on 8/0's. I use either a carolina rig or a dropper loop rig. Now some people like to turn their clickers on and put the reel in free spool then let the fish run. But for a circle to work right they need to load the rod to get a good hookset. So I just put mine in the holder with the drag set and no clicker. Once they have the rod loaded up real good then the fun begins. Not saying what is the right way or wrong way just tellin ya how I do it.

[DaveIN]

I thank you! A lot of great info. Though I have the Wabash River only a couple miles away, But, after some reflection I am only interested in the ones that fit in a frying pan without to much trouble. Have quite a few lakes/ponds with the size I am looking for.

I think to start with I will use the chicken livers with womens hose. Will circle hooks work or should I stay with trible?

[dipper69_2000]

circle hooks will work i very seldom use trebles just because they r so hard to remove if swallowed they will almost always kill the fish. i have never used cheese clothe or womans hoses. secrect here is to use livers from the store not bait livers which r most always mushed jell from miss handling. the ones at the store r tougher and stay on well with alittle care on the cast

[Sharon]

Ok, Im lazy, I love my circle hooks, they set themselves and to me its the easiest way to catch cats.
Ditto on the panty hose thing, leave them with the wife. I try and use pieces of liver that have a fat marble on it.. after putting the liver on the hook, I then place the fat on top to hold in on the hook... sort of like corking a bottle LOL.... experiment, enjoy and just have fun, then tell us what works for you.. you may discover a whole different way of doing things!

[gofish]

hook choice depends mainly on bait.something like crawlers or liver a wide gap or baitholder hook will be better.circle hooks are best for something like cutbait the cats will tend to run with instead of peck at. circle hooks are designed to penetrate on steady pressure,a sharp pull (hookset) doesnt allow the hook to rotate and do its job.pay attention to the hook eyes also.turned eyes are better suited to snelled aplications,youll git better results with straight eye hooks
ive never used anything to tie the liver on.use a sharp pair of scissors to cut it and a #2 0r #1 baitholder hook.gotta make sure its not all torn up in the package and fresh is better than frozen

[Pegleg]

Put the livers on a old cookie sheet and shake garlic powder on em. Put the livers in the sun all day and let em dry. Bag em up and refigerate them. They will stay on the hook and won't fly off when you cast.

[dipper69_2000]

now there is a new idea to try. thank you

[Schoe]

By no means being an expert but have learned so much about fishing from other friends and fellow WIF members I can't add much to what advise that has already been posted.

When trot lining for your eater size fish in the spring I use a # 2/0 "J" hook with cut bait or whatever I have on hand like me and Giller did at Ky. Lake. Our main bait was cut Bluegill but caught lots of Cats on old Oyster pieces, and small pieces of Chicken Livers.

With the Chicken livers it has been for me that the fresher they are the better they fish and stay solid. If they turn a light color don't even bother using them. However, your idea of a mesh sack may work with them with a "J" or Circle hook. Peglegs drying suggestion may be the answer we've been looking for and I will try it.

For bank poles I like to use #8 Circle hook with live Bluegills for Flatheads and cut bait for Channels.

This summer we plan on doing a series of "How To" do different things such as, Bank Pole Fishing, Turtle fishing with a board, cleaning Turtles the easy way, filleting Catfish, Giller filleting with his electric knife, and many more

Like I said before we don't claim to be experts at any of this but the methods we use work for us so we like to pass them on to help others. Schoe

[DaveIN]

You are right Schoe, What a treasure chest of advice!

Thank you all, will be trying all methods described and will post results............

[dipper69_2000]

that is the reason i love this site no one has the feeling there way is the only way and everyone shares ideas and learns new stuff.

[Sonny]

Hello, fellas. How's the world been treating you guys? As you can see, I think I've finally got my "computer issues" taken care of.

For big cats (flatheads, blues, etc.), if it's legal in your area (it is in Illinois), I use live, small bluegills (we call them "potato chips" around Chicago) and live, small bullheads. You can use these as bait if you catch them from the same waters you'll be fishing the big cats for. Break out the ultralight and the panfish bait, fill the floating Frabill minnow bucket with potato chips (or the small bullies), then go at it. The best way to hook them is between the dorsal fin and the tail, careful not to hit the spine. Circle hooks can not only be used for this, but are recommended. Or a Kahle hook will do as well. The best rig I've found is a Carolina Rig with a leader anywhere from 1'-3' long (depending upon depth and current).

For eating-sized catfish, I have to go with nightcrawlers on a Kahle or Aberdeen hook with either a Carolina or Wolf River rig. Haven't tried the circles with 'crawlers yet. I'm going to have to do that.

Tight lines and slimy nets, guys. It's good to be back. Take care.

[Soupy_1us]

You are right Schoe, What a treasure chest of advice!

Thank you all, will be trying all methods described and will post results............

I'm so far behind , I thought I was ahead....
I never seen this post for some reason , Sorry Dave.
All I can tell you 'bout them catfish is , they'll eat anything that's dead,bloody and stinks
In the fall, we use deer liver when we can find them, even cut some outta old road kill....
Shad,bluegill ( sorry 'giller) herron?herring...however you spell it ..It's cut bait.
Warmer weather I go for smaller fish like fiddlers and channels I use Sonny's blood bait and long as the water is up in the 50's temp wise and has some current in it..
Trotlines.... We use the larger "J" hooks 4/0 to 7/0 just to help keep the little ones away....
Chicken liver can be used year around 'cause of the blood or stink... I used treble hooks most of the time # 4 with a slip sinker above it with a swivel stop about 18" before the hook....
There are so many different ways to catfish..... Trotline, drop line (when ya tie a line to a tree limb) cainpole (canepole) even them Yoyo's I got off 'giller a while back....
Hell, I've even used some Double A Dupont a couple of times...But, make sure you throw it away from the boat ifin' you use a short fuse ... Not good results ifin' you just drop it over the side.
Maw Bell (electronics) works well too but, them boys with the badges don't like for you to use them though....
Hope some of this helps you and I am real sorry I didn't catch this post when it first came up.