08-06-2008, 04:07 PM
In a lake, I always just cast my line out and leave the bail tripped so that the line was free. That way, when the catfish takes the bait, he'll swim off for a bit, holding onto the bait and you just let him run for a few feet. You can see the line uncoil from your reel as he goes. After he uncoils a few loops of line, grab it, turn the crank and set the hook.
River fishing is very different with the current and all, but that's how I used to fish the lakes where I grew up. This tactic works best for catfish, since they're kinda lazy hanging out on the bottom of the lake, swimming by and sniffing/nibbling/tasting your bait before taking the plunge and grabbing it. Also, this helps to keep you from setting the hook prematurely and pulling the bait away from one of those lazy bottom-feeders.
oh...and to answer the bobber question... Nope! no bobber...you want your bait right on the bottom for a catfish. Use a bobber when you want to suspend your bait at a specific depth (like when fishing for crappie, blue gill, etc)
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River fishing is very different with the current and all, but that's how I used to fish the lakes where I grew up. This tactic works best for catfish, since they're kinda lazy hanging out on the bottom of the lake, swimming by and sniffing/nibbling/tasting your bait before taking the plunge and grabbing it. Also, this helps to keep you from setting the hook prematurely and pulling the bait away from one of those lazy bottom-feeders.
oh...and to answer the bobber question... Nope! no bobber...you want your bait right on the bottom for a catfish. Use a bobber when you want to suspend your bait at a specific depth (like when fishing for crappie, blue gill, etc)
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