swan falls Dam

[idahoron]

I use a pontoon or a tube. I use a 2/0 or a 4/0 gamagatsu octopus hook. I use braided line so I use a swivel at the end of the braided line. I tie a 2 to 3 foot mono 10 pound leader on. Then I put another swivel on the end of the mono. I hook the swivel strait to the hook. Then I put a piece of split shot on the mono at the first swivel by the main line. I let the bait settle slow. I don't want it tied hard and fast to the bottom. I s l o w l y troll with this set up in calm water. I watch the fish finder and try to find bait fish. I fish the bottom at the same depth the bait fish are at. If I am floating a river for cats and the bottom is rocky I do the sinker different. In current instead of a split shot on the line. I tie a 4" long piece of mono to the top swivel. Then I clamp split shot to the mono. If the weight hooks up the split shot slips off.
In very cold water the bite will be very soft and hard to feel. I use a ultra light to feel the bite. I keep the rod tip high so when I feel the cat pick it up I will lower the rod to the water as it takes the bait. When the rod tip is lowered I give a quick flick of the wrist and set the hook. My son calls it catfish snatchin. If the water is very warm 75 to 80 degrees they will take drifted bait that is moving at up to 5 MPH at times. Most of those bites crash the bait and strip line like a tarpon. When you are drifting or trolling for cats you are targeting the most aggressive fish. Ron
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