A 6/0 straight hook won’t give you half the holding power that a 6/0 circle hook will provide. Using circle hooks for catfish can result in more hook-ups and reduce mortality of caught-and-released fish. If you’re using extra-large live baits then consider increasing the hook size to the 10/0 Triple Threat Catfish Hook. Therefore, size is the primary factor while selecting a hook for catfish. This is for any species or a combination of species. Rods used to catfish have come a long way over just the past five or six years. 99 No need to target the smaller catfish with a monster hook and vice versa. It is a firm, excellent and multi-purpose hook. Fish like using a traditional circle hook and let the rod "load" (let the catfish hook itself). If you’re going for Big-Game Catfish with trotlines, or Flathead fishing, you’ll need a hook with some backbone to it, that won’t twist in current. I rarely use circles hooks smaller than 4/0 and have caught them on circles up to 10/0 when flathead/ blue cat fishing. If you want to use a very big hook with a very big meal, using Bluegill and Shad heavily limits your available options. These Charlie Brown hooks come in four different hooks sizes and are best used when trolling, drifting and tightlining in … The only hooks I use for flathead catfish are team catfish 8/0 double action circle hooks, daiichi 7/0 circle chunk light hooks, and eagle claw 4/0 kahle hooks. These fish types are advantageous because most of them can get pretty big. catfish John on January 08, 2014: I spend my winter months from October thru March camped on the Colorado river and all American canal. This one has been used for a long duration of time. The same hooks used for blue catfish perform well for flathead catfish also. They are one of the most sought after species because of their size and commercial value. O'Shaughnessy Hook. I use a 10 ot for the big ones. Size 6 is also good. The size of the leader leads into the last point fighting a flathead once you have it on the hook. How To Catch Flathead Catfish With Old School "Stealth Rigs" ... end of the line pinch on 6 to 8 split shots. They have much bigger gapes (ability to fit larger food in their jaws) than channel and blue catfish and as such, they can eat much larger prey. Best Bait for Flathead Catfish. The bait also has greater role in determining the size of a hook. If the hook is too big, catfish may not be able to take the bait. Then when the movement stops, close the reel and set the hook – hard. I personally use a 7 ot for medium blues or flathead and a 5 ot for the smaller channels. I prefer the shorter rod with plenty of backbone.Paired up with a light salt water reel spooled with at least a 50# test line and circle hook size 9/0 to use with live bait. This gives you a very good ability to “feel” the bite and set the hook effectively. Initiate the "set" method (setting the hook using a long sweeping hook set). This catfish rig is what I use to catch most of my catfish. A common and large-growing species, the flathead (Pylodictus olivaris) is one of the ugliest members of the freshwater catfish clan, but also one that is regularly caught in larger sizes and which provides a good struggle on hook and line.It is important both for commercial and recreational use and produces good table fare when taken from clean environments. It is best to buy in bulk in packs of 50 or 100. Blue And Flathead Catfish Hooks The particular type of catfish you are pursuing will also impact your choice of hook. test. A number two hook is a good size treble for very large catfish and the largest you want to go with. The octopus hook design is a good, smaller choice for live bait. And most flathead fans prefer one with a "clicker" mechanism that produces an audible signal when line is pulled from the reel, thus indicating a catfish bite. Just Match the hook size to the bait size … Before that, catfish anglers were limited to finding offshore, bass, musky or trolling rods that would make do. Decide whether you'll be going after channel catfish, white catfish, bullhead catfish, blue catfish or flathead catfish because the type of hook you choose will depend on the type of fish … Flathead catfish seldom thrive in creeks, ponds and small lakes. Even the biggest flathead isn’t going to make sizzling billfish runs … A number 6 hook is a reliable, standard size. Slide onto the end of your main fishing line a slip sinker, which is a type of sinker that slides up and down the line. Catfish, especially when they reach a larger size, are natural predators of the water. There are countless stories of the giant flathead that got away and it always seems it happened right at the boat. You could use a bait hook or octopus hook, but I feel for catfish using bluegills as bait, you really should go with a circle hook. The flatheads are also called blue catfish. Triple Threats are designed to allow catfish anglers to use this catfish hybrid circle hook three different ways.. If you are fishing from a boat you will not need to worry about distance casting. The size of these species is another option to consider. By Keith "Catfish" Sutton. Really any flathead, channel or blue catfish over 10-15lb, you can see success with live bait. Honestly, it depends on your bait. I’d recommend a size 1/0 through 5/0 circle hook. It is a basic Carolina rig, but the specialized part is what goes on the hook. Why do Catfish Like Bluegill? It is, however, more common to use live bait and bluegill for large blue catfish and large flathead catfish. The stretch of monofilament allows it to absorb the shock of hard & big bites from giant catfish. If you had checked the end of a catfisherman's line just 20 years ago, you might have found almost any type of hook tied on. Monofilament fishing line is inexpensive, has stretch or give but is vulnerable to sharp edges & rocks. This last rig is designed for channel catfish. 2" to 18" above this make an 8 inch dropper loop and slap on a 4/0 Kahle hook. If you fish places like the Red River, or places wherever there can be numerous fish that run 15 to 30 pounds, I recommend using 30-pound line. The smaller the number, the bigger the hook, therefore the number 2 hook is much larger than the number 8 hooks. Another great live bait option, the octopus hook was at first intended for other sea creatures, but works perfectly for channel and flathead catfish. I fished the vermillion both sat and sunday night and produced 10 flatheads with 4 over 30 pounds. Just like everything in fishing, it all depends. What size hook you should use depends basically on what size fish you want to catch. In general, when you are going after small cats, use a small hook. When you want to catch the big boys, go for a bigger hook. It can be used to catch all types of catfish like the flatheads, the channel catfish and the blue catfish which comes in a wide variety of sizes which range up to 10/0. They’re that good… and definitely worth the extra cost. Octopus Catfish Hooks. The number 4 or 6 size is the best all-around hook size when fishing numbers of channel catfish with prepared bait. Monofilament Fishing Line For Catfish. It is very simple, strong and sensitive. Flathead catfish are known to have been discovered in the 1970s when anglers in Mississippi and Ohio started catching the fish. Of course, as the fish get bigger, so should your line. Push the hook point out the top of the minnow's head, just behind its eyes. Live-Bait Rig Step 1. From there, you can experiment with different hook sizes and see what works. i got a 60 pound flathead on a hand size bream about 3 years back every since then i loved big cats. “A big flathead catfish is hard enough to hook up with. Step 2. You cant really use to big of a hook the only reason they would be to large is if they weighted down the bait and kept it from swimming. But most hook brands will work but DO NOT USE GAMAKATSU hooks these are made of cheap metal and are known for bending and breaking. Terminal Tackle A size 6/0 circle hook will work great for catching the smaller catfish if that’s your goal. I use Sonny's stink bait, with two Wal-Mart plastic cages, and a number two treble hook. I recommend Kahle 145 or 245 Nickels in sizes 5/0 and 6/0, Kahle 254 Stainless in sizes 5/0-8/0, or Tru-Turn Catfish 722BL Cadium-Plated in sizes 6/0-9/0. How do I know what size hook I should be using when fishing for Catfish? The catfish rigs already discussed have focused on larger blue and or flathead catfish. ... Just slide a good size slip sinker onto your fishing line... and a large swivel. Cut a 24- to 36-inch long piece of 4- to 6-pound fishing line. Then tie the end of … Daily limit for catfish set by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is 10. ; Initiate the "set" method (setting the hook using a long sweeping hook set). (yes, stainless steel!) Fish like using a traditional circle hook and let the rod "load" (let the catfish hook itself). The best for flatheads hold at least 200 yards of the line size you intend to use. I cannot think of a better bait for big flathead catfish than a live bluegill in the 4 to 6-inch range. Catfish Hybrid Circle Hooks | Triple Threat's. Generally choose a hook that when the bait has been hooked on, has plenty of hook point exposed and the whole thing can fit right into the mouth of the size fish you are targeting ; Use the "reel" method (reeling down as fast as possible). If you’re fishing in a pond with big cats in it, you’ll want to work your way up. Flathead catfish just love bluegills. Catfish Hooks Big River Bait Hook 8/0（40pcs）, 10/0( 25pcs ) High Carbon Steel Fishing Hook Saltwater Size Black Nickel 4.5 out of 5 stars 45 $17.99 $ 17 . You might use the number 8 if you’re looking for smaller cats. For example, if you are fishing for giant blue or flathead catfish, you will want a 50- … I don’t want to fish all day and lose the big one because I didn’t pay attention to the little details.” Mitchell also uses heavy equipment and said some of his key tackle features include medium-heavy or heavy Big Cat Fever rods and Slime mono, usually 30- to 50-lb. You need to match the size of your hook to the size of the bait you’re using or the catfish you’re trying to catch. The hook must be … A few waters in the state have more generous daily limits but for channel and blue catfish… Thus, the size of a hook has a greater role in catching catfish. The 8/0 Whisker Seeker Tackle Triple Threat Catfish Hook is a great all-around flathead catfish hook. Swivels, Swivels, Swivels – Those cheap trotline clips are great for smaller fish and setting quick lines; however if you’re going after large catfish … Treble hooks in the right size choice for channel catfish are number 2, 4, 6 and 8. That means that … Of course, there were some one-size-fits-all catfish rods on the market that … The flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris), also called by several common names including mudcat or shovelhead cat, is a large species of North American freshwater catfish in the family Ictaluridae.It is the only species of the genus Pylodictis.Ranging from the lower Great Lakes region to northern Mexico, it has been widely introduced and is an invasive species in some areas. 8/0 Whisker Seeker Tackle Triple Threat catfish hook itself ) circle hook and let the catfish hook largest want. That would make do firm, excellent and multi-purpose hook Game and Commission! 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