Ok how do you get a Catfish?

[rman]

I'm perplexed.

Threw a H2O Xpress 4.5" bluegill swimbait today and retrieved it like a jerkbait and BAM!
Something grabbed it and flew the **** away.

Pulled drag out for a good 60-70 yards, I was cranking down my drag and reeling the entire time, didn't even get an inch on him.

Got to the end of the pond and spit my lure (which I ended up losing a few casts later).

Abu Garcia Revo SX (20lb max drag)
80lb test braid/20lb test backing

I suspect this was the 31lb cat that a 12 year old caught back in march. Either that or a great white.

Question is, how could I have reeled him in? Extremely powerful, extremely fast. Didn't even have time to tire him out. And how on earth did he spit my lure?.. well, I crimp the barbs on my hooks, but I imagine it had both treble hooks in ita mouth.

Last question - can i ditch the backing and tie into the holes in the spool? I assume they are for weight savings....

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[easy rider]

Noodling.

 

[jrbfishn]

If you have only braid on your spool, that is your first mistake.
Bending down the barbs was your second.
Too much drag could be the third.
On my break. Not enough time to elaborate further. I will try to explain later.


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[Vaquero]

If you have only braid on your spool, that is your first mistake.
Bending down the barbs was your second.
Too much drag could be the third.
On my break. Not enough time to elaborate further. I will try to explain later.


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All ears.

 

[rman]

All ears.

x2

mostly braid, maybe 18" 20lb test mono backing

have aleays read crimping barbs was easier on fish when releasing.

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[easy rider]

Catfish have a habit of rolling when hooked. they don't fight like bass.

 

[texasnurse]

Slow reeling, lessen the drag and let the fish tire it self out, but keep the line taut, don't let em swim down


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[rman]

Slow reeling, lessen the drag and let the fish tire it self out, but keep the line taut, don't let me swim down


Sent with my IPhone with electronics and fuzzy logic...

so i see i failed on the low drag and slow reel.

however he was in freight train mode and I was afraid he was going to run my entire spool out and end up snapping my mono backing.
even a ton of drag and me reeling in he was booking it like crazy!

I'm pretty determined to go after him again. He just gobbled my swim bait so I may just throw that every time. Worst case scenario I find another lunker LMB

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[texasnurse]

Too much drag is a sure way to break a line especially with a catfish


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[jrbfishn]

Ok, I have a little more time.
Braided line. I love it. Only actual line I use. But it does have drawbacks. One is, it doesn't stretch. I put about a quarter spool of 10-14 pound mono and splice braid to it. On a baitcast, usually about a third of the spool mono, the rest with 20lb braid. 30 pound is the heaviest I use. The reason is, I can use a stick to wrap and use as a tee handle to break it. Anything else and I can't. The only option when it snags is to cut it and leave it to snag on later. I have pulled in 70 pound Carp on 15 pound braid with a good drag on the reel.
Another drawback is the fact that since it doesn't stretch, if the drag is to tight guring hookset or while fighting the fish, you can rip a big enough hole in it for it to throw the hook. I have done that myself. I have also staightened out the hook enough for it to pull out. It is a fine balance. Having some mono on the spool was good. Since it doesn't stretch like mono, it doesn't grab the spool, will loosen up and spin if you don't do that or tape it down. On a Revo, I would put about 1/3 of the spool mono and use a uni-uni knot to splice 20 pound braid. 20 pound is about 8 pound diameter so you should get at least real close to a 125 yard spool on the reel. Even that 70 pounder didn't take near that much line.
Bending barbs down is arguably more human. Definately easier to get the hook out.
But. Wth a good hook remover, a factory will pop out easily with minimal damage while allowing more chance of landing the fish. Believe it or not, I have caught several large bass with an old rusted hook in it's mouth. Along with an inch or so hole and they where still feeding and fighting. And in otherwise good health and size. Caught one with a hook through the jaw and came out of the eye and was still going strong. My hook was the second.They can take an amazing amount of abuse and still remain healthy. Personally, I never bend barbs down.
Bottom line. DON'T ditch the mono. That part is good. Yes, you can start it by putting it through the holes. I d. It is the easiest way to start it. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the barbs. Hooking thd fish and fighting it probably did more to it than they will do comming out if done properly. The rest of it? Well that takes practice and is all a balancing act. We all lose fish. From Bluegill to monster Bass or Cats. Unless I am after eating fish, I turn them all loose anyway. Eating fish are hand sized Bluegill. I am after the challenge of the catch and the fight anyway. Bluegill on a microlight (2lb test) or bass on an ultralight or med light spinning rod. Like catching Moby Dick. Try Carp on a 6'6" me light bass rod. Now that's a blast. Fish throws the hook? Saves me the trouble. I still outsmarted it and hooked it.
You kind of have to be a mental masochist. To go back over and over again and get outsmarted by a fish with a brain smaller than a pea. And we enjoy it.
Enjoy the challenge. Enjoy the fight. Just enjoy the act itself for it's own sake. Catching and landing a fish is a bonus. Because no matter how good you get, you will not always catch fish or always land the ones you catch.

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[Moonpie]

You could always try this method.

 

[rman]

as always, great advice jrbfishing. I did end up losing my lure and a ton of line on the fountain the middle of the pond, so re-spooling with 1/3 mono would help me quite a bit. I have been using the FG knot for splicing lines and it seems to work well.

You could always try this method.

haha yes that's got to be an all time favorite


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[rman]

I am after the challenge of the catch and the fight anyway. Bluegill on a microlight (2lb test) or bass on an ultralight or med light spinning rod. Like catching Moby Dick. Try Carp on a 6'6" me light bass rod. Now that's a blast.

funny you should mention, yesterday was my twins' 8th birthday. They got a handful of new lures (things they find on youtube, makes them happy) and some UL setups.

Went back and forth for a long time, someone on UltimateBass suggested the Pflueger President combos, which was a huge step up. from the $15 Shakespeare micros I was going to get them.

Paid $39/e at Dicks on sale, plus $10 survey coupon

opted for the 5' with 25 series reel. Would have really preferred the 20 series that came on the 4'8", but it was a 2 pc reel and the extra length will probably help them throw a little further. Got them a basic crappie kit also, and spooled with 10lb test fireline. I opt for heavy because we're constantly getting snagged and I've been able to retrieve at least half our lures by putting a glove on and yanking.

One of the coolest things about learning to fish alongside my kids is that while I may learn faster and fish better sooner, it won't be long until they are killer anglers and showing me up every outing. These UL's should help get them a pretty strong skill set.


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[jrbfishn]

Search for "knot wars" by North American Fisherman. Uni-uni is really strong. For all but a few applications, 20lb braid is more than enough to land freshwater fish if done anywhere close to right. I've even seen 4ft alligator gar brought in on it. Power Pro is good stuff and stays round longer than most do. I use Ultra-cast Invisibraid because my old eyes can see it. It is good line though. For spinning reels, I use Nano-fill. Works way better on them.

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[karlac]

One of the coolest things about learning to fish alongside my kids is that while I may learn faster and fish better sooner, it won't be long until they are killer anglers and showing me up every outing. These UL's should help get them a pretty strong skill set.

Way to go, Dad. You're giving them an experience that will last a lifetime.

Caught my first fish 68 years ago and still relying on what I learned back then, including the old time clinch knot (one less loop than the uni), which my old fingers still do from muscle memory ...thank goodness cuz the uni ties my fingers in knots with smaller line, instead of the other way around.

Just retired and started fishing seriously again this year (spending the summer at a lake house in Arkansas I've owned for over a decade, but just now have time to enjoy).

Basically, a youthful passion reignited, and brought up to speed by that veritable treasure trove of advice on fishing and fishing equipment, Youtube ... a far cry from the old Field & Stream magazine of yore that I read religiously the rare times I could get my hands on one.

You're heading down the right path, good thread and great to hear about it ... keep up the good work!

 

[satx78247]

To All,

Catfish "punch far above their weight class". = In my days of commercial fishing I had many trotline drops, limb-lines & set-hooks that were "popped off" though I always used 80# mono for the "live perch" lines.

yours, satx

 

[Hoji]

 

[satx78247]

Hoji,

As the old joke goes, "Are you gonna talk or are you gonna fish?"
(CHUCKLE.)

yours, satx

 

[Downhill]

Jug line or trotline. No sense in having to wait for a bite. Put your lines out come back tommorrow!

 

[satx78247]

Downhill,

GOOD point but don't forget several set-hooks. = I've caught countless cats on a switch-cane, jammed into the bank, hook, 6-8' of mono & baited with a live perch, BIG minnow or goldfish, suspended about 6-12" off the bottom.

Fishing doesn't get much simpler than that.

yours, satx