Rig?

[CatfishHunter]

For the Missouri River, with a strong current, how should I rig my live bait for blues and flatheads? And with what size hook? I like using circle hooks. Through the snout? What size and style sinker? And what about those 2 hook salt water rigs I grew up fishing she surf with? The ones with the orange beads 2 hook clips and one weight clip? Are they of any use for anything besides channels?

[Seanstone]

Id start with no roll sinkers and adjust the weight with the current. I like to start light. 3oz and move up if needed. I have them up 8oz which is plenty for ohio. With any current at all I use circle hooks and out my rods in rod holders with the reels engaged. For blues and flats id use an 8/0 circle hook. Remeber to barely hook thr bait. You dont have to try and hide the hook....catfish wont care if they fwel something hard and sharp. They eat bones all the time. Also make sure your hook is in a good spot....one where it wont burry itself back into the bait. I have had rods double over and never hook a fish. I reel my bait in to find that the hook has re hooked the bait. Another tip.... if your fishing heavy current make sure your hook is in a bait in such a way that it doesnt cause your bait to spin in current. There are tons of videos on YouTube that can help you.....start with steve douglas. His info on blue fishing is invaluable.

One thing to consider is that blues tend to eat cutbait more frequently and flathead tend to eat live bait more often. Ive caught more flathead on cutbait than I have blues on live bait....so I tend to use cutbait more often on big rivers. Its usually easier to keep too.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards

[CatfishHunter]

Jul 25, 2013 13:19:09 GMT -5 Seanstone said:

Id start with no roll sinkers and adjust the weight with the current. I like to start light. 3oz and move up if needed. I have them up 8oz which is plenty for ohio. With any current at all I use circle hooks and out my rods in rod holders with the reels engaged. For blues and flats id use an 8/0 circle hook. Remeber to barely hook thr bait. You dont have to try and hide the hook....catfish wont care if they fwel something hard and sharp. They eat bones all the time. Also make sure your hook is in a good spot....one where it wont burry itself back into the bait. I have had rods double over and never hook a fish. I reel my bait in to find that the hook has re hooked the bait. Another tip.... if your fishing heavy current make sure your hook is in a bait in such a way that it doesnt cause your bait to spin in current. There are tons of videos on YouTube that can help you.....start with steve douglas. His info on blue fishing is invaluable.

One thing to consider is that blues tend to eat cutbait more frequently and flathead tend to eat live bait more often. Ive caught more flathead on cutbait than I have blues on live bait....so I tend to use cutbait more often on big rivers. Its usually easier to keep too.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards

Is that on a 3-way swivel or Carolina rig? And what about those 2 hook leaders?

[CatfishHunter]

And how do you think pyramid sinkers will work in the muddy bottom? And would no rolls be better?

[Seanstone]

Carolina rigged. I dont use the two hook method unless I am using giant bait or getting short bites.

I like pyramid sinkers in lakes better than i do in rivers. Pyramids will anchor a bait better than a no roll. If I use live baits ill tylically use a pyramid....because if my bait trys to drag my sinker around it will dig into the soft bottom. I wrote an article on sinker types and it should be under the catfishing articles and tip section. ...it will be called sinkers. Its basic but it should help.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards

[CatfishHunter]

Jul 25, 2013 13:41:00 GMT -5 Seanstone said:

Carolina rigged. I dont use the two hook method unless I am using giant bait or getting short bites.

I like pyramid sinkers in lakes better than i do in rivers. Pyramids will anchor a bait better than a no roll. If I use live baits ill tylically use a pyramid....because if my bait trys to drag my sinker around it will dig into the soft bottom. I wrote an article on sinker types and it should be under the catfishing articles and tip section. ...it will be called sinkers. Its basic but it should help.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards

I don't mean a stinger hook I mean the 24" leader with two hook clips like 6" apart for two separate hooks. Like they use in saltwater.

[Skyline1506]

nah too easy to get snagged