suspended bait

[boss hawg]

Has any one ever tried fishing for blue cats with floats? How about drifting? Most of the guys I know including my self bottom fish. Next time I go out I'm thinking about trying it. Any tips I can get on rigging would be appreciated.

[crash14me2]

Ive been thinking about that myself. Ive been thinking of doing a slip bobber with the bait suppended at different depths on different rods. Heck what do I know?

[RANGER690]

Don't do it! It won't work![wink]

Do Not:
Keep a big float out the back with a medium sized piece of cutbait. Even worse is a live small shad.

Do Not:
Drift with a rod in each holder suspended at a different depth. Even worse during slack tide.

Do Not:
Use a three way swivel rig while catfishing to keep a bait up off the bottom. Worse yet with a strip of shad fillet.

Just don't do it. Nobody like to catch that many fish. Say NO!

Dayton

[bigcatdaddy]

BH,
I have'nt tried it on the Blues yet, but it works VERY well on flatheads. I'd say I catch to two to one on float rigs versus bottom rigs.

Set-up: Large slip float, lead, swivel, 12-18" leader, hook. 3 way rigs always seem to tangle when casting.

[whynot]

I do know this . If you can catch cats on a float without a sinker the fight is totally different. Man do they run . You don't seem to get that catfish jerk ,jerk pull .They take off like a bass or rock .

I think that the sinker behind the fish throws it off balance as it swims . I've caught channel cats up to 5 lbs. and really seen the difference. Don't know if it would make a difference on bigger more powerful fish. Tony

[boss hawg]

Thanks for the tips guys. I have tried the drifting at slack tide as mentioned in the do not's that were so helpfully posted by Ranger690 with some moderate sucess. I will make sure I don't try any of those other methods. Once again thank you all.

[wasabi]

Dayton's a good drift fisherman cuz he can't figure out how to work an anchor [grin]

[RANGER690]

Hey, if StriperJoe would tie better knots or just not let me on board, we wouldn't have lost those anchors!!!!!!

I have forgotten the back anchor and take off. A twenty pound river anchor only comes out of the water once. When it dives back, something is going to give. Trust me. If I had been using a real rope, I would have lost a side rail.

Dayton

[wasabi]

Been there, done that. You shoulda been on my boat the day my drift sock flew out the back and popped open in the water like a funny car parachute. That gets your attention.

[mini moe]

Has any one ever tried fishing for blue cats with floats? How about drifting? Most of the guys I know including my self bottom fish. Next time I go out I'm thinking about trying it. Any tips I can get on rigging would be appreciated.

I haven't tried it yet, but it looks good. I saw a program by Bill Dance the other day where he was drifting in a river current. He used a bank sinker attached to a 6" leader off a 3-way swivel. His bait was on a 16" leader on the other eye of the 3-way. I'm gonna try it next time to the James. He was only using 4oz. sinkers on the James I think you would have to go much higher.

mini moe