River Catfish Rigs

Catfishing is becoming an attractive sport for fishermen, especially in rivers where all giant species like Blue, Channel, or Flathead catfish can be found from coast to coast from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Record size fish are being taken anywhere and everywhere using basic catfish setups including Catfish Rigs. What catfish rigs are used in rivers?

River Catfish Rigs:

• Slip Bobber Rig (SBR)
• 3-Way Catfish Rig.
• Santee Cooper Catfish Rig
• Slip Sinker
• Carolina & Texas Catfish Rig
• Drift Rigs
• Kentucky Rig
• Drop Shot Rig or Zero Rig

Rigs are made in different sizes & make-up depending on fishing from a boat or the shoreline, heavy river currents & time of year.

Catfish like low light conditions, which is one of the big reasons they like to stay close to the bottom of rivers and hide in the brush, where a little shade extends away from the cover, which can give cats just enough comfort to come out of their home along the banks and nab some bait if presented right. They are also known for their strength and quality main line and equipment are crucial for landing trophy fish.

River Catfish Rigs

Slip Sinker Rig:

Fishing for catfish in rivers requires specific rigging setups tailored to the flowing water conditions. Here’s a recommended rigging setup for catching catfish in rivers:

1. Slip Sinker Rig:
   • The slip sinker rig is one of the most popular and effective rigs for river catfishing.
   • Start with a strong fishing rod and reel combo suitable for river fishing. Medium to heavy action rods with strong reels are preferred.
   • Use a durable fishing line with a test strength of at least 20-30 pounds. Braided or monofilament lines work well in river environments.
   • Tie a barrel swivel to the end of your main line. This helps prevent line twists and tangles caused by the current.
   • Attach a leader line to the other end of the barrel swivel. The leader should be around 12-24 inches long, depending on water depth and catfish size.
   • Use a strong and sharp circle hook, sized between 2/0 to 5/0, depending on the bait size and target catfish species.
   • Slide a slip sinker onto the main line before tying it to the barrel swivel. The sinker’s weight should be heavy enough to hold your bait on the river bottom but light enough to allow the bait to move naturally with the current.
   • Above the barrel swivel, add a plastic bead to protect the knot from the sinker’s impact.
   • Thread your chosen bait onto the circle hook. Live or cut bait such as shad, minnows, nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or stink bait are popular options.
2. Enhancements and Adjustments:
   • To increase scent dispersion and attract more catfish, consider using scent attractants or dipping your bait in a scent solution before casting.
   • If fishing in deeper or faster-moving water, you may need to increase the sinker weight to ensure your bait stays near the river bottom.
   • Adjust the leader length and hook size based on the water conditions and the size of the catfish you’re targeting.
3. Placement and Technique:
   • Look for areas of the river with structure and cover, such as submerged logs, rock piles, eddies, or deep holes. These are prime locations where catfish congregate.
   • Cast your rig upstream of the target area and allow it to drift naturally with the current as it settles on the river bottom.
   • Maintain a slight tension on your line to detect any bites or strikes. Catfish often pick up the bait and move off slowly, so be patient and allow them to hook themselves before setting the hook.
   • When you feel a bite, gently lift the rod to set the hook, but avoid jerking too hard, especially with circle hooks, as they are designed to hook the fish in the corner of the mouth.

By using a slip sinker rig and applying these techniques, you’ll be well-prepared to catch catfish in river environments effectively. Always be mindful of local fishing regulations and obtain any necessary permits before fishing.

Carolina Rig & Texas Rig:

Carolina Catfish Rig:

Slip Bobber Rig (SBR)

The Slip Bobber Rig allows you to cover large areas on the river when fishing for flat Blue or Channel Catfish without much of a snag hazard. It can also position your bait right in front of the catfish’s face as it moves downstream. Cast the bait into the current and let the natural action of the river serve it up. The Slip Bobber Rig is phenomenal for fishing the big catfish on small to medium-sized streams and rivers as well as lakes.

• For neutral Catfish, try fishing the rig vertically across current breaks and eddies associated with rocks, riprap, brush piles, or a deep snag.
• For aggressive Catfish, cast the rig upstream from deep-cut banks and outside bends as close to the bank as possible.

Catfish Rigs for Trophy Catfishing: Carolina rig-Line rig-Hook rig

Catfish anglers cast rigs in the water right before or right after a heavier current in the river. It’s a good chance that these spots on the water can be productive during feeding time for big river catfish

Baitfish that are washed up into the current will slow and be available for a short time and Catfish will take advantage of this. Look for river bends or tree-lined structures and rocky areas where catfish will stage up and wait for food to come their way. Use a slip sinker with good weight and attach float and swivel 

• Use tip would be to use a flat type sinker that won’t roll along the bottom like an egg or round-shaped weight.
• Use an 8 oz sinker in heavy river current & 3 to 4 oz in moderately running river current
• Use at least 20 lb test to throw 8 oz sinker with 50 lb test leader
• Don’t tie this heavy sinker weight directly to the line rather use a stopper to keep the weight from moving down your line

Carolina Rig rig is a plastic bait rig and is nearly identical to the Texas Rig with a few exceptions. For instance, when it comes to the Carolina Rig vs the Texas rig, the Texas rig features a weight that sits snugly against the lure on the end.

Carolina Rig has a sinker weight followed by a lure sitting on a leader line. Both Rigs are used in Fresh and Saltwater fishing and are common for rigs for many different species of fish used from bass rigs to river catfish rigs.

Float rigs also keep baits moving along the river bottom at current speed, but snag less often than shot rigs. Cigar-shaped slip-floats are more sensitive than standard round bobbers, allowing catfish to swim a little while with the bait without feeling the line pull.

Regardless of which catty species you’re fishing for, the basic slip-float rig is made in the same way. Before tying on a hook, tie a five-turn Uni-knot around your main line with the same or slightly heavier line, that makes an adjustable float stop.

Sliding the stop knot up the line makes the bait on rigs run deeper while sliding it down the line allows for a shallower drift. Next, slip on a 5-mm bead followed by the slip-float. Anchor cut bait and smaller live bait rigs with a few lead shots about a foot above a hook, ranging from a #2 for small baits to a 3/0 for bigger baits. To anchor larger live baits for flatheads, add a swivel to the line about 20-25 inches above a 3/0 to 7/0 hook. Slide a 1- to 2-ounce egg sinker on the line above the swivel to balance the float.

As versatile as catfish rigs and as effective as drift and float rigs often are, many catfishing situations call for live or dead bait still fished on the bottom. The most popular bottom rig for all species of catfish is the egg sinker slip rig.

The object of this catfish rig, which consists of an egg sinker sliding on the main line held in place above the hook by a lead shot, is to keep the bait near the bottom and allow a cat to swim off with the bait with ­little tension. While the basic idea behind this catfish rig is sound, it doesn’t accomplish either objective well.

The success of limb lines and pole lines says that catfish aren’t timid feeders on bait like trout or walleyes who need to run a short distance on a freeline before engulfing the bait.

When a decent-size cat picks up the bait, he has it. Most of the time, you could set it immediately without giving any line. But your chances of a solid hookset in the corner of the cat’s mouth increase if you let the fish turn to the side before setting.

Just be sure to hold constant tension on the line after the fish picks up the bait. When you feel the thump of a fish grabbing the bait, follow him with your rod tip for a foot or two, then set. If your rod’s in a rod holder keep the bait clicker engaged, let the fish take a foot off the line, then engage the reel and set.

Drop Shot Rig or Zero Rig:

Two options of Catfish Rig that can be used if longer leaders are causing short strikes and missed fish. These are also good chances for targeting Blue, and Flathead catfish in and around tight cover along shaded river shorelines. 

• When fishing in and around heavy cover
• When catfish are holding right on or in that cover
• When you need to get right on top of a fish vertical presentation

Flathead catfish love to hang out around and in brush piles at the banks of a river where crappies are hanging out.

3-Way Catfish Rig:

Kentucky Rig:

Catfish Float Rigs

The Santee Cooper Catfish Rig:

With his Catfish Rig, the weight stays on the bottom while the peg floats to lift the bait slightly off the bottom floor of a lake or river. This Rig can be used for anchor fishing from a boat or drifting from a boat. The Santee Cooper catfish rig is a versatile fishing rig that can be used for all types of big catfish for trophy catfishing on the Delta River

It has been used with tremendous success on giant blue and flathead catfish. The Santee Cooper rig can be drifted, trolled, or simply tight-lined on the bottom, and the buoyancy provided by the Peg Float keeps any catfish bait from scraping the bottom. With a basic understanding of how to tie a slip sinker rig, building the Santee Cooper rig should be simple with the eight following pieces:

• Mainline
• Sinker slide
• Bead Stop
• Swivel
• Leader (length will vary and as a general rule of thumb, the faster the current, the shorter your leader)
• Triple Threat Hook
• Sinker (style and weight will vary depending on bottom composition, water depth, current speed, and bait choice)
• Peg float

Best Hooks for Striper Fishing

For the very best articles on fresh & saltwater fishing, stay here at MyWaterEarth&Sky. The birth of catch-and-release fishing spawned the invention of circle fishing hooks. These are shaped so that the point turns toward the hook shank, almost making a circle. Unlike J-Hooks ……………………………………………… Continue reading

JimGalloway Author/Editor

References:

Catfish Edge-Essential Catfish Rigs

FAQ’s

What is the best bait for catching river catfish?   The best bait for river catfish varies depending on the species and the angler’s preference, but common options include shad, minnows, nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and stink bait.

What size hook should I use for river catfish?   Hook size depends on the bait and the size of the catfish you’re targeting. Generally, circle hooks in sizes 2/0 to 5/0 work well for river catfish.

How do I find good spots for river catfishing?  Look for areas with structure and cover, such as submerged logs, rock piles, eddies, deep holes, and confluences. These spots provide hiding places and feeding opportunities for catfish.

What type of fishing line is best for river catfishing?  Braided or monofilament lines with a test strength of at least 20-30 pounds are recommended for river catfishing. Braided lines offer strength and sensitivity, while monofilament lines have some stretch, which can help absorb shock in fast currents.

How should I rig my line for river catfishing?  A slip sinker rig is commonly used for river catfishing. This rig consists of a slip sinker, barrel swivel, leader line, and circle hook. The slip sinker allows the bait to move naturally with the current while keeping it near the river bottom.

What is the best time of day to catch river catfish?  Catfish are often more active during low-light conditions, such as dawn, dusk, and nighttime. However, they can be caught throughout the day, especially in areas with good cover and structure.