Hooks, Sinkers and Cat’s

As I was paging through the Catfish Connection catalog this morning, getting geared up for the ’05 cat attack, I was wondering what everyone uses for hooks and sinkers.

For Flats I’ve been using the Gamakatsu Go24 Octopus hooks in size 10/0. Mainly Gamakatsu because a pak of 5 runs $2.19 or .44 cents each. But they are a big, strong hook for large suckers/bullheads.

For channels, I’ve been using a veriaty of circle hooks. I know…there are many people on both sides of the fence here… circle or no circle…

But that’s what I’ve been useing and it’s worked well (for me). I don’t recall the brand, but I know they are in the 5/0 size.

Last year for weights I was using almost religously a 4 oz no roll sinker again from Catfish Connection. (I’m mentioning their name here because no rolls are harder to find)
This year I’m going to work on a lighter sinker…depending on conditions. It just seemed to me that 4 ozes would keep any live bait I had in one spot and didn’t have to worry about the current moving it….
It’s been brought to my attention that a flat would feel the extra weight upon pick up and could drop it. I don’t THINK I had problems with flats last year, but this may have been my problem with cannels. But then they could have been just really small channels nipping at the cut bait.

Anyone else have a favorite hook/sinker?

I use the no rolls from the same source, usually with a heavy swivel and leader about two feet long (same line as on the reel). I use 7/0 kahle hooks for bluegills and 4-5/0 kahles for bullheads. I like the Gamas too, but haven’t noticed any discernable difference between them and the less expensive Eagle Claw kahles (except that the Gamas are slightly more likely to turn back into the bait).

For channels, I stink so don’t do what I do, which changes about every week.

As for weight – I try to use the lightest I can get away with, but that rarely happens (I just toss out what’s on unless it’s not heavy enough so my rigs have a tendency to drift to the heavy side). I don’t believe I’m losing opportunities because of the amount of weight, but I still haven’t got my “sinker cam” so don’t really know. I do have a tendency to grab my rod as soon as I suspect a flathead, and I usually don’t let it pussyfoot around unless I really can’t tell what’s going on down there.

BTW – the Kahles are $5 per 50 pk.

“sinker cam” Hmmm!

Two feet of leader doesn’t get you in trouble (tangles)? I’m down to around a foot and still have issues…at times.

“Last year for weights I was using almost religously a 4 oz no roll sinker again from Catfish Connection. (I’m mentioning their name here because no rolls are harder to find”
That is odd, I thought you were getting them from someplace else

…Unless you have a very good friend that makes them for you….

I stand corrected!

Those no rolls are purdy nice although I’ve been making my own flat weights out of melted tire weight lead. There is a little issue with them twisting around the line because I’m drilling a hole through the thin side but hey…they’re free! I also make my own strike indicators that I affectionately call the “Dark30 flying bobber” and are used primarily from shore….I’m sure these would sell in the millions if I were a salesman.

For Flatheads, I don’t even use a leader. Line (65# Power Pro), bead (those little red ones),weight (depends), and the hook (Gama’s G-Mag Oversized Worm Hook) Love it! For bait, I prefer creek chubs, wild suckers, Or maybe a 6.99″ bullhead. All this attached to a pool cue with a Penn 320 GT2 set on it. God am I ready!!!!!!!

Oh, and I almost forgot…I gotta have my stinky old leather cat gloves too…could reduce the possibility of hook removal surgery.

I wasn’t able to find no-roll sinkers either so I ended up buying 1-1 1/2 oz sinkers and hammer them flat and it worked out allright.

I tried that Bush…but I couldn’t get the nail out of it! Think I may have too hard.

Catten Addict! Did you read the above post?? No comment? Getting soft on gloves? Neighbor have your tongue?

Now that I think about it Dark, I should have been wearing gloves last year when I was out with CA… still have that scare from that 10/0 hook in my finger!

I don’t usually use a net from shore…just grab the lower jaw and hang on..kinda like “stay dry noodling” but gloves could at least lesson the damage from a big hook. I also don’t ever hold a cat up by its gill plates either…Makes my ears (amogst other things} hurt just thinking about it!

Just started using no rolls last year and won’t go back also try to go as lite as poss. but mostly about 3oz. Also use a 5/0-6/0 gamies or mustad I believe Kahlie hooks for gills and suckers, plan on testing some circle hooks this year and 1 to 1/0 eagle claws for cut bait,livers etc. for channels.And yes I am a glove wearer .

Hey Brian, I saw the mentioning of gloves . I just prefer comando style, if the sound of the clicker dont wake you up, then the kittys tongue on your hand sure will . oh yeah and the gloves did save you last year brian, just think if you didnt have them on where you might of gotten hooked

Cattin_Addict

Dark, I hear you about the net. I have one along. Only used it a couple times when there were too many in the boat for safe lifting. But I’m starting to think that using a net is better for the fish (supporting the weight) than pulling er out with a hand. Shore fishing maybe a differant story, when you can use both hands to support their weight.
I’m just wondering how their spinal columes hold up by using a hand or two in the mouth?

I held a 15 lbser…my first fish by the gills… the fella that was with me didn’t say anything about why, but I could tell by the tone of “hold him by the mouth” I’de done wrong. Just didn’t know any better at the time.

As far as circle hooks (do I dare open this can of worms?) Most Red River channel cat fisherman/guides don’t seem to believe in them. I’ve had good luck…again with channels…but missed many a flat…here again, I was using circles because I didn’t know any better.

Catten Addict doesn’t use glove for a reason…his wife doesn’t think he’s really fishing if he doesn’t come home with some flat smell behind his ears…(don’t even ask how he gets it there!)

I do bring a net for the big ones on shore and pretty much always from a boat. They will twist like crazy and its hard to hold um sometimes. The smaller ones (under oh fifty pounds or so) are easier to just grab, hold gently for the camera, give um a big wet kiss and throw um back. All I know is…I”M JONESIN BIGTIME !! Net, no net, gloves or no gloves, I need to feel that warm river mud under foot!

Circle Hooks? Brian, you’d better start another thred buddy!

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I”M JONESIN BIGTIME !!

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What ever you do…don’t go back to the summer threads for the last three or so years! I did that the other day and have been crabby ever since.

My wife asked me why I have a picture of FlatheadWI on my desk? I replied…what? where? Then I realized that I did…but with the size of his personal best last fall, I forgot he was in the picture!! Kinda emberassing…

Ps…

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give um a big wet kiss and throw um back

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This is wrong on so many levels!

why is that wrong if loving them is wrong, then i dont wanna be right

Cattin_Addict