Drifting/Dragging bullheads

With all the recent talk about nice cats being caught on crankbaits, I started thinking. Ya, I know you can hear the little squirrel running on the wheel in my head

Has anyone ever tried to slow drift a bullhead and a weight through some prime catfish holes? I was thinking of a slow troll with the bow mount troller, or a drift downriver with a nice current.

I would think that the bullhead would have to be switched out more often, but a guy could try to target the active fish in an area, while covering a bunch of water. Similar to the verticle jig conversation awhile ago.

I think it was Fisher Dave who snagged a cat last week becasue it was not interested, but you could cover a ton of water, and pick off some active fish similar to a crankbait bite.

Thoughts anyone

My thought…get that squirrel out of your head!

I think a slow drift might work. I would try keeping it very slow though, as I would personally like the bullhead “kicking” not to be dampered by the speed of the drift. It would also allow the “less active” cats to hone in on the scent and noise. It wouldn’t be much fun in the “snaggier areas”. This seems to be a good time to experiment.

My wheels have been turning too, but mines a 2 legged guinea pig, not a squirrel.

The only problem I see with this approach is getting snagged up more often.

The only way to find out if it will work is to get out and try it I would bring alot of patience and gear.

My squirrel says just hook a crank bait on the end of your live bait rigs.

Mike you keep that squirrel were it belongs…..

Using IDA’s amazing search feature….click here. LOL!

Farmboy.. that was Flathead WI that snagged a flathead.

I had a discussion very similar to this with Brian yesterday. I think he tried some of these presentations and didnt have any success.

I have done plenty of snag jumping dropping my line vertically into snags.. but I have never dragged a bait for flatheads… but I have caught many that grabbed the bait as fast, or before it hit the bottom with conventional live bait rigs.

I am convinced it will work, I am also convinced a conventional live bait rig would be nothing but problems. A heavy weight and leader is a snag magnet.

I have a plan drawn out in my mind.. its more or less verticle jigging or dragging bait. It will take a very heavy jighead(1-3 oz) and as vertical of line as possible where snags are an issue. On structureless runs, a bait could be dragged along with minimal snags.

The same jig could be cast towards ideal structures to cover more water. I rally dont see why this couldnt be done with cutbait strips vs live bait either.

IF I can put a bait in front of the fish, it should work. IF I dont locate fish, or they dont want it.. its going to be some long days on the water.

I will look for the article at home. But one of my infisherman mags adressed this very issue. Evedentaly there is a guy down south that is very productive using this technique.

From what I remember he uses the trolling motor or kicker as needded to control his slip through cat holes. The live bait rig he uses is just enough weight to keep the bait on the bottom with some level of control.

If I find it I will post the date and issue number here so you guys can research it.

Boy…. I sure hope this doesn’t make me a cat guy. I guess all thats left is to take up golf.

Sorry FisherDave, Thought it was you.

This plan you have for the large jigs and the heavy structure, do you think a live bait in this situation, or go completely to a cut/dead bait to keep it from heading into the deep cover.

Thanks for the link BrianK, I have never had much luck with the search function, but think I may have to revisit it for some slow time reading material

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Boy…. I sure hope this doesn’t make me a cat guy. I guess all thats left is to take up golf.

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Come on, Cat guys love golf. I have a nice 9 iron that I use to beat the Bass off my line so I don’t have to touch them

I have been jigging the last few times out and it has it place. There are a few nice things you can get that standard rigging cannot do. Especially now with the river so slow! I am going to give these jigs alot of work before I say how well they work but they have to work to a degree. I know some others have had the same thoughts but havnt heard how they have done.

Right now I would stay lighter if you get into some flow you might have to weight up. I have had better luck lately with 3/4 oz and smaller baits.If you were to use larger bullies heavier jigs would be needed. Nice thing with lighter jigs is you get a more natural look and feel to the fish. No need to be very aggressive either. A few taps on the bottom and a long hold will usually get the attention of the fish in the area. With bullheads and suckers hook them in the head. As long as you are tapping/thumping the bottom every 20 seconds or so it will keep you on the bottom and keep you bait active for the flatties.

When I was out with Mark we spent about 20 minnutes doing this and caught a channel on a bully. The night before A long srip of cut took a fish so you get to play with a few baits and move around alot more in less time IMO. Also a dead chub or sucker is just as good as live with the right presentation you would think.

Funny part is the jigs I found that meet the need are BASS jigs

In the fishing I have done previously snag fishing.. I did use heavier weight. Its not only to sink the bait, but it slows them down considerably. The larger the jig, the larger the hook also. I used to go as far as using a rubber band to hold a treble hook to decoy sucker minnows, and I was fishing very close to snags.. almost like using a cane pole. This can be an effective way to catch fish, but dont even think about freespool or using a clicker. You may be able to keep your bait out of the log jam with 3 oz, but it wont slow down a 30# fish. If and when you get a bite, you had better be yanking that fish out as quick as it closes its mouth.

There is no need for freespool.

Reading the last to posts I thought I was in the BASS forum! You guys are closet Bassers too.

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Reading the last to posts I thought I was in the BASS forum! You guys are closet Bassers too.

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A bass is more than welcome to grab my bully… I just wont promised it will get unhooked any time soon.

[quoteA bass is more than welcome to grab my bully… I just wont promised it will get unhooked any time soon.

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