channel cat rig……… slow water

normaly i dont fish slow current areas but was fishing above the dam at stcroix.. taylorfalls contest…. anyway was using a flat sinker.. no roll and a 1ft leader, bait was circling main line.. lost a big fish. whats your rig for slow water and active bait. thanks Dan

active bait = live bait?

I usually use just enough weight to cast where I want to, and keep the bait stationary so it doesnt find a snag. Live bait I am usually fishing flatheads.. so a short leader of 6″ or less behind the weight is the norm.

Channel cat fishing in this cool water now with slow flow is comletely different. I use just enough weight to cast where I want to be, lighter line, and a long leader(up to 20″) with a smaller hook/bait that the fish dont need to work much to inhale it off the bottom.

This Sunday on FSN one of the Lindners was showing a bobber technique for catching channels on what appeared to be the Red. They were fishing a cutbait rig under a big tube shaped bobber with a four foot length of line under it weighted about 3 feet down with a couple big splitshots.

They were talking about how it is very effective when trying to fish 8-10 feet of water to get the fish that are ‘actively feeding’ higher in the column.

Does that help?

what about a 3-way rig with a longer dropper on the weight than the bait
that would make it kinda like a drop shot rig with a short leader for the bait and a good quailty 3-way swivel might prevent the line twist
otherwise in slow water I’d use a float

thanks for the help. will try the bobbers on the end rods