Cat Tip of the Day: Cat Leader Holder

It is that time of year when we all haul out our cat boxes and inventory hooks, leaders and sinkers in preparation for the upcoming cat season. I thought I would share something that I’ve been using for about 2 years and it has worked very well. I like to pre-tie all my leaders so I am not fumbling around in the dark tying hooks. I wanted to be able to have a variety of hook sizes and leader lengths to choose from but I wanted to have them available to use quickly and easily.

This Cat Leader Holder is an idea that I found on another catfishing internet forum and I modified his idea to fit my particular situation. I wanted a leader holder that would hold a large number of leaders that I could clearly label but the holder needed to be small enough to fit into my cat box. I found what I was looking for at OfficeMax. The leader holders are vinyl business card holders that will hold 160 business cards. They cost $9.49 each and I bought 2 holders, one holder for my J Hooks and one holder for my circle hooks. They work perfect for storing pre-tied leaders. I’ve got 25 leaders in the J Hook Holder and 30 leaders in the Circle Hook Holder. I have large hooks in the holders and they start to get a little fat at about that number of leaders. I wrap a large rubber band around each holder to hold them closed and they fit easily into my cat box.

What I like about this arrangement is that I cut index cards to wrap the leaders on so I can slide them into the pocket of the holder. I cut the index cards to fit the business card slot but I left about an extra 1/4″ in length to the index card so it is easy to slide the leader in and out. I then mark the length of the leader on the index card so I can quickly sort through them to find the leader length I want.

No more fumbling around in the dark trying to find the right hook and the right length leader I want. I can easily find exactly what I need by hook and leader and in a few minutes I have hooks back in the water. When needed I pull out the leader I want and slide the empty card back into the holder. Once a week or so I do a quick inventory of what I have used and retie and stock my Leader Holders again. This system works perfect for me and I would recommend it to any catman. We still have a few weeks of winter left so this is an excellent time to get ready for some catfishing.

I took a bunch of drinking straws and taped them together. The hook eyes fit pretty snug and it doesn’t take up much space in the tackle box.

Shawn

That is a great Ideal. I will be trying this. I have been tying them up in circle and then taping it so that it doesn’t come undone. But, when I put it in a ziplock baggie they get all tangled up. That business card holder looks like it works great. Thank You

we use the swimming noodles as 3 way/ leaders holders. you can push the swivels into the foam and hooks come out pretty easy. then if they fall in the water they will still float and your not out of time and hard work

Hhmmm, interesting way to prepare your leaders before an outing. I never thought of the business-card holder idea. Unfortunately/fortunately, I am not much on the preperation – I tend to just tie rigs when I am on the water on an as-needed basis. Its much easier!

WAY COOL I have been using the noodles allso but I may switch up. With the noodles it is hard to keep track of lengths.

It is also time if you run sonny’s to lay on a supply bulk surgical tubes from catfish connection. I then tie a stout treble (6 or 8) on to 15 inches of 30lb big cat. I run that through the tube and out and back in through the premade holes so it comes out the top. You want your tube to stay with your hook until you want to slide it up to get at your hook. I tie a double overhand loop in the top of the mono that I can quickly slip through a swivel and back around the bait. I can switch them in the dark without a light and be back in business in seconds. Generally I switch them because the hook is bent. I have never deep hooked a cat as long as you don’t let them have it for more than a few seconds. Bobbers are great for that. One bag of tubes can last a lifetime. I then put the premade rig into a little bag I saved from ice jigs or something. One rig per bag otherwise you get a mess. Take care not to leave one in the bottom of your boat though or your friends stupid lab will eat one and then bite you when you try to dehook him.

Kevin: I’m looking at the Catfish Connection Catalog – are you buying the Lucky-7 Bulk Tube Worm? I like your idea and want to buy some bulk tubes but I want to get the right ones.

Two quick questions –

#1: Have you ever used a circle hook in lieu of a treble hook?

#2: On page 29 of the CC Catalog they have a Dip Worm Hook Remover. Have you ever used one? It looks like it would work pretty good and it is only $3.

You can get by pretty cheaply by buying the bulk tubes. I normally just throw away the whole tube at the end of the day. Those buggers stink so bad I never want to save them. I had a used one in a sealed sandwich bag in my cat box last year just overnight and my box stunk for a week.

Thanks for the comment about the dog. I’ve got a little cairn terrier that would be on a dip worm in a heartbeat. My bride would never forgive me if I hooked her pup on a dip worm.

Yeah I tried the circle hook, hook up percenate went down 30 percent. I’ve never needed anything but a needle nosed pliers and a 8 inch hook out. You can reach down pretty deep with the hookout, grab the tube, and pull it up the line and then the treble is easy to see, usually right in the corner of the mouth. A good pair of musky jaw spreaders I use could be improved on. I saw a show fishing canada or something were they were targeting great lakes channel cats on she shore line and that dude had a jaw spreaders that looked like a pliers you could lock open, I’d be in the market for one of those but haven’t had any luck finding them. I don’t have my catalog handy to check the number, but that sounds right, they are 3 inches long come in many colors and have holes in them. When I have rig blown up and all bent to hell, I just cut it from the bottom of the swivel and put a new one on, then I throw it down by where my plug goes in in my boat and I take them out and put them in a paper bag and they dry out, you can then wash them in dish soap and hot water and they are as good as new. Don’t ever put them in your tackle box, I suppose you didn’t need that though.