Catfish Tackle – The Best of The Best

Since I started putting information here and other places on the internet many years ago I have been getting tons of questions about catfish tackle, what kind of catfish tackle I use, what I recommend  etc. Every time I write an article about any kind of rig or tackle I start getting questions through our ask a question page wanting to know more about the tackle. I am going to start including links to everything in the articles but I also wanted to create this page to serve as a “landing page” with links to all of the different tackle, rods and reels etc.

As I continue to write articles I will add new links to this page.

All the products that I am listing on this tackle page are products that I personally use or have used and can recommend to everyone to add to your tackle.

Tackle Boxes

Plano Dry Storage Boxes -  Like I mentioned in my article about what’s in my fishing tackle box this is the best catfish tackle box I have ever used.

Plano Adjustable StowAway Utility Boxes – Again like I mentioned in my tackle box article this is what I use for my “working” tackle box.

Catfish Hooks

Eagle Claw Kahle Hooks - L142F or L141BPF (L142 is Nickel Finish –  L141BPF is Black Pearl Finish) Size 3/0 and 4/0 - Perfect for fishing cut bait, shad or live bait. These hooks will work for any size fish from small box fish to trophy blue catfish. I carry size 3/0 and size 4/0 in my tackle box. These are perfect for rod and reel fishing and can be used on juglines or trotlines also but you cannot run braided line for juglines or trotlines through the eye doubled (for jug fishing or trotlines) because the eye is not large enough, you can run #9 braided nylon twine through the eye single though.

Eagle Claw Lazer Treble Hooks – Size #4 and #6 – 4X L774F – For fishing with catfish punch bait or other prepared catfish baits. Treble hooks get wrecked quickly when fishing with prepared baits for catfish, If you are going to fish with prepared baits for catfish these are an essential tackle item. I use #6 treble hooks probably 90% of the time but I keep some #4 treble hooks around because occasionally when they are really aggressive I need to go up in hook size like I mentioned in choosing a hook for fishing with punch bait.

Daiichi Bleeding Bait In-line Circle Chunk Light with Stop Gap Saltwater Hooks – Size 7/0 – For TROPHY BLUE CATFISH – an excellent hook for for big blue catfish. This hook is incredibly effective for catching big blues. If you are going to be drift fishing you need to get plenty of extras because you will lose a lot of hooks.

Mustad Demon Circle In-Line Hooks – Model 39951BLN- Size 6/0 or 7/0 for “Box Fish” (smaller 1-10 lb catfish) and size 10/0 for trophy fish. This is an excellent circle hook for both big and smaller eating sized fish as well.

Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Circle Sea Offset Circle Hooks – Model L197- An excellent hook for jug fishing (juglines) and trotlines as well as rod and reel fishing. This is a “go to” hook for setline fishing (trotlines, juglines, limb lines, bank lines)

Fishing Line – Mainline

For detailed information on choosing fishing line read my article on fishing line.

Offshore Angler Tight Line – 1/2 lb. Spools- This is what I use as my “main line” fishing line on all my fishing reels I use the fluorescent yellow color in 20 lb test for my mainline.

Offshore Angler Tight Line – 1/4 lb. Spools – 20 Lb Test Yellow – This is the same fishing line as above but is a 1/4 lb spool instead of a half pound spool if you need a smaller roll. Again I use the fluorescent yellow color in 20 lb test for my mainline.

Ande Premium Monofilament Line – 1/4 lb. Spool- 20 Lb Test Green - I used this for years as my main line in the green color, again in 20 Lb test.  Ande Monofilament is excellent fishing line for catfishing and the only reason I switched to the Offshore Angler fishing line listed above is because it was so much cheaper than the Ande Monofilament (and the offshore angler line performs equally as well). You can get a 1/2 Lb spool of the offshore angler fishing line for $1 more than a 1/4 Lb spool of the Ande Monofilament. That is why I use the Offshore Angler fishing line (listed above).

Mason Big Cat Catfish Line - This is a good option for leader line for fishing with punch bait. It is thicker than monofilament fishing line and and it is easier to handle and the punch bait sticks to it pretty good also.

Leader Line

Offshore Angler Tight Line – 1/4 lb. Spools – 40 Lb Test Clear - This is what I use for my leader line. Just get a 1/4 lb spool because that will make you enough leaders to last a very long time. I use clear monofilament in 40 Lb test for my leader line.

Ande Premium Monofilament Line – 1/4 lb. Spool - 40 Lb Test Clear - Just like I mentioned above with the fishing line mainline I used Ande Monofilament for years but switched to the Offshore Angler line because of pricing. Again, 40 Lb test for the leader line and clear.

Weights/Sinkers

Bass Pro Shops No Roll Sinkers – Size 1 Ounce, 1.5 Ounce, 2 Ounce – These no roll sinkers are another essential tackle item. I use these for lake and river fishing. I use the one ounce and 1.5 ounce more than anything but always keep plenty of two ounce no roll sinkers around for fishing in heavy current when necessary. These are used for santee rigs and slip sinker rigs

Bass Pro Shops Egg Sinkers – 1 Oz, 1.5 Oz and 2 Oz – For santee rigs and slip sinker rigs

Bass Pro Shops Premium Reusable Split Shot Weights – Size 1, 2, 4 - For rigging slip floats (slip bobbers) for rigging slip bobbers

Swivels

Bass Pro Shops Barrel Swivel – Size 1/0 – I keep a LOT of these around because I burn through them quickly. This is an essential part of just about every rig I use.

Bass Pro Shops Three-Way Brass Swivel – For three way rigs. I have used these in the past and they work well. If you plan on using a three way rig this is an essential item but I rarely every fish with a three way rig for so I don’t normally keep these around.

Bobbers/Floats

Bass Pro Shops Weighted Round Foam Floats – For Cormorant Catfishing – These floats are deadly for cormorant catfishing, big, round and heavy and they make a big splash when casting.

Betts Super Balsi-Foam Floats – 1.5 Inch, 2 Inch and 2.5 Inch for santee cooper rigs. Goes on the leader line when rigging with a santee rig.

3” Cyalume Lunker Light Stick – Glow in the dark light sticks for night fishing.

Lindy Thill Pro Series Slip Bobber Floats – Unweighted – Slip floats for slip bobber rigs, exceptional for fishing with prepared baits.

Rods

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Trigger Rods – Ugly Stik CAL1100 – 7’6 ML Action Rod – This is an excellent rod for fishing with prepared baits like punch or dip bait. They are available in M and ML actions but I like the ML action for fishing prepared baits for “box” fish (1-10 Lb fish). This is not a good option for big cats but is a super sensitive and super tough rod for smaller fish.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Lite Salmon/Steelhead Trigger Rods – 8’6″ MH Action – I have been testing these out recently and am very impressed with them. I have been a fan of using salmon and steelhead fishing rods for many years. They are the ultimate multipurpose fishing rods. Capable of handling big monster trophy blue cats and sensitive enough for an ultra light channel cat bite, and still light and easy to hold and extra long for good control and extra casting distance. These rods can be used in ANY application.

Shakespeare Ugly Stik Catfish Casting Rods – 7’0 MH Action – Ugly Stik Catfish Rods are a timeless classic. This rod has been around for years and has gone unchanged during that time. It is a little heavy for my liking for multipurpose use (why I prefer the salmon steelhead rods) and has a heavier tip than what I prefer but is an excellent all around fishing rod. Capable of handling big and small fish and ultra tough. This is a really good rod for drift fishing.

Whuppin Stick Casting Rods – Cabela’s version of the Ugly Stik fishing rod. I have owned several of these Whuppin Stick rods in the past and they have been good rods. Just like an Ugly Stik, strong and durable and with cork handles. The WSCML 70-2 is very similar to the CAL1100 Ugly Stik above, a very good choice for fishing punch baits or prepared baits. The WSCMH 90-2 is a 9 foot MH action and a good alternative for fishing for bigger fish.

Reels

Bass Pro Shops MegaCast Metal Round Baitcast Reel – I picked one of these up the other day but have yet to use it. I know a couple of guides that are using these reels as their primary reels and they say they have held up well (especially for the price tag of $30). This is definitely the low end of the reels I have listed here but if you don’t want to shell out a bunch of cash or are just an occasional angler this may be a good fishing reel for you. I am going to write a review of this once I have had a chance to use it for a while and get a better feel for how it works.

Bass Pro Shops CatMaxx CMX-3 Round Baitcast Reel – Better –  - This Catmaxx reel is a good middle of the road reel. if you are a casual fisherman this may be a good option. Definitely not as good as the Abu Garcia but is a good middle of the road fishing reel. Read my review on the Catmaxx fishing reels here.

Abu Garcia 6600 BCX – Better – 6600BCX – This is similar to the 6500C3 reels but chinese made and is cheaper. Not as good as the swedish made Abu Garcias but a good reel overall.

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur C3 Classic Round Baitcast Reels – (Best) 6500C3 – The Abu Garcia 6500 C3 is the gold standard reel. Super tough and durable, Capable of handling smaller fish and big monster blues or flatheads. These reels will last a lifetime. You should also look foryou can often find some really good deals on reels there.

I do strongly suggest that you look at Abu Garcia fishing reels on Ebay before you purchase any fishing reel because on occasion (especially in the winter) you can find some awesome deals click here to for an automatic search of Abu Garcia fishing reels on Ebay.

Cast Nets

Fitec Super Spreader Cast Net – 3/8″ Mesh 7 Foot – This is a good multipurpose cast net and is price right. Don’t have to worry about tearing this one up when catching bait and ruining an expensive cast net.

Old Salt Series Cast Net – 3/8″ Mesh 7 foot – This cast net is a good multipurpose cast net for catching shad during most of the year (except for in the winter when the bait gets really deep). This is a higher end net.

Other Tackle Items

Berkley Big Game Lip Grip with Ruler – For holding and weighing big blues and flatheads and live releasing. These will keep your hands from getting torn up when handling big fish and WILL NOT BREAK like some of the cheaper fish grips that are out there. I have been using mine for years with no issues.

Bass Pro Shops 4” Braided Line Scissors – For cutting monofilament line when tying rigs. These work much better than anything else I have found and they are cheap. I keep multiple pairs of these scissors in my tackle box and in my boat.

Bass Pro Shops Stainless Steel Pliers – These are super cheap and I don’t like spending money on pliers because I lose them all the time.  I cannot say how many pairs I have lost through the years. These are essential for removing hooks from fish.

Berkley Digital Fish Scale – For weighing catfish up to 50 lbs.

Bass Pro Shops Catfish Net – This is an extra big dip net capable of scooping up big catfish. I have been using this net for years, excellent dip net.

Fish Cleaning

American Angler Fillet Knives – Traditional Fillet Knife – For cutting up cut bait for catfishing and for cleaning catfish (cutting rib cages out after using an electric filet knife).

American Angler MT3 Electric Fillet Knife – Electric Fillet Knife – I have used every electric fillet knife there is and this is the only one that I have ever used that will last. This is a MUST have for cleaning fish, but replace the blades that come with it with  9″ Mr Twister Knife Blades

Trotline/Jugline Building Materials

Mariner Green Braided Nylon Twine – #48 For Trotline Main Line, #18 for Jugline Main Line – Braided nylon twine for jugline mainline and trotline mainline.

Mariner Green Braided Nylon Twine – #9 For Trotline and Jugline Drops. - Braided nylon twine for jugline and trotline leaders also known as “drops” or “droppers”

Mariner Tarred Twisted Nylon Twine – #9 Tarred Twine For Trotline and Jugline Drops – Tarred line is an alternative for braided nylon twine for rigging juglines and trotlines.

Bass Pro Shops Trotline Clips – For adding stagings to trotlines that are removable. Not necessary but is one option for rigging trotlines.