Aug
29
What type of gear is best for catching large catfish near Pittsburgh PA?
ByThe allegheny, ohio, and monongahela rivers are well known for big flathead and channel catfish. The fish are there, but it doesn’t seem information about what type of rod/reel, bait, or line/knots are available anywhere.
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6 Comments
August 29th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
a piece of sponge with wd40 on it – seriously!
August 29th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Most catfish gear is basic and not too expensive… i live on the Mississippi River and most river systems are simple…
get about a 7 ft. rod (one piece heavy action). if you have heavy current and need a big weight, then you’ll need a bigger rod. ugly stick by shakespeare have some rods that are priced well. i also have a 10ft rod for the large weights and bank fishing.
get some circle hooks. i think eagle claw has some inexpensive ones. get about 5/0 to start with.
get some lead weights at the local takle shot. probably 2oz. up to 16oz. depending on current. i’ve actually use the 16oz. in heavy current in some deep holes to keep the bait in place.
get some strong line, about 50lb test for the main line. tie about 20lb test on as a leader, so the hook or sinker will break off if you get hung up. 50lb is tough to break, so use a lighter leader.
oh, get some brass swivels to tie the main line to the sinker and hook. the faster the current, the shorter the leader. 1-3ft.
catfish insider is a good magazine. good luck and good fishing.
August 29th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Use a saltwater type heavy duty bait cast outfit, such as a Penn or Daiwa, gear ratio of at least 4.6.1,with a 7.5- 8ft. graphite rod. Use a 20-30 pound line with a large 1 oz barrel sinker, with a split shot above the hook about 3 inches, allowing some leeway for the live bait fish. Use a size 4 Eagleclaw hook and a live 6-8 inch sucker or other bait fish. Fish at night if at all possible, when the big-uns are out feeding. Some have luck with blood bait, but bothered with small ones using the stink-type baits.
August 29th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
OK WELL U SHUD START WITH A SPINNIG REEL ABOT 6’0 ROD AND FOR BAIT DEFINATLEY USE EITHER CUT BLUE GILL OR YOU CAN ALSO USE CUT SQUID IVE LEARNED THAT CATFISH WILL BITE ON ALMOST ANY CUT BAIT FOR LINE USE FIRELINE 20 POUND TEST. BASICALLY HAVE FUN AND CATCH FISH THATS WAT MATTERS MOST
August 29th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I’m on the Mississippi here. And when I go out for the big cats, I take my Muskie rod, A 5’6″ Gander Mountain Heavy action, Abu-Garcia 6500 c-3 real. I still have a couple thousand yards of Berkly ULTRA-MAX 25/60 braided nylon line. Never lost a BIG fish with that outfit.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:11 am
I’ve been fishing for catfish in the Allegheny for 2 years, and I go every day because I live next to the river, and I only have caught 5. They were big though. I use chicken liver.