On the 80# leader it is handy to use crimps like you would shark fishing. Instead of a knot. Texoma man, Texoma. I've seen fish close to 100lbs noodled in certain areas around here (Weatherford, tx), but catching them would be a diff story.

How does this balloon rig work for you ?

Ok there are two ways this question could be interpreted so I will answer both ok.

1.). The balloon in this case which use to be a cork will suspend the bait a foot or two off of the bottom keeping it out of the silt and right in the fishes line of smacktalk when cruising the bottom.

2.). As for using balloons instead of corks, the balloons are more work but better to have on the line than a 2 to 3 inch styrofoam cork. If a big fish inhales the bait far enough to get to a cork you will most likely be screwed when he bites down which is what happened to me and the smashed 3 inch orange styrofoam cork that was formed into the shape of an opened up C told me the sad story.... Now, I will say this... There are days that Monster fish lose there brains and can be fooled and caught very easily, but there are also days they are very smart and can cause a disrespecting individual to fail over and over again like it was nothing. Timing and respect is everything...

I see someone has been watching Steve Douglas/Larry Muse youtube videos.

Rolling on the Floor Laughing!!!!! Jerry, I watched the Steve Douglas video about it but only because PlanoJames posted about it, and I have never seen or heard of Larry Muse. I wish that guy that won the tournament in Steve Douglas's vid that told us about the balloons would have told us that he had lost big fish because of the corks, but I understand why he didn't. He only said " so if a big fish bites down on it he won't feel it ". He didn't say " because I had a 3 inch orange styrofoam cork crushed ". Also, you would not believe how hard it is to crush a 3 inch styrofoam cork into a C shape. My good buddy MjMetro estimated about 80lbs of bite force. I have now felt there " pain " bro, which is why I have made the switch and honestly I would still be using the corks if I had not encountered the exact problem that I encountered and the very telling way it all went down . I feel blessed in a way, but the truth is there is nothin worse than putting all that effort into chasing that one fish and knowing that for a moment you had em fooled but for not long enough...

Oh... and I forgot to say this... " OPTIMUS PRIME... OUT "!!!!!

Thanks for sharing with us Rick! I saw the video with the balloon float in place of the styrofoam cork right after the video came out. The balloon float theory made sense to me but honestly iv been to lazy to give it a try. After hearing your story im going to switch things up a little.

Balloon floats are handy when fishing behind the dam at PK for Stripers. Never really tried them for Catfish.

I had a big bite while drifting with a cork.. When i reeled in the rig to check the bait I noticed the line had actually sliced through the cork.. The line was was covered in slime but it ruined the cork and could be why the hook didn't set. Hard to say... But the cork def didn't hold up, a balloon might be a good replacement.

Jermy wade don't use no corks... I'm catch a 100 pounder. I just ordered aglow Berkeley pole on eBay supposed to be lucky. Serious business I'm going to tell you what you need to do you need to go to Africa and find one of those witch doctors and get them to do a spell on you and your fishing pole in your gear and everything and show them a picture of a catfish like you want to catch and they're going to do some black witch magic and you're going to get lucky and you're going to catch that damn fish.

Just wait till you got the big big bait on there and something finally actually takes it and it breaks the line like nothing. your not going to feel great about that. I caught alive 8 foot alligator on rod and reel but at the same time I've had a big big big bait on there and some fish took it and just broke the line like nothing.

lmao im dying

im using my gar gear, i have 3 heavy spinning reels with 100 pound braid and baitrunners, the same gear has caught me amberjack and grouper up to 100 pounds i think i should be okay for big catfish as long as i can keep them out of the snags which from a kayak is easier said than done.

Research lake and river records to see where big fish are caught fairly consistently. I don't like using carp, I prefer large shad, cut for blues, and live for flatheads, simply because they are more prevalent as their nature food source. Go to circle hooks and offset them, remember not to try to set them. Always snelled, ending with the main line out the point side. If you are drifting with your lines out a ways the the balloon will help. From a kayak you can drop straight down then roll up a few rounds to get it off the bottom. The Steve Douglas videos on YouTube will give you a crash course in cat fishing basics. Granted, all predator fish all follow some simple patterns, but each also has their own particularities. Steve covers a lot of those things.

I started cat fishing heavily about a year and a half ago because someone told me I couldn't catch a 20 pounder from the bank within 30 days. I had a 22 in a week. At that point I became a reformed bass fisherman. lol Once I felt the monster on the line I was hooked. I then set my sights for a 30 but I caught one between 65-70. So I guess I'm after one over 75 now. This is all from the bank, and now I have to find a boat to really pursue the monsters. I do consistently catch fish over 25 now, but I want a beast!!