Ok. I just started catfishing this year. Ive been having decent luck but mostly all the fish have been under 5lbs. I want to start catching bigger fish. What rig do yall recommend for bigger fish. I want to catch 30lbs+ size fish. I dont really care about anything under 10lbs.

What size hook?
Should it be a trebble hook or single?
what size weight?
how do i rig it all together?
how do you hook the cutbait on the hook?
Define cutbait, if ive got a whole perch how do i cut it? ive heard just cut the tail off.

Ive been using a tri-swivel with a short leader and single hook on one end and a longer leader with a 1 oz weight on the other. I tightline so the longer leader with the weight is on the bottom and the shorter leader with the hook is about 6" from the bottom.

Sorry about all the questions but this is all new to me. Bass fishing seems easy to me compared to catfishing now. Even with the 10,000 different lures to choose from for bass. lol

Obviously , there is a ton of info here at TFF....

Also here http://www.catfishing.tv/

cut-bait is just that ..... I use "perch" & get 5 or 6 pieces out of a hand size . I just use a sharp knife & take the tail off & cut some pieces out of the body .... I don't normally use the head

Use big gizzard shad or cut carp chunks. I like to use a carolina rig with a 2 oz (no-roll) weight and 40-50 lb leader and 30 lb main line. Also use 8/0 circle hooks to be able to put more bait on with a small float cork about 3-4 inches above the leader/hook. Fish in lakes that give you a better chance to catch those kind of catfish such as Lavon, Texoma, and RC. Good luck to you

I like to fish for big cats this time of year in 4to2 foot of water in vegetation with a float 1oz sinker and nothing less than 60lb braid for the mane line and 50lb mono for a foot leader as for hooks nothing under 4/0 some people go as big as 10. Some times it’s over kill but when you hook up with a 30+ in flooded grass and it looks like a weed whacker cam though you’ll know what I’m talking about. I’m thinking of going up to 100lb braid my dad hooked into something last week that was BIG broke than line almost instantly. The only bad thing is when you go over 60lb the line gets more expensive

flooded grass, downed timber or log jams and stick to shad, big shad! 5/0 circle....

Santee Cooper rig: 3 foot leader (40-50 lb saltwater mono) 8/0 TEAM CATFISH double action hooks, 2 inch cigar float 1 foot from leader, 1/0 swivel, with 65 lb power pro braid on reel. Tip with a nice palm size chunk of either gizzard shad (preferred) or big chunk of buffalo. Find a shallow flat near a creek channel with deep water nearby.

Solid advice. Try the heads too though. That's a good bait for me often times.

Thanks alot for the advice guys. Couple more questions and clarifications.

So going in order from the rod tip to the hook. its the weight, the swivel, the cork then the hook? Did I get that right? Around a 2-3' leader?

Do I have to catch the buffalo/carp to use as bait? or can I buy it?

When I tightline I put those copper bells on the rod tip to alert me of a hit when im fishing at night because I usually fish with more than one pole. What are your opinions on the bells?

If buying, try Fiesta or the Asian markets.

I imagine those bells would be ok for someone with normal hearing. But not for me. I haven't heard a bell of the type you described in over 40 years.

I use cyalume lights that attach to the pole and then I can detect movement in the dark.

Of course, after a case or two of Old Mil it looks like ALL the poles are moving. And the bushes and trees and boats and ........well, you get the idea!

When you cut up the bait do use the guts also?

I'm in exactly in your situation. In June I got interested in cat fishing instead of always bass fishing. I was also thinking that just a few good fish and I could stock a yrs worth of fish in my freezer. I got a cast net and I've been successful in catching shad....however, I have caught almost no fish. But, I'm so determined to get better and now I'm going to catch a bunch of shad first, then bass fish some spots..at the end of my day I'm going to find a spot and cat fish for a while.

I hate to say it, but a lot of your problem is in your timing if you are trying to catch the Blue's, because about the first part of June they start their spawn and they go up the creeks, and in the really thick stuff, or somewhere, if you watch the forum, you see people catching channel cats, but not many Blue's until about the middle of July when they come back, now you can catch Blue's, it is not a really good time to catch the big ones, but there are a few lucky people that do. Fishing is starting to get better, and if you are in the right place with some fresh cut shad & perch you will catch some Blue's!!!

There is a tom of information you can get here in the forum. But if all you are catching is the dinks then more than likely you are not fishing in the right spot. You might check out Tiny's post about catching blues in any lake here in the TFF.

LGA...I believe you are exactly right in that getting serious about catfishing in June is a bad idea...should be thinking cool fall and winter fishing. However, through 'hours on the water' I have learned a lot about catching/handling bait, and learning how to tie your R&R rig, so I'm in much better shape to fish efficiently. What I see and believe to be a good idea, is to put out about a half dozen jug lines, then go find some R&R fish.