I have two questions if anyone could help me out. What is the best knot to use when tying on hooks and sinkers on a catfish rig? Cause what i am tying on is snapping before i get the the full test potential of my line.

Number two-when i do my catfish rigs, it consists of just tying on a hook and sinker directly to the main line. I know there is a better and more sufficient way of rigging. Have just never been thought.

Thanks in advance guys!

I snell all my circle hooks.
If you look at the way it pulls through the hook, it is possible that it helps with hook set.

http://www.learntocatchcatfish.com/snell-knot/

Palomar knots hold well.
I used them sometimes for swivels.

http://www.fish4fun.com/palomarknot.htm

I even like the trilene knot a lot, I use it in spots where it is difficult to use a palomar.

http://www.animatedknots.com/trilene/

I always leave a little extra line hanging out, just in case of slippage. Not much.

As far a rigs, I mostly use the old standards, Chad Ferguson describes some of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7npSAH7iGc

Stinkbait Tom on this forum uses a different rig. A 3 way I think. He is one of the top guys on this forum, and is certainly not losing fish to his rigging method.

Your mileage will vary. But this is a start.

Youtube "santee cooper rig". I use a clinch knot. Google fishing knots and practice practice

I was taught to run the tag end of the line through the hook eye.... wrap it around the main line 4 times.... and put the tag end through the resulting loop (hole) twice... cinch down.

Don't know what it is called, but it works. There has got to be over a hundred fishing knots... I think making sure you tie a good knot is more important than the type of knot.

+1
This will do it for ya--

+2,

+2

I use a noose like for hanging. Its a perfect knot that is easy to time and dosnt pinch the line. I use it to tie everything from lures to bait rigs.

Learn to tie palomar, snell and dropper loops and that will cover 99% of your catfishing.

Palomar knot is what I use most of the time

Thanks to all of you for your excellent information and links. Such a big help. I tried several of the knots, and tested it on a scale, to see its breaking point.

using just a regular knot, on 20lb test, snapped at ten pounds of pressure. The knots you guess suggested that i tried. Jumped up to the full twenty before its breaking point. I never knew it made such a difference. All of those fish i coulda landed.........