I went catfishing on the 20th of december and was casting for bait. After the 2nd or third cast, we came up with about a five pound buffalo. I fleeced it out and used it for cut bait. We caught 51 catfish from daylight, til about 10:30 in the morning.

I have caught one buffalo, by accident, fishing below the dam on the river side at Lake Livingston. I contacted Jason with Buffaloadventures and he directed me to this forum.

I'm going to throw some jugs here in the next day or night and would like to do some rod and reel fishing for buffalo. What I need is, the basic info. I'll be fishing where we caught it in the cast net in about 10-12 feet of water, while my jugs are soaking.

I have some range cubes and I'll buy some sweet corn. How often do I chum and what size rod and what pound line do I use. I've seen the rigs ya'll use and I'll try to duplicate the best I can. I just want to catch a couple for bait.

How long does it take, if they are in the area, to discover the chum??? Should I relocate after so long?? I know the buffalo are in here and I want to give it a shot at catching some.

We also caught what looked ike about a one pound carp in the cast net, but we let it go. I just keep what I need. I kept casting for gizzard shad to see what worked best and the buffalo out performed the shad.

My pics are in the Catfish Lounge under the 12-20-08 Lake Livingston report. Thanks

I guess I should have checked the catfish section here. There is some guy there asking the same question and recieved a few responses. Any additional help would be appreciated. I guess this could be called a crash course in fishing for buffalo.

I'm sure this is basic to alot of you, but i truly don't have a clue. I would read the archive and will when time permits, but right now, we are headed to town to do some shopping.

I'll check back here when we return. Worse comes to worse, I guess I could just chum an area and sling a cast net over it after a little while. I also hear Fishermans Pride in Trinity carries buffalo.

I'd really like to catch one on rod and reel though and am going to try my best.

I sell Lures and Rigs for Gar, Carp, and Buffalo. My Rigs work awesome for Buffs, as I have tested them for the past 2 years with great success.

For baits, if you use Maize on a hair Rig (maize is deer corn that is boiled for 30 minutes, and soaked in water for 24 hours). For buffs I like to flavor the maize to be really sweet and have a strawberry flavor. Buffs love sweet!

On Chumming, this time of year it's best not to over chum. But not to worry if you do, it's hard to over feed buffalo. A few hand fulls every hour should do fine. But in warmer weather pile in the bait.

Link: http://www.snaggletoothluresandrigs.com/

Dustin

sweet corn, size 6 hook, carolina rig, loose drag. Chum half a can to a whole can when you get there and a few handfulls every 30 to 45 minutes. Put 3 to 6 kernals on a hook. Secure your rod. On a whole I'm sure we carp fishermen here on the TFF have lost more than a dozen rods in the past year or two.

I like to use gamakatsu octopus circle hooks or owner light mutus. Those hooks can be found in the salt water hook section at bass pro. And yes, I said size 6 not size 6/0. A lot of people freak when they realize we use such little hooks.

If you want to use the range cubes, throw out about a pound or two when you get there. They'll most likely take an hour or two or three to break down depending on the protein content and the water temp.

Oh and judging by your screen name, you appreciate the awesome Alligator Gar. Go ahead and sign this while you're at it so we can help save these monsters.

Just remember to throw the 20+ pound fish back! Keep just the small ones. (please).

Thanks,
Brian

I just got back from Beaumont and I went by Gander Mountain and bought some number 6 hooks. I couldn't find any circle hooks, so I got what the had.

That right there is the info. I needed. I appreciate it a whole lot. I'm thinking of using my Ambassadeur 6500s and just setting the bait clicker on, would that work???? Or do I need to do as you said and loosen the drag??

I'm pretty fired up and ready to give this a shot. I bet it is fun hanging into a big ol buffalo. Oh and don't worry, I'm not a trophy keeper. I'll take some pics and ease them back from where they came. I'm looking for the smaller variety. Just what I need to bait my hooks.

Thanks again.

You'll want to play with the drag when you are playing the fish for a few reasons. 1. you could straighten the hook 2. you could pull the hook 3. you'll have a better chance of getting them in if you let em run when they want and not horse em in.