I know this is a long question, and I appreciate your help. I need some help with 'rigs.' I am an experienced fisherman, both salt and freshwater, but a newbe when it comes to catfishing. I have plenty of hooks, swivels, and 75-100 barrel weights from 1/4-1 ounce. what I think I need are some different types of weights. I know I need some type of floats and stops (for bottom rigs) and maybe some type of floats for 'suspended' fishing. I'm a teacher and this christmas break I plan on rmaking several rigs of each kind. I will be targeting both channels and blues, of any size. At this time I'll be bank, both lake and river, fishing, but will soon be purchasing a boat.

Would you please advise me of the type rigs that you would recommend?

Would you please advise me what floats stops and weights that you advise me to purchase? Please be specific as to size or weight.

I will try to catch bait, but would also appreciate your suggestion for bait. that can be bought.

If a sponsor would chime in, I will buy from him. If not I will buy from either Academy or Bass Pro.

Again, please be specific as I am truley a newbee!

Thanks, capt david

From the bank I use a 3 way rig. With a bank sinker and cigar floats between the hook and swivel

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...Way#Post6888858

Good source for weights, hooks, floats: http://bottomdwellerstackle.com/

Catfishingtv.com
Very helpful
Cigar float should be pegged about 4 inches from the bait

I use the Santee cooper rig mainly. 8/0 gamagatsu octopus circle hook with a snell knot. 3" above the hook, on the leader, I use a 2" cigar style peg float. Moat of us use leaders between 18" and 24" but some days you will want to expiriment with length. Above the swivel, I use 2 oz or 3oz no roll sinkers. You can also use a Carolina rig, but I have better luck with a Santee cooper. If that is confusing, think of a Santee cooper as a Carolina rig with the float by the hook.

Here is what I use, I hope this helps ya in some way seeing pictures.
Here is what it looks like--

Here it is closer---


I put a 2 oz no roll weight on the main line, 2 beads that I got from the walmart craft section to help protect the knot, some use bumpers instead of beads. Then a Palomar knot to the swivel.
Then another Palomar knot to connect the leader to the swivel.
I use 30lb main line with a 50 lb leader, this is just personal preference, it differs with different fisherman.

The way it should work is when the weight is sitting an the bottom, the peg float lifts the bait above the bottom, you can fix the float for different depths above the bottom.
I use a snelled circle hook for the business end.
I hope this gives you a better idea.

Click the link in my signature. Pro Angler sells all the terminal tackle you need. Shipped to your door from right here in North Texas. I use the Santee Cooper and plain Carolina rig.

3-way with 5oz bank sinker....no float....the hook already hangs off the bottom

in a boat while drifting i like the santee cooper rig like the picture steveiam has shown, i prefer my cigar float closer to the hook, if i am bank fishing i like using the 3 way rig. check under the post Santee Cooper and 3 way rig and it will show you a good picture of both setups. I also like using a slip cork as well and let the wind drift the bait around. i target blue cats and my bait of choice is cut shad or cut perch. if you target channel cats and you are going to purchase something then get a good punch bait, i like Mr Wiskers but i hear that secret 7 works well.