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Best catfishing gear

catfish-200x148.jpgQ. What’s the best gear for fishing in rivers for catfish?

— Adam the Angler, Fox River Grove, Ill.

A. Now that’s the perfect summertime question. To answer it, I called my buddy Jimbo Meador, a legendary fishing guide from Point Clear, Ala. Here’s what he had to say:

“I grew up catching catfish on limb lines. Just find some low hanging tree limbs that hang right out over the river. Tie one or more lines on the limb and bait the hooks with cut bait. Cut up fish, eel, crawfish, or even cheese will work.

“If there’s current in the river put a little weight on your line, like some splitshot. Then let it sit. When you see the limb shaking you know you’ve got a catfish.

“I’ve caught plenty of catfish on a pole and line but you catch them way better at night, and with the limb line you can set your lines then be off doing something else while you’re catching fish — like maybe even sleeping. Then you can wake up to catfish and grits!”


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24 Comments on Best catfishing gear

  1. crumbycakes // July 28, 2014 at 6:09 pm // Reply

    Try cutting up hotdogs and putting them in a baggie with garlic and salt. always does the trick for us

  2. chicken livers work good but it falls off

  3. fish slayer // July 28, 2009 at 5:36 pm // Reply

    well thanks im gonna try that tonight with my brother….and the best bait i hear are chicken livers

  4. i use open face

  5. fish master // July 26, 2009 at 7:18 am // Reply

    my dad yoused it as a kid and caught snapin turtle

  6. what is better a bait caster or a open face real?

  7. oh and chicken livers do work good
    thats how i catch my cat
    ive cought a 25 pounder and got in outdoors news

  8. When I fish the river and come up on these “limb lines” I cut em up. Where I come from people like to set up 100’s of lines on the river and only remember a few at a time. It kills fish unnecessarily and causes unwanted mess. My advice for anyone doin this is to make sure you watch your lines closely, don’t let them sit for days at a time.

  9. fish master // August 29, 2008 at 2:06 pm // Reply

    hey, another tip is to use chicken liver to catch fish.you can get it at any supermarket, it usually comes frozen and is very smelly (thats great for catfish) so wwatch where you put it

  10. good tips. the next time i go fishing for catfish i will use limb lines and the tips you gave me.

  11. fish master // July 20, 2008 at 12:17 pm // Reply

    this is for noulin, the reason you didn’t catch any catfish with a worm is because catfish are bottom feeders. You need smelly like cheese or shrimp (basically any thing like leftover chicken from supper)

  12. limb lines are illegal in some areas check your local laws before using them

  13. catfishman320 // June 25, 2008 at 3:42 pm // Reply

    great advice! Me and my grandpa go fishing all the time and that is some of the same exact things we do.thanks now i can teach my friends

  14. Thanks Gear Guy,i look forward to using it next time i fish.Oh yeah try using liver too.

  15. Deer Hunter 14 // May 28, 2008 at 12:10 pm // Reply

    Thats a good tip but catfish in our pond dont like cut bait wierd huh i use hotdog to catch catfish but i cant get brim to quit taking my hotdog

  16. thanks have to try that

  17. hey what will work for fishing on the bank for catfish and how far out do i throw the line out i went catfishing yesterday and cot dram insted of catfish we were using worms why was we not cathing catfish.

  18. Limb lines work great, but they take out some of the fun of reeling a 20 pounder. but if you are desprate and only want food, limb lines are the way to go. Oh yea, try bits of hotdog for carp and catfish!

  19. Cool tip, I will try that next time I am camping by a lake or stream.

  20. Juniata Boy // April 19, 2008 at 9:33 am // Reply

    Thanks for the tips, Looking forward to trying this on the Juniata River this summer.

  21. I love fishing so this is a great help!

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