Beyond the Basics: 3 Catfish Rigs for Serious Anglers
The simple slip-sinker rig is the foundation of catfishing, but it has its limitations. What if the bottom is covered in snags? What if the fish are suspended off the bottom? What if you need to cover miles of water to find them? That’s when you need to go beyond the basics. These three advanced rigs are designed to solve specific problems and will dramatically increase your catch rate once you learn when and how to use them.
Rig #1: The Santee Cooper Rig – The Standard for Trophy Blues
This rig, born on the Santee Cooper lakes of South Carolina, is the go-to setup for virtually every serious blue catfish angler in the country. It’s a modification of the slip-sinker rig designed to lift your bait a few inches off the bottom, making it more visible and keeping it out of the muck and away from bait-stealing turtles.
How to Tie and Use It
- On your main line, thread on a sinker slide, followed by a plastic bead to protect your knot.
- Tie your main line to one end of a heavy-duty barrel swivel.
- To the other end of the swivel, tie a 12- to 36-inch leader of heavy monofilament or fluorocarbon.
- On the leader, about 2-4 inches above your hook, peg a small cigar-style float. This is the key component that lifts the bait.
- Tie on a large circle hook.
When you cast this rig out, the weight goes to the bottom, but the float lifts your cut bait up just enough to flutter enticingly in the current, right in the strike zone of a big blue cat.
Rig #2: The Slip Bobber Rig – For Precise Depth Control
When you know fish are holding at a specific depth—like suspended in the branches of a submerged tree or along a steep bluff wall—the slip bobber rig is the most precise tool for the job. It allows you to suspend a bait at any depth you choose while still being easy to cast.
How to Tie and Use It
- On your main line, thread on a bobber stop and a small plastic bead.
- Slide on your slip bobber (a tall, thin float is best).
- Tie on a hook and add a 1 to 3-ounce egg sinker above the hook or use a heavy jig head.
You can slide the bobber stop up or down your line to set the exact depth. When you cast, the weight pulls the line through the float until it hits the stop, perfectly suspending your bait right where you want it.
Rig #3: The Drifting Rig – For Covering Water
When catfish are scattered over a large, flat area and not concentrated on specific structure, drifting is the best way to find them. This requires a rig that won’t constantly snag on the bottom.
How to Tie and Use It
This is a variation of a three-way rig. Tie a three-way swivel to your main line. To the bottom loop, tie a short 8-inch dropper line and attach a “slinky weight” or a length of chain—these snag-resistant weights will drag along the bottom. To the back loop, tie a 24-inch leader and your hook. As you drift, the weight will bounce along the bottom while your bait floats just behind and above it, covering ground and attracting bites.
The Small Details That Make a Big Difference
Want to take it to the next level? Try adding a small rattling lure or some beads on your leader for extra sound and vibration. And for circle hooks, always use a “snell” knot. It creates a straight-line pull that dramatically improves your hook-up ratio.
Mastering these setups will give you a tool for any situation and help you catch the freshwater giants we talk about in our Guide to Catfish Fishing.
-Captain Sal
