Mr. Melhorn, I and other new aspiring anglers would appreciate it you did some budget gear videos for catfishing. I have not been fishing since I was 5 years old and want to get back into it and have little funds. Looking at all the expensive gear becomes overwhelming.
I had some leaders I made last night with 50 lb line and got snagged twice today.. lost my sinker, swivel, rattle float, and hook. It does add up if you're losing a few leaders a week. Almost 10 dollars everytime you get snagged lol gotta love high flow rivers. Went back to my 30 lb leaders shortly after
I fish in a lake with a lot of timber, both standing and sunken. I use 50 lb. braid and a 30 to 40 lb. Monofilament leader below a ball bearing swivel. Sinkers are put on with sinker slides above the swivel. Because the braid doesn’t stretch. I have never had any problems breaking the leader when hung up. I keep them pre made in the boat wit a stainless snap on the front end. When it gets broke off, I simply snap another on and go back to fishing.
I fish a lot in the James River. It often requires casting far distances from the bank to get into the channel. I find that a shorter leader (4-6 inches) really helps with casting distance. Catfish don't seem to be line shy.
@@rjwintl I find smallmouths to be finicky creatures and are very line sensitive. Smart buggers that aren’t as easily tricked as say LMB or catfish… Get you a long length of fluoro as a leader and the right lure and some luck and you’ll catch them. I’ve never been fishing for catfish and accidentally got hooked into a smallmouth… Lol
I use what I call upside down line only on o e rod and it is a pond rod. That rod is spooled with 70lb RUNCL braided line with a 50lb test Ande monofilament leader of anywhere from 18 inches to 36 inches. But on my other rods when I fish the Wabash I use 30lb test Ande main line and a 50lb test leader with a 24 to 36 inch leader because of snags the heavier line helps with abrasion and if one part of the leader gets too damaged I can just cut that part off and re tie the hook vs the whole leader.
As always, another great and informative video. Maybe you could comment in one of your videos about what minimum test line you can use for a targeted weight of a fish.
JUST A SUPER CHANNEL AND VIDEO,,, W O W .,,, WELL DONE 👍 ,,, THANK YOU FOR DEDICATION AND INFORMATIVE CHANNEL,,,, TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLAIN,, AN IMPORTANT LEADER ISSUE,, THAT WILL HELP THOUSANDS OF US,,, PLEASE 🥺 BE SAFE AND HEALTHY,,, TXS
Abrasion resistant braid is better than mono or fluoro. The mono/fluoro are more brittle, especially as it ages. When trying to purposefully cut braid, it’s much more difficult than mono/fluoro, in my experience. That said, m/f have more give and stretch than braid, which can be good in some circumstances but then you’ve also got to deal with line memory on m/f and not so much with braid. I always use braid as a main line and my leader changes with conditions and what I’m fishing for.
@@alfredliggins8510 depends on where I’m fishing and what for. Peaceful little lake where I’m fishing for bluegill and there’s not much of anything of size, 8-12lb test braid, no leader. Big lake with lots of structure and large fish, 20lb - 40lb braid, leader depends on fish I’m after, anywhere from 30lb fluoro to a small steel leader. Ohio River, I’m using 40-80lb braid, then leader is either 40lb braid or medium sized steel leader. My steel leaders are all coated in plastic.
I don't like using leader lines that are heavier than my main line because if anything breaks I want it to be only my leader line and hook that I lose not my whole rig. So for bullhead catfish I use a 30 lb test braid main line and a 20 lb test leader line, for channel catfish I use a 40 lb test braid main line and a 30 lb test leader line, and for flathead catfish and blue catfish I use a 50 lb test braid main line and a 40 lb test leader line.
Okay I got a question for you me and my brother we went out fishing bank fishing last weekend Friday and Saturday and we tried cut bait and chicken lover we threw out nothing got down from us caught a small 5 lb we stayed there for like 4 hours and nothing the next morning we moved down to the dam cast out we stayed about 4 to 5 hours nothing so I'm wondering if you know was it just it was fished out or was it the catfish in my area was spawning I talked to people around where I live and they all say different things how you know when is the best time to go catfishing in your area that's my question how you know when where and how in your area to go catfish
Also using heavy line can warp the reel spool when you try to break your snag line. Happy Fishing!
I do a three way swivel with a paperclip holding weight on third point to reduce lost rigs and save time for fishing.
Mr. Melhorn, I and other new aspiring anglers would appreciate it you did some budget gear videos for catfishing. I have not been fishing since I was 5 years old and want to get back into it and have little funds. Looking at all the expensive gear becomes overwhelming.
Hey buddy great stuff & thank you very much stopping in my stream this morning
I had some leaders I made last night with 50 lb line and got snagged twice today.. lost my sinker, swivel, rattle float, and hook. It does add up if you're losing a few leaders a week. Almost 10 dollars everytime you get snagged lol gotta love high flow rivers. Went back to my 30 lb leaders shortly after
I just stumbled upon your channel. You’re accent reminds me of home. Absolutely love your info. 🎣🐟
I fish in a lake with a lot of timber, both standing and sunken. I use 50 lb. braid and a 30 to 40 lb. Monofilament leader below a ball bearing swivel. Sinkers are put on with sinker slides above the swivel. Because the braid doesn’t stretch. I have never had any problems breaking the leader when hung up. I keep them pre made in the boat wit a stainless snap on the front end. When it gets broke off, I simply snap another on and go back to fishing.
Thank you for all you do to the catfishing world! You help a lot of new anglers.
I fish a lot in the James River. It often requires casting far distances from the bank to get into the channel. I find that a shorter leader (4-6 inches) really helps with casting distance. Catfish don't seem to be line shy.
Good to know !!! … Maidens or Watkins Landing , which is best for smallmouths ??
@@rjwintl I'm not even going to pretend to know. I'm primarily a catfish guy.
@@rjwintl I find smallmouths to be finicky creatures and are very line sensitive. Smart buggers that aren’t as easily tricked as say LMB or catfish… Get you a long length of fluoro as a leader and the right lure and some luck and you’ll catch them. I’ve never been fishing for catfish and accidentally got hooked into a smallmouth… Lol
I use what I call upside down line only on o e rod and it is a pond rod. That rod is spooled with 70lb RUNCL braided line with a 50lb test Ande monofilament leader of anywhere from 18 inches to 36 inches. But on my other rods when I fish the Wabash I use 30lb test Ande main line and a 50lb test leader with a 24 to 36 inch leader because of snags the heavier line helps with abrasion and if one part of the leader gets too damaged I can just cut that part off and re tie the hook vs the whole leader.
You can buy abrasion resistant braided line. I use that for leaders. (80 lbs test) I’ve never had any problems with it where I fish.
As always, another great and informative video. Maybe you could comment in one of your videos about what minimum test line you can use for a targeted weight of a fish.
JUST A SUPER CHANNEL AND VIDEO,,, W O W .,,, WELL DONE 👍 ,,, THANK YOU FOR DEDICATION AND INFORMATIVE CHANNEL,,,, TAKING THE TIME TO EXPLAIN,, AN IMPORTANT LEADER ISSUE,, THAT WILL HELP THOUSANDS OF US,,, PLEASE 🥺 BE SAFE AND HEALTHY,,, TXS
Good info Dieter, thank you sir!
Great tips Deiter
Abrasion resistant braid is better than mono or fluoro. The mono/fluoro are more brittle, especially as it ages. When trying to purposefully cut braid, it’s much more difficult than mono/fluoro, in my experience. That said, m/f have more give and stretch than braid, which can be good in some circumstances but then you’ve also got to deal with line memory on m/f and not so much with braid. I always use braid as a main line and my leader changes with conditions and what I’m fishing for.
How heavy braids do you use?
@@alfredliggins8510 depends on where I’m fishing and what for. Peaceful little lake where I’m fishing for bluegill and there’s not much of anything of size, 8-12lb test braid, no leader. Big lake with lots of structure and large fish, 20lb - 40lb braid, leader depends on fish I’m after, anywhere from 30lb fluoro to a small steel leader. Ohio River, I’m using 40-80lb braid, then leader is either 40lb braid or medium sized steel leader. My steel leaders are all coated in plastic.
I switched over to steel leaders. Where I fish there a lot of gare at times so now they don’t cut my line as easy and i can get them in.
Great information!
Was wondering the best rig from the bank fishing canal with lots of snags and current should I be using Santee rig
Very good
I don't like using leader lines that are heavier than my main line because if anything breaks I want it to be only my leader line and hook that I lose not my whole rig. So for bullhead catfish I use a 30 lb test braid main line and a 20 lb test leader line, for channel catfish I use a 40 lb test braid main line and a 30 lb test leader line, and for flathead catfish and blue catfish I use a 50 lb test braid main line and a 40 lb test leader line.
If you make it down towards the coast let's go hit the Neuse River... some good cats in there
Whats the difference between using wire or mono if they bite using either one leader line dont matter if its clear or not
A friend of mine uses green weed eater cord for his leader's.
I have tried to break 30lb line and i haven't even been able to break it and had to cut it.
All your videos are awesome
Okay I got a question for you me and my brother we went out fishing bank fishing last weekend Friday and Saturday and we tried cut bait and chicken lover we threw out nothing got down from us caught a small 5 lb we stayed there for like 4 hours and nothing the next morning we moved down to the dam cast out we stayed about 4 to 5 hours nothing so I'm wondering if you know was it just it was fished out or was it the catfish in my area was spawning I talked to people around where I live and they all say different things how you know when is the best time to go catfishing in your area that's my question how you know when where and how in your area to go catfish
Finally I see a good video
So should I youes 35 pound Braid then youes 20 pound Flora carbon as a leader
What are you using where you weight clips on at?
A donut sinker.
@@Degenerate124 I'm looking at the part at 43 seconds at the top of the screen on the main line where he clips on the drift sinker.
Whats up D keeping them cat lines tight