Catfishin newbie

[Dgallen]

I'm hitting up Cutler later this week to try some cats, I've never fished for them before so am sorta clueless. What is the easiest/most effective set up to use? Just use worms and then try to catch a carp to use as bait? Any and all help is greatly appreciated, you can reply by PM if you'd prefer. Thanks in advance
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[gufero]

Well I aint a catfishing pro but at UL and other lakes on the west coast they really love worms. I have caught more on a simple worm and bobber set up than anything else. Youll be suprised how huge a cat you can catch on one. Also fresh fish fillets or whole fish have done me very well esp for the big boys. (try poking them little in the gut to release some juices when using whole fish. FRESH IS DA BEST) hope this helps (Ask Tube dude hes awesome.) GOOD LUCK
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[Springbuck]

Carp chunks are a great idea, but the cats will hit the worms, too.

Basically, I use either a slip bobber and find a way to adjust it til the bait is hanging a few inches off the bottom, then adjust it a little at a time til I catch fish.

OR, I use a slip sinker with a couple feet of line and a hook with bait. You can then either leave your bail open and watch for l.ine to start slipping off the reel, or close the bail, be ready to haul back, and hope the cats have a pretty good grip on the bait.

OR, put a few glass beads or tiny sinkers right down by the hook and cast the bait "almost weightless" and let it sink. Then leave the line slack, but watch it and get ready for when the slack comes out.

Bait? Worms, chunks of carp, chubs, sucker meat, etc, dead minnows, shrimp that have been allowed to "ripen" slightly, dough baits, chicken or beef livers, raw crawdad tails, Fish egg sacs, canned smoked oysters, hotdog chunks, chicken skin, etc.. I think BEST is fish meat, or minnows...

That's all I know....
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Are you gonna fish from shore, or afloat? I've been[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/Utah_Fishing_Forum_C55/gforum.cgi?post=674536;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"] doing well [/url](see latest post - shows hook/bead/blade setups) with both shrimp and carp strips, but honestly - I seem to get more hits on fat crawlers. Be sure to cut them in half, or "spoil" an end so the juices flow.
I've been liking the octopus hooks, seem to get a good cheek-set and they rarely swallow it down.

Have tried on the bottom, or under bobber. I tend to fish real shallow (2-4ft) and set the bobber so it's just off the bottom, but as little resistance as possible. Plus I like indicator the bobber supplies.

On bottom - I like to set the drag WAY low, so I can hear the clicks - audible indicator. As indicated - they'll hit most anything. I've been adding some extra flavor after a shrimp has soaked for a while. Seems to fire them up.

PM me if you want more specifics. I may consider a Thur or Fri outing and likely have a spare spot in my little boat if you're interested. Pretty well guarantee to get on some nice channels.

[Coldfooter]

Float your offerings. Here at UL the bite as been best on shrimp for me this year. Usually its whitie or carp but things seems to have been a return to the 70's this year, not only in women's fashion, but the cat bite at UL also
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[Dgallen]

Thanks for all the advice. We'll be hitting it up from the shore. CoyoteSpinner, I actually sent you a PM last night, let me know if you didn't get one.....
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[Marathonman]

Beautiful lake. It averages about 4-5 ft deep. I went for the 1st time 2 weeks ago and zilched out. No bites. There was another boat that was fishing the weeds and I don't know if they got anything. The bank fishers didn't get anything either. I think you really have to know the water. Theres a ton of places to fish, i just wondered which would be a better place. Make sure you watch your tees. The f & g warden came checking.
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