Terminal Tackle

I’ll start by saying, I am committed to the catch and release of trophy catfish! This is why I only use circle hooks for catfishing, as they greatly reduce the number of gut hooked fish. This means a much better chance for survival once the fish is released. There are other big advantages to circle hooks though. One is that the fish hook themselves! This is especially helpful when you are fishing with several rods at the same time. However, circle hooks take some getting used to. You have to learn to resist your natural instinct to set the hook when you see a rod bend over. Doing so will just pull the hook out of the fishes mouth. I prefer a circle hook that is offset, and one that has a wide gap. I believe this improves the hookup ratio. Hook size should be matched to the size of your bait. For the kinds of bait I use, I normally use a 7/0 to 10/0 hook. Some good brands are Gamakatsu and Charlie Brown.
As for other terminal tackle, Just be sure that it is up to the task! Swivels have lb-test ratings on them, so don’t cheap out and buy the flimsy lightweight ones! I have had swivels break before! So remember, a big cat is going to put every piece of your equipment to the test…and if you have a weak spot, it WILL be exposed! For more information on terminal tacke, see my videos on how to tie rigs.