Catfish tackle

[Neil]

Would my big eel tackle be ok for cats?
I use carp rods 2 1/2lb test and use 12 and 15lb line.
Hooks size 2 to 4 and quicksilver hooklink.

Cheapskate angler

[Neil]

What sort of a scrap do they put up?
And is it true they can swim backwards like eels?
Cheapskate angler<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Neil on 09/01/01 01:19 PM.</FONT></P>

[rhornegold]

Neil,
They are the hardest of all fighters,but on the bank lay very still unless they have been tubed up all night.
Hook sizes tend to be 4s, 2s, 1-0s and 2-0s, you would need to use a butt section for the winch rig on some waters.

Bob Hornegold

[rhornegold]

O.K. I will bash it out on word first and post when complete.

Bob Hornegold

[Billyo]

Bob,

Watch those funny characters when pasting into a web form. If you have problems, open it in NOTEPAD first and then copy & paste to the forum.

Ian will tell you the problems he's had with this /images/forum/icons/smile.gif

Bill.

[scorpio]

Excellent Bob, we use a similar method in sea fishing, do you use a shockleader as you are hitting out a 4oz lead?

Tony

[CarponlineEditor]

Blimey mind boggling stuff lol I am going to copy this bit and try to work it out later. Brilliant info though.

[rhornegold]

Tony,
No I dont use a shock leader with this rig as it is important to have the rigs free running and I feel the joining of the lines could create a stopping effect.
With 15lb line I have never had a problem but you must take care, after a nights cat fishing the rigs are taken off and the line walked down the road until the spool is empty.
They are then rewound to take out all of the spin from the line, Chris Edmonds and myself found that if this was not done after each trip any line would be useless after 2or 3 trips.
I have found that cats do not mind resistance as long as it is constant i.e. having the baitrunners engaged, but the slightest snagging and the will drop the bait.
The thing are so bl--dy difficult to hook that you dont want to give them any help.

Bob Hornegold

[scorpio]

I hate to dissagree with you Bob, being such an experienced angler, but a 4oz lead needs a 40lb shock leader, the reason I feel so strongly about this is that I lost a good friend 12 years ago on a beach when a 6oz lead cracked off and embedded itself in his head....the angler was using 30lb line, I was the one to tell his mother what had happened.

For anyone out there "PLEASE" use a shock leader when casting heavy weights, you need 10lb per ounce. Of course I am talking beach casting here where we launch 5oz leads in excess of 200 yards with a South African or pendulum cast but... just be careful and if there is anyone fishing to your right, don't attempt a full blooded cast.

Tony

[rhornegold]

Tony,
As I said you have too take care, when I use a 5ozs leads for long range carp fishing I do use a 45+lb shock leader.
The point is the lead on a winch rig is used to tow out another line and is much more of a lob than a power cast.
The other reason for using a heavy weight is to hold bottom without spooking the cats when they strike.
Ian asked me to explain the winch rig as it exist not the rights or wrongs of shock leaders.
I will let you take that up with the cat fishing groups.

Bob Hornegold

[Billyo]

Bob,

Would you mind if we posted this elsewhere on the website ? It'd be easier for people to find if we placed it under Tried & Tested or one of the other sections...

Bill.

[rhornegold]

Billyo,
No I do not mind, place it where you think it will be of the most use to other members.

Bob Hornegold