How to Set Up a Catfish Rig That Actually Catches Fish

Catfish rigs have gotten complicated with all the specialty terminal tackle and regional variations flying around. As someone who grew up bank fishing for channel cats with my grandfather using nothing but a treble hook and chicken liver, I learned everything there is to know about what works and what is just overcomplicating things. Today, I will share it all with you.

Here is what took me years to figure out: catfish are not complicated. They live on the bottom, they eat by smell, and they are not picky. The rig just needs to get your bait to the bottom and let the fish eat without feeling resistance. That is really the whole game.

The Slip Sinker Rig — Start Here and Maybe Never Leave

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The slip sinker rig is the most effective catfish setup I have ever used, and it is dead simple. Slide an egg sinker onto your main line. Add a bead. Tie on a barrel swivel. Attach a leader of 12-18 inches and tie on your hook. Done.

The beauty of this rig is that the sinker slides freely on the line. When a catfish picks up your bait, it can swim off without feeling the weight. By the time you feel the bite and set the hook, that fish has the bait well inside its mouth. I have caught more catfish on this rig than every other setup combined.

The Carolina Rig — Slip Sinker’s Fancier Cousin

Same concept as the slip sinker but with a bead between the weight and the swivel to protect the knot from getting beaten up. Some anglers also use a slightly longer leader so the bait floats up off the bottom a few inches. This reduces snags and puts the bait right at eye level for cruising catfish. Works beautifully in deeper water.

Three-Way Rig — For When Current Wants to Ruin Your Day

Fast current calls for a three-way swivel setup. Main line on one eye, leader and hook on another, and a dropper line with a sinker on the third. The sinker holds bottom while your bait suspends above the rocks and debris. This is my go-to for river fishing where a standard slip sinker just gets dragged downstream.

The Kentucky Rig — Multiple Depths at Once

Dropper loops on your main leader let you fish multiple hooks at different depths. Tie a sinker at the bottom to keep everything vertical. This is effective in deep rivers and reservoirs where you are not sure exactly what depth the catfish are holding at. Let the fish tell you which depth they prefer.

Picking the Right Hook

This matters more than most catfish anglers realize. Circle hooks are my default now — they hook in the corner of the mouth almost every time, which is better for the fish if you are releasing them and better for you because deep-hooked catfish are a nightmare to deal with. J-hooks work if you prefer to set the hook yourself. Treble hooks hold dough baits and stink baits in place better than anything else.

That’s what makes catfish rigging endearing to us catfish chasers — small tweaks to your terminal tackle can completely change your catch rate.

Bait Selection — What Actually Works

• Live Bait: Cut shad, live bluegill (where legal), and nightcrawlers are hard to beat. Live bait produces the biggest fish in my experience.
• Cut Bait: Chunks of shad, herring, or skipjack. The blood and oil in the water draws catfish from a distance. This is my top producer for channel cats.
• Stink Bait: Cheese-based dips and dough baits smell terrible but catch fish. Best on treble hooks. Not for the squeamish.

Building Each Rig Step by Step

Slip Sinker Rig

Thread your main line through an egg sinker. Add a small bead. Tie to a barrel swivel. Cut a leader 12-18 inches long, tie one end to the swivel and the other to your hook. Adjust sinker weight for current — heavier in rivers, lighter in still water.

Carolina Rig

Same as above, but make sure that bead sits between the sinker and swivel. Use a slightly longer leader if you want the bait floating higher off the bottom. A small foam float on the leader near the hook can lift your bait even more.

Three-Way Rig

Tie your main line to one ring of the three-way swivel. Tie a 2-foot leader to the second ring and attach your hook. Tie a shorter dropper (about 12 inches) to the third ring and attach a bell sinker heavy enough to hold bottom in the current.

Kentucky Rig

Tie dropper loops along your leader at 18-inch intervals. Attach hooks to each loop. Tie a heavy sinker at the bottom end. The hooks fish at different depths, letting you find where catfish are feeding in the water column.

Adapting to Conditions

• Heavy Current: Go heavier on sinkers. Use three-way rigs to keep bait in the strike zone.
• Deep Water: Longer leaders help bait reach catfish in their comfort zone. Kentucky rigs cover multiple depths.
• Murky Water: Smellier baits work better when visibility is low. Catfish rely on scent heavily.

Common Mistakes I See All the Time

• Wrong Hook Size: Too big and you miss bites. Too small and it does not hold. Match the hook to both your bait and your target fish.
• Bad Knots: A weak knot will cost you fish. Learn the Palomar and the improved clinch. Practice them.
• Not Adjusting: If your rig is not getting bites after 30 minutes, change something. Different depth, different bait, different location. Do not just sit there hoping.