Various accessory gear

[Allen Morgan]

I carry a *wide* range of stuff to chase Catfish with.  Here's a few pics to give you an idea.

Catfish "bells".  I prefer this type, over the copper bells that clip onto the end of your pole.  I tend to loose the copper bells setting the hook or during the fight.  These bells, however, are clamped on with, pressure applied by that piece of plastic closest to the two springs.  It screws down to tighten the clamp.

The quirky thing is that I don't really use these for catfishing.  I use these on rods that I troll with while in my kayak.  The vibrations of the lure will set one or both of the bells into a soft, tingtingting as the lure works.  I can tell by ear if I'm going too slow, too fast, etc. 

This is my plano box for catfish tackle.  All sorts of things.  Various sizes of swivels, even three-way swivels.  Various sizes of split shot and a couple bank sinkers (I usually keep bank sinkers on hoops of wire, and take several pounds of weights with me to snaggy areas).  Various plastic beads for bobber stops and slip-rigs.  Some crawler harnesses modified for catfish (bigger hooks, blades, and line), which I've never actually used.  Various bobber stops (I fish a lot of slip-floats).  Some lithium-battery LED lights with rubber sleeves for night fishing.  A cheap thing of panty hose in case I break down and use chicken liver for bait.  The hooks and jig is just stuff that I've picked up over the years, things that people set down in the dark and never picked back up.

Various floats from my backpack.  I have some more inside my closet that I'll try and post up soon.  Notice the penny; it'll give you an idea of the SIZE of floats I'm using.  Yes, the two on the right are damaged.  Still usable, but damaged.  I haven't had a need for a float like that since I moved up to Michigan.  I typically used those on my surf rod.  Same with the two on the left.  The balsa float on the far left will actually hold up 2 oz of weight, if I remember right.  I have some that will hold up 3 oz or more.  The float in the center is a 1 1/4" (I think, maybe 1 1/2") styrofoam pear float.  That size, in a few different color schemes, is a workhorse for me.  It works good with most of the catfish rods I have.

Now, I was targetting decent-sized catfish, 5 - 10 lbs, or even bigger.  Some of you all that target Bullheads will probably want to little pear float, and maybe even in a smaller size, say a 3/4".

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Nice! I have me a cat box too
Lol

[John Sheehan]

I use to set out three rods with bells for bullheads at dusk . Had too many swallow the size1 Baitholder hook covered with a hot dog .I since use one rod and set the hook myself and have very few swallowed.

I have never used a float for Bullheads and Channel Cats or White Cats (the largest Bullhead of the family)

Very creative trolling application!

[John Sheehan]

You guys use rear clicker drags on rods ? I want to hold one rod and set one down using rear Clicker .Haven't tried that yet . Went Bullhead fishing once this year; yesterday in fact. ;got 3 Brown BHeads and 1 Yellow Bhead using Hotdog chunks dipped in chicken liver blood. They were only 8-10" I caught using two separate Combos once at a time .1 hook swallowed ,line cut and released, 3 released well.

[Allen Morgan]

"Rear Clicker drags"??  You mean a bait clicker like on a Abu Garcia 7000 baitcaster?  Or just a spinning reel that has the drag adjustment at the rear instead of the front?

[John Sheehan]

Yes a spinning reel with a rear drag Clicker . I have two; a Sigma and a Lews.Gonna try using two poles this way with one on the RD clicker reel, the other hand held . Not using Baitcasters when Catfishing /Bullheads fishing . 

[Allen Morgan]

I have an Okuma Avenger ABF 65 spinning reel that has a bait clicker.  Love that thing.  It's a little big for Bullheads, but Channels, Blues, and Flatheads it's perfect.

[John Sheehan]

Thanks Allen -That does look like a cool reel !  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpMx5_IIr28 I like the adjustable  bait feeder rear drag with pre set Front drag combination !Good price too!  I can see myself possibly going for the ABF-40b.   https://www.fishusa.com/Okuma-Avenger-ABF-B-Series-Baitfeeder-Spinn...

[Allen Morgan]

It is a *very* nice reel!  I've landed several decent catfish with it, and even did battle with a leviathan Blue Catfish the went somewhere between 50 and 80 lbs (closer to 80).  That reel hasn't failed me yet.

If I ever move back to OK and return to my old stomping grounds, I might just upgrade to an Okuma Avenger ABF-90 size reel.  Same clicker setup, but a bigger reel, bigger spool, should give me a little more distance on casting.