| When fishing unfamiliar lakes, drift fishing is an | | | | slinky weight on the main line, then tied to a barrel |
| excellent way of locating fish. Make sure you have a | | | | swivel, with roughly a 36" leader, and a 6/0 to 8/0 |
| current map of the lake you are planning on fishing, | | | | circle hook tied to the leader. I find the circle hooks |
| and look for contour that has deeper channels | | | | are the best when drift fishing, because it will |
| adjacent to shallower water. Catfish will move shallow | | | | automatically set when trying to catch catfish. |
| during the night and dusk hours, but most of the | | | | Depending on wind speed, the use of at least one |
| time during the heat of the day they will be found in | | | | drift sock is typically always needed. A 10ft drift sock |
| deeper water. If your lake has channels that run near | | | | will hold up to a 25ft pontoon straight when drift |
| flats that are a few feet shallower then that can be | | | | fishing. |
| a great place to start. Also look for underwater | | | | If possible set your drift up so that you will drift |
| humps that can change the depth in the deeper | | | | across shallower water, through a channel, and back |
| water. | | | | into shallower water. This will give you a good range |
| The following is a typical set-up for drift fishing from | | | | of water depth when trying to catch catfish, so you |
| a pontoon. Generally six to eight rods is a good | | | | can find where they are biting at. Once you locate |
| number to drift with, although if you are new to drift | | | | some fish, then you can try adjusting your drift to |
| fishing then four rods may be a better way to go. | | | | capitalize on the water depth they are feeding at. If |
| Generally four rod holders across the front and two | | | | you haven't located some fish within the first 30 |
| on the side rails will provide you adequate cover | | | | minute drift, then try moving some and watching |
| when trying to catch catfish. Typically you want to | | | | your graph to locate feeding fish. Once you locate |
| rig your rods with 30lb line or heavier for drifting, this | | | | some feeding fish, you can continuously drift across |
| way if you hang a stump, the line is heavy enough to | | | | them and load your cooler up. Try this technique |
| come loose without popping. medium heavy to heavy | | | | when heading out to catch catfish, and after a few |
| rods in seven to eight foot length are a good rod to | | | | times you will find out what a joy drift fishing can be. |
| start with. The drift fishing rig I use is a 1 to 1.5oz | | | | |