LIMBLINING

Center Fire · 03-23-2005, 07:26 PM

I have just discovered a new catfishing tactic...LIMBLINING! I have heard that it can catch many big catfish and was wondering if anyone can give me some equipment ideas.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

Champlain Islander · 03-24-2005, 09:04 AM

Sounds like another name for Yo yoing or possibly trot line.

Center Fire · 03-24-2005, 03:52 PM

Limblining is when you tie a whole bunch of fishing line to different trees using many different baits. When you check your lines(4-6 hours later) and they are really strait there is probably a cat fish on the other end. I was wondering if anyone knows some gear options.

Champlain Islander · 03-25-2005, 08:38 AM

My great uncle, since deceased, once told me that he fished them that way. He insisted that you had to tie off on a cedar tree because they were strong and wouldn't break. Apparently when the cat takes the bait he pulls down on the limb and the pressure actually hooks the fish and he just stays there until you come to check the lines. They used to do that along ledges where the water is deep right off shore and the cedar trees hang out over the water. There are lots of places like that on Champlain. I am not sure what he used for bait but my guess is that it was cut bait like bluegills.

bearklr · 03-25-2005, 08:48 AM

Yeah, I have seen some articles on this. Most of the time they do use a type of cutbait but I would imagine any catfish bait that would stay on the hook for awhile would work. They also said that you can use an old bicycle tire tube as a type of shock absorber. Tie about three feet of line to a thick strong limb, then tie the innertube to the end of the line. Then tie the rest of the line to the other end of the tube, bait your hook, and toss it out. The stretch in the tube will provide some give for larger catfish so they don't pull the hook.

Mod70 · 03-27-2005, 11:14 AM

I limb line every summer in the river south of my house. I use willow limbs cut to about 8' in length. I also use 1" PVC pipe the same length. I push these poles into the river bed to where the bait will stay into the deep holes I find in the river. I will lose a pole every now and then but I usually find it tangled up in the brush a week or so later . Keep your bait off the bottom and use enough weight so the bait won't be carried to the top by the current.

RiverBottomBowHunter · 03-31-2005, 01:24 PM

I don't limbline, but I do fish with the 1" pvc poles. We make them our selves. We set up about 45 or so in the evening. We bait up with some big bluegill or bullhead. When we check in the morning we usually have some dandies.

If you want to catch big cats, you need to use big bait.