RustyOlRanger4x4

I dont know if its a regional thing or not but where I live we set out trotlines to catch catfish and Im wondering what yall use? I just made me a new one and set it out last night it had 22 hooks and was about 25' long but when I checked it this morning I could tell where I lost quiet a few catfish that has been hooked, it appears they pretty much just rolled around till the hooks popped out im useing 5/0 Mustad Live Bait Hooks and im curious would a circle hook maby increase my catch rate? Or is there something else I should try? And what are ya`ll useing for bait? Ive been hearing chicken livers forever and I finally decided to try a few and that was a waste of time it was like trying to hook jello, But for the most part I just use shrimp.
Thanks,sean

RustyOlRanger4x4

heres my troutline its not a super detailed picture but you can see I even used swivels but it looks like several of the fish I would have caught wrapped their self around the main line till there was nothing else to twist then got loose.

PABowhntr

Maybe this is a stupid question but why do you call them troutlines if you are fishing for catfish?

RustyOlRanger4x4

I honestly have no idea and have wondered that my self many times? But thats what everyone calls them so thats also what I call them. Maby they were originally used for trout somewhere?

PABowhntr

Probably, but I guess it could also be possible that folks might have used small, dead trout as bait for catties?

Guss

I have never used on or even caught a cat fish but I think they are called TROT LINES. Trot like, a horse trots down the road. Would be coot be able to set those and in the am have all kinds of fish for the grill or pan.

RustyOlRanger4x4

They work good im just looking for ways to improve my catch rate, I think checking it more often would help some as well. I set it at 8pm last night and checked it at 6:30am this morning and had 3 decent catfish and had lost several others and I used a bait I diddent like (chicken liver) they were useless but I re set it tonight with different bait and ill check it again about midnight

RustyOlRanger4x4

I just looked it up and You are correct it is Trot lines ive called them "trout lines" as far back as I can remember but thanks for the heads up its always good to use the correct name on something.

gonzodemon

I fish extensivly for cats on the Sabine river here in East Texas. If you will use a swivel at either the hook or the line end of your staging you will decrease the number of twist offs that occur . I prefer to use 4 aught eagle claw stainless steel hook and an 18 inch staging placing a weight about every 6 hooks or so let the weight staging be about 8 inches longer than the hook staging. this will allow the bait to be just slightly off the bottom. and will result in a better catch.

PABowhntr

Thanks for the clarification. That makes even more sense that what was posted earlier. Now I won't look like too much of an idiot when I mention this issue to some of my fishing buddies.