Main line: Monofilament or braided line spooled onto a fishing reel. Big catfish are legendary for their strength, fight, and death rolls, and quality main line is crucial for landing trophy fish.
Catfish baits: Any live, dead, cut, whole, natural, or artificial food used to attract fish.
Lure: Any artificial product used to simulate the movement, sound, and/or color of prey. Lures add sound and vibration to catfish rigs and trigger sensitive nerves on the catfish lateral line to increase bites.
Hook: The terminal end of a catfish rig is used for holding bait and hooking big catfish when they bite. The most common varieties are circle hooks, treble hooks, and J-style hooks.
Swivel: A device used to separate the main line (reel) and a leader; preventing the current or action of catfish rigs from twisting the main line. Swivels also enable anglers to easily swap leader materials for changing conditions.
Snap: A simple device that allows quick and easy modification of catfish rigs. Snaps come with or without a swivel attached and open and close without tools and without having to re-tie your catfish rig.
Sinker: A lead weight used to sink catfish rigs below the water’s surface and/or hold them in position on the bottom
Sinker slide: A plastic sleeve that can be used to quickly change sinker types and weights without cutting and re-tying the main line.
Leader: Any secondary line connected to the main line, which a catfish rig can be attached. Leaders are typically a foot or more in length depending on conditions.
Float: An inline foam device or bobber used on catfish rigs to suspend lures, hooks, and catfish baits off the bottom, out of snags, and in the strike zone.
Rattle (versa): An artificial device used to mimic the sound of wounded baitfish and attract predator fish.
Bead: A small device used to add color or flash to a catfish rig and to protect knots from abrasion.