Catfish are mainly bottom feeders, and can grow to be over 100 lbs. Be sure to use a fishing line that is strong enough to handle their power.
All the pros I could find, recommend either monofilament or braid.
Quick Look
- 20 lb. Test
- Best: Mono
- Also Good: Around 60 lb. Braid
- Leader: 20 lb. Mono
Why Monofilament Fishing Line For Catfish?
Mono fishing line is the top choice for catfish because it’s cheap and does everything it needs to do. Catfish aren’t very line shy. And even if they were, when you are bait fishing on the bottom, your fishing line is laying in mud and isn’t very visible.
What lb. Test For Catfish?
20 lb. test mono should be plenty strong for most blue catfish. If you are really targeting monster blue cats, then you might want to consider using 30-60 lb. test braid.
If you prefer to go on the lighter side, then you’ll probably get by with as light as 12 lb. mono. If you are catching catfish in open water then 12 lb. will probably be ok. But the thing about catfish is that they usually like to hangout around cover. If a good sized catfish gets your line wrapped around a log underwater, then you might be in some trouble.
The other problem could be getting cut off in the rocks. A heavier line like 20 lb. will hold up to abrasion longer than lighter lines will.
Depending on where you fish, you may be limited to smaller catfish. If your catfish average under 5 pounds, then 10 lb. test mono will be plenty strong.
Leader Material
Catfish aren’t very line shy. For your leader, you can get away with using the same 20 lb. mono that you use for your main line. This makes rigging up easier, because you don’t have to carry an extra spool just for leaders.
However, if you decide to use braid as a main line, then be sure to bring that spool of mono for a leader. Mono has a good amount of stretch to it whereas braid has none.
Anglers call a mono leader on a braided mainline, a bumper. In the same way that a car bumper absorbs the impact of a wreck, the mono absorbs the impact of a hard hit or headshake. That stretch will help to keep the hook in the catfish’s mouth.
Can You Use Fluoro for Catfish?
You can catch just as many catfish on fluorocarbon fishing line as you can on mono. The reason why anglers use mono for catfish is because it works just as well, but costs less.
When you are spooling up multiple big reels with heavy lines, it can get expensive.
If you already have fluorocarbon line on your reel then leave it on and go fishing. If you are setting up some rods specifically for catfish, then save some money by using mono.
Is Braid Good For Catching Catfish?
Braid is another very popular fishing line for catfish. It is super strong and sensitive. It does cost more than mono, but it will likely last 5 times as long. So if you are in it for the long haul, then braid should definitely be considered.
Since braided fishing line is so much thinner than mono, you can get away with a much higher lb. test. You could go with anything from 40 to 60 lb. test braid, and still be ok on most catfish reels.
As I mentioned in the leader material section, you’ll want to use a mono or fluoro bumper/leader. It’s not a bad idea to have even 10 to 20 feet of mono at the end of your braid. This will help hold the hook in the fish’s mouth, and make tying knots much easier.
Learn how to tie the double Uni Knot to attach braid to mono. It is a low profile knot that will go through your guides easier when you cast. It also locks these two materials together very well.
