I've been trying to catch catfish in the river near my town for a while now, but I'm not really sure what size and type of hook works best. I've tried small hooks but I feel like the big catfish are getting away from me. Does anyone know which one works better?
Large catfish need hooks that are quite a bit bigger than most people think - try sizes 2/0 to 5/0 depending on how big the ones in your river get 🎣 Small hooks simply won't hold up to a decent catfish's mouth and the fish will slip off. Also, use meaty bait (fish chunks, shrimp, offal) because catfish aren't picky eaters but they do look for something substantial, none of that small worm stuff. If you keep trying with small hooks it'll probably be frustrating because even if you get bites, you won't be able to land the fish.
The hook is only part of the problem if the big ones are getting away from you. Try first with more resistant material: catfish have hard mouths and you need steel that won't bend or break with that initial jerk. If you're already using 2/0 or 3/0 and you're still losing catches, the issue might be your hook-setting technique or the line not holding up to the weight, not necessarily the hook size. I had something similar with big fish and it turned out I was yanking too hard when I set, forcing everything. Also try hooks with a larger eye if you want to use more substantial bait, because that really does make a difference with big catfish.
I've seen plenty of people focus on hook size but forget that catfish have an incredibly hard mouth - if the steel isn't good quality or it's rusty, it'll bend with the slightest pull even if the size is right. Besides going with 2/0 or 5/0 like people say, make sure the hook is sharp and the material is actually resistant, because that's the detail most people overlook.
When I went out catfish fishing at the river recently, I had exactly what you're describing happen to me: with small hooks the bigger ones would get away and I'd end up losing bait with nothing to show for it. I switched to 3/0 or 4/0 hooks made with good quality steel (non-rusting) and the difference was brutal - not only did I hook them better but the hook wouldn't bend under the force of the catfish's mouth. What nobody tells you is that besides the size, the type of steel matters a lot: look for hooks from brands that use tempered steel, not just any cheap thing that ends up getting deformed on the first hard pull. If the catfish in your river are really big, try starting with 4/0 and adjust from there depending on what you catch.
Log into answer.
