Two Catfish Questions

[the_donger]

I've been doing more and more catfishing and my question is on the type of hooks to use.

I'm usually fishing in places where I'm catching small channel cats. I'll get bites constantly, but I hook up about 5% of the time.

I use circle hooks and I know you're not supposed to set the hook, but with a fish that small, they'll nibble on the bait forever so I'll eventually do a slow, even pressure hookset with the usual result being nothing.

Right now, I do not know what size hook I'm using, but I'm wondering if I need to go to a smaller circle hook.

Just a quick question. Are you fishing on the bottom when you are getting those nibbles. In my experience with bottom fihing, you could be having problems with turtles or even mussels. I catch both on a consitent basis and the nibbling/missing could be either of those.

[know1]

Just a quick question. Are you fishing on the bottom when you are getting those nibbles. In my experience with bottom fihing, you could be having problems with turtles or even mussels. I catch both on a consitent basis and the nibbling/missing could be either of those.

I usually fish on the bottom, but this latest time I was fishing with a bobber. I know there were at least some catfish biting because I caught 4 in about an hour.