3 Way Rig

Santee Rig

Slip Float Rig

Carolina Rig

All of these rigs can be used on Striper and other gamefish, simply downsize your terminal tackle. These rigs also perform great if you travel to the Texas Coast to Saltwater fish!

3 Way-Catfish Rigs-Lake Tawakoni

Terminal Tackle: Heavy 3-way swivel, 50 lb monofilament line, 15 lb monofilament line, Bass Casting sinker, Circle Hook

Make sure you match the Circle Hook size to the fish species you are targeting. A 2/0 to 4/0 hook is great for eater blue catfish, but a 60-pound Trophy will break that size! The 3-Way Rig is designed to keep more terminal in your box and less off the lake bottom. You should use a lighter weight line from the swivel to your sinker. If the sinker gets hung up on the rocks, it breaks and you keep the rest of the 3-Way Rig. This rig keeps your bait a bit suspended off the lake bottom and reduces hang-ups if you are drifting. If you like to drift for Lake Tawakoni Catfish, this is your rig.

Santee Catfish Rigs

Terminal Tackle: Heavy swivel, 50 lb monofilament line, Plastic Bead, No-Roll sinker, Circle Hook, Two Inch Foam Peg Float

A great catfish rig that keeps your cut shad off the bottom of the lake and in the strike zone.  Our go-to catfish rig on Lake Tawakoni when we drift for Trophy Blue Catfish in the winter.  You can find many styles of floats and spend as much money as you please.  Please make sure you spend money on a heavy swivel and a quality circle hook!

Slip Bobber-Catfish Rigs-lake Tawakoni

Terminal Tackle: 15 lb monofilament line, Bobber Stops, Slip Shot Sinker, Size 4 Treble Hook, Slip Bobber Float

Slip Bobber Catfish Rigs on Lake Tawakoni mean our Channel Catfish season has started.  In May-June, we will target the standing timber for eater channel catfish and the action is fantastic all summer long.  Break out the punch bait and start casting to the timber!  Remember your Bobber Stop will set the depth of your bait.

Carolina Catfish Rigs

Terminal Tackle: Heavy swivel, 50 lb monofilament line, Plastic Bead, No-Roll sinker, Circle Hook.

The most common catfish rig used on Lake Tawakoni.  Great for Striper and Catfish!  Simple and effective just how we like it!  

Modifying Catfish Rigs-Lake Tawakoni Catfish

These are the 4 most common catfish rigs used on Lake Tawakoni, but you can modify these rigs with different weights and hook styles.  Let’s mention sinker weights and styles.  Egg Sinkers are the most common in 3/4oz and 1oz and if the wind is big you may want to have some 2oz egg sinkers. 

Slinky Weights

If you like to stay snag free we suggest slinky weights.  You can make them yourself or buy them from your favorite tackle shop, but we feel they work!  We hope this blog article helps you with Catfish Rigs and gets you out on Lake Tawakoni!  For more information please follow Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide James Evans!

About Guide James Evans

Meet Lake Tawakoni Blue Catfish Guide James Evans!  James is the owner-operator of whiskerfishing.com and guide service.  James Evans targets trophy blue catfish from November to March and puts big fish in the net!  Spring and summer you will find James chasing Striped Bass and Channel Catfish!  Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide James Evans grew up on Lake Tawakoni and now is a full-time guide and always happy to show clients why Lake Tawakoni is the Catfish Capital of Texas!

Source: 

Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide-James Evans 

Contact Information 

Corporate Headquarters
2201 E Rabbit Cove Rd #6
West Tawakoni, TX 75474
214-403-4737‬
whiskerfishing@gmail.com