catfishing help

Question
what is the best method to use if i am wanting to use some kind of throw line off of a bank? how  would i make the line and set it into the river fairly easy thanks for your help --erik

Answer
Hi Erik; Gee it has been a long time since I did any throw line fishing but I did do it years ago.  Here is how I did it.

Starting with the base or main line, lay it out in the yard or some place where it will not get tangled with weeds or sticks.  Next take a fairly large swivel and double the line and pass the doubled end through one end of it. Then pull the swivel through the loop and pull tight.  If you do not wish to use swivels forget this step.

Your dropper lines with hooks on them can be of nylon or some other kind of line.  If you are using monofilament (this will work with other kinds of line too) use a polymer knot to tie the lint to the hook.  A polymer knot is tied by taking three inches of doubled line and push the doubled loop through the hook eye.  Then take the doubled end around the standing (doubled part) in a basic overhand knot.  Next bring the loop from the part that remains from the overhand knot all the way around the hook making certain you are working with doubled line all the way. Pull on the single end while holding the line and pull it tight. Clip off the end.  This is an extremely strong knot and can not come loose.  Tie the non hook end of the dropper line to the swivel using two half hitches and loop.
To tie this knot put the line through the swivel and tie a half hitch leaving a long tail of line say six inches.  Now make another half hitch but do not pull the line completely through the loop.  This makes the second half hitch somewhat like a bow knot like you use to tie your shoes except it has only one loop.  The reason for this type of knot is so you can quickly pull the end and untie the knot and toss your fish hook and all in your container.  You can remove the hook later and re-use it.

After getting your hooks all tied on to your main line tie one end of the main line to a heavy weight maybe 2 or 3 pounds.  Get yourself a piece of Styrofoam from some packaging material of a size that you can cut it into a 4"x4" by 18 inch piece.  Start wrapping the line from the non weighted end of the line and on only the bottom half of the foot long piece of foam.  When you come to the first hook carefully hook it lightly into the end of the foam opposite the end you are winding on. Pull the dropper over the end of the foam and hook into the side. If the hook reaches too close to the line being wrapped use a longer piece of foam.   Do the same again to the next hook and again hook it lightly into the foam being careful not to cross another dropper. You should leave about ten feet or more feet without hooks at the non weighted end.  

Tie the non weighted end at the bank and give the weight a good hard toss out into the water.  If you throw it hard it will begin unwinding the line and pulling the hooks out of the foam.  You may have to give a yank for the last few.  If you want to save your piece of foam wrap a piece of light line on the bottom end and tie it to the bank too.  When all unwinds you can pull your foam back in for re use.

You can tie hooks to the main line without swivels by tieing the droppers onto the main line using a clove hitch but I don't recommend it.  Catfish twist and twist when hooked  on a throw line and often twist off.  The swivel prevents this.

I have wrapped my line around a corn cob and tossed it in but often it tangled badly.  If you do the above method using the Styrofoam you will have much better control.  Oh by the way bait the hooks before you throw the line in.  ha.  NOTE: A throw line seldom has more than ten to a dozen hooks.  If you wish to use more use a heavier weight and make your Styrofoam two feet and 8"x8" to allow for hooking the extra hooks.

I hope you catch a lot of fish.

Thanks for calling on me to answer your question.  I hope it works for you.  If you have other questions or a follow up don't hesitate to call on me again.

I am

Jack L. Gaither
Lake Seminole, Georgia