Berkley Trilene Big Game Is the Mono We Trust for Catfish Leaders
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Braid gets all the attention, but the last few feet of line between your swivel and your hook do a lot of the heavy lifting. On our boat that leader is Berkley Trilene Big Game monofilament. It is affordable, it is everywhere and it holds up.
Why mono for the leader
- Stretch works for you. When a big blue makes a run at the boat or shakes its head at the net, a little give in the leader keeps the hook from tearing out. That cushion pairs well with circle hooks.
- Abrasion resistance. Rocks, wing dams, timber and catfish teeth all wear on line. A mono leader takes that wear so your braid does not have to.
- Clear. It disappears in the water, which helps in clearer stretches and on pressured fish.
- Knots that hold. Big Game ties easy and snugs down tight, even with cold hands on a November morning.
The Big Game we use
The Big Game listing in our storefront is clear monofilament, and Berkley makes it in a wide range of break strengths, from 30 pounds up to the heavy stuff. For river catfish leaders we like to stay in the 30- to 50-pound range. Go heavier when you are fishing timber or big rock.
How we build a catfish leader
- Slide a no-roll sinker onto your main line.
- Tie the main line to one end of a ball bearing swivel.
- Cut 18 to 24 inches of Big Game and tie it to the other end of the swivel.
- Tie a circle hook to the end of the leader with a snell or a Palomar.
Check your leader after every fish. Run it between your fingers, and if you feel a nick or rough spot, retie, because a few cents of fresh leader is cheap insurance on the fish of a lifetime.
A word on old line
Mono breaks down over time, especially when it bakes in the sun on a boat deck. Swap out your leader material each season. And please take old line home. We have pulled line and hooks out of more catfish than we would like, and the short below is one of them.
Watch the action
We removed three lines and hooks from one big blue catfish before letting her go.
Tight Lines!!!