FATKAT Rig Setup Guide: Catch More Catfish Every Time

Beginner's Guide to FATKAT - How to Tie It, Bait it & Fish it

This is the most advanced rig for catfishing in rivers—but it’s super simple to set up. My goal with this page is to pack 16 years of experience into one easy guide so you can turn yourself into a FATKAT catfish catching machine.

What's Included (and Why It Matters)
Tie it On in One Knot
Baiting Up the FATKAT
Best Spots to Fish the FATKAT
Fishing the FATKAT Like a Pro
Dialing in Your Depth
Deep Water Setup (10 ft+)

FATKAT Rig Components

1) 10 ft Leader

Specs: 50 lb test, abrasion resistant
Purpose: Stops break-offs when catfish rub on rough surfaces

2) Bobber Stop & Bead

Specs: Adjustable, simple slide-up/slide-down
Purpose: Sets bait depth easily

3) FATKAT Bobber

Specs: 100% biodegradable, weighted, aerodynamic, ogive profile
Purpose: Suspends bait perfectly and casts like a rocket — a fish-catching machine

4) Steel Egg Weight

Specs: Heavy, lead-free
Purpose: Sinks bait to the bottom where catfish hide, eco-friendly

5) 8/0 Circle Hook

Specs: Can land fish from 12 in to 60 lbs
Purpose: Perfect for trophies or filling coolers

Bonus

Pre-Rigged: All components pre-assembled — just tie one knot and fish!

Setting Up (for water 10 ft or less)

Fishing deeper? Skip to our Deepwater Setup.

Tie your leader to your main line using your favorite line-to-line knot. We use Double Uni or FG knot.
Set the bobber stop to the depth you’re fishing.
Pull the bobber stop strings tight. Tight, but so you can still slide it with your fingers for quick adjustments.

Notes: I usually set it slightly deeper than the water I'm fishing—if it’s 8 ft deep, I’ll set it at 8.5 ft. This ensures your bait reaches the bottom even in current.

Now you’re rigged—time to put bait on the hook.

Bait Selection

The right bait makes all the difference.

Flatheads: live bait only. Out of thousands I’ve caught, maybe 5–10 on cut bait.
Blue cats & channel cats: less picky, take live or cut bait.

Ranking of baits:

Live Bait, locally caught
Fresh Cut Bait, locally caught
Frozen Bait, locally caught
Store-bought (chicken liver, shrimp, hot dogs)

Finding a Spot

The FATKAT was built for rivers. Here’s what to look for:

Moving Water - Rivers, tailwaters, wind-pushed lake points. Water that moves at a walking pace is perfect. Faster or slower works too—this rig is versatile!
Lower Pressured Spots: fish where others aren’t. Get away from easy access points for better numbers.
Underwater Structure: drop-offs, boulders, logs, pilings, creek mouth entry points—anything that holds bait.

If You’re Overwhelmed

I spend half a day scouting each city/location—checking depth, structure, access, and the best water. I can usually do one city per week. Right now there’s a decent list. If you want your spots sooner, I can fast-track it in 24 hours for $30. Follow my tactics, and if you don’t catch anything, you’re covered by a money-back guarantee. Check it out here: FAST TRACK Catfish Spots.

How to Fish the FATKAT

Positioning

Stay upstream of the current. Drop the rig in, open the bail, let it drift.
Cast across or downstream for minimal snags.

Casting & Drifting

Let the rig drift naturally down current seams.
Slice the Rapid like a pie… Cast every 3 feet, target logs, eddies, boulders—anywhere the surface water looks different.
No bites? Move on. The FATKAT tells you fast if catfish are there.

Depth Adjustment

The goal: bait near the bottom—from the bottom to 1 ft off aka the strike zone
Bobber horizontal? Bobber Stop is too deep—slide it closer to the weight.
Adjust 6 inches at a time until the bobber stands vertical with the lettering straight up.

Suspended bait improves scent distribution, helping catfish locate your bait faster.

Pro Tip - Reading Depth Based off Bobber Position

Position 3: If your FATKAT is in position 3 for the whole float, chances are you are not fishing deep enough.
Position 2 → 3 drift: I like it when it sits at a 45° angle for a little bit of the drift in position 2 and then pops up to position 3. That tells me there is a drop-off there, and chances are I will be catching a fish.
Position 1 adjustment: If you have current and the FATKAT is sitting completely sideways like position 1, you should shift the bobber stop toward the sinker till it starts to look like position 2 as it floats.

Fishing the FATKAT in Deep Water (>10 ft)

You have two options when fishing the FATKAT deeper than 10 ft. Both require adjusting the included 10 ft leader.

I think the easier setup is Option 2 if you’re fishing a piece of water with minor snags and break-offs. Option 1 is better if you want to fish super snaggy structure and rely on a long leader.

Option 1 – Long Leader

Pros:

Lengthening your leader is perfect for rough structure like deep bridge pilings, where fish can pull you around and wear down your main line.
If you’re using a big reel, the extra leader doesn’t really affect casting distance.

Cons:

If you fish deeper than your tied leader, you’ll have to tie another one — not fun.
That’s where Option 2 comes in — more adjustable.

Option 2 – Bobber on Main line

Pros:

Offers “infinite” depth adjustment. If you end up in a 40 ft hole, you don’t need to retie the whole leader.
If your line breaks at the hook, you still save your bobber, bobber stop, and bead.

Cons:

Right now, the FATKAT Bobber does not slide over a double uni or FG knot with 50 lb test.
Shortened leader means less abrasion resistance.
In the next design, the through-hole will be big enough to allow full sliding down to the weight, unlocking the best casting ability.

Be a Responsible Angler

Respect the fisheries—protect the water.
Don’t trash spots. Take only what you need. Use legal bait. Handle fish responsibly.
Bring a bucket—pick up trash. Better for you, better for the next angler.

Thanks for being part of our family and helping us support responsible anglers.