FATKAT Rig Setup Guide (Step-by-Step Catfish Bobber Rig)

FATKAT Rig Setup Guide: How to Rig a Bobber for Catfish (Step by Step)

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.

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

FATKAT Rig Components

1) 10 ft Leader

  • Specs: 50 lb test, abrasion resistant
  • Purpose: Prevents break-offs when catfish drag your line across rocks or structure

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 of any size
  • Purpose: Best hook-up ratio with almost no gut hooks — perfect for eaters and trophies alike

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.

  1. Tie your leader to your main line using your favorite line-to-line knot. We use Double Uni or FG knot.
  2. Set the bobber stop to the depth you’re fishing. 
  3. Pull the bobber stop strings tight. 

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 gets close to 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:

  1. Live Bait, locally caught
  2. Fresh Cut Bait, locally caught
  3. Frozen Bait, locally caught
  4. Store-bought (chicken liver, shrimp, hot dogs)

Finding a Spot

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

  1. Moving Water - Rivers, tailwaters, wind-pushed lake points. 
  2. Lower Pressured Spots: fish where others aren’t. Get away from easy access points for better fishing.
  3. Underwater Structure: drop-offs, boulders, logs, pilings, creek mouth entry points—anything that holds bait.


 

 

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. (See person's position above)

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 and you're not getting bites, chances are you are not fishing deep enough. Move your bobber stop up your line.
  • Position 2 → 3 drift: When the float tilts in position 2 and then stands up in position 3, it means the water drops off. That’s where fish like to sit.
  • Position 1 adjustment: If te FATKAT is sitting in position 1, you should move the bobber stop down the line. Adjust until it you are in position 2.

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. This slightly affects casting distance.

  • Shortened leader means less abrasion resistance.

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.

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