FAQ | #1 Best Bobber Rig for Catfishing
Below, we have compiled a number of Q&As to answer many of your questions about the FATKAT™ | The #1 Best Bobber Rig for Catfishing.
Our Story: Why We Created the FATKAT™ Bobber
Built for Big Cats. Designed for Clean Water.
We’ve spent our lives chasing fish across oceans, lakes, and winding rivers. But no place has shaped our journey quite like the James River at the Richmond fall line—where the Piedmont rocks meet tidal surge from the Chesapeake Bay. This unique stretch of water offers one of the richest, most thrilling fisheries in the country. It’s here that we became obsessed with catching monster catfish—the kind that slam your bait, pull hard into the current, and turn a lazy afternoon into a battle.
But we kept running into a problem: the gear just wasn’t up to the task. Standard bobbers couldn’t cast far enough, didn’t hold up under pressure, and worse—added to the plastic waste we saw along the banks. We realized the tool we relied on most was the one letting us down.
So we set out to build something better.
The River That Inspired It All
The James River has been a magnet for life and adventure for centuries. In fact, its abundance of fish and navigable waters helped persuade America’s first settlers to establish Jamestown in 1607. And it’s easy to see why. The river supports an incredible range of species, making it an angler’s paradise:
-
Catfish: Blue, Channel, Flathead, Bullhead
-
Bass: Largemouth, Smallmouth, Rock, Striped
-
Panfish & Perch: Bluegill, Crappie, Redbreast, White Perch, Yellow Perch
-
Migratory Fish: American Shad, Hickory Shad, Alewife, Blueback Herring
-
Others: Bowfin, Carp, Eels, Sea Lamprey, Gizzard Shad, Suckers
With so many species in one system, we needed a bobber that could match the demands of serious fishing—while respecting the water we all share.
Meet the FATKAT™
Enter the FATKAT™ bobber—a game-changer in both design and purpose. Crafted from PHA biodegradable materials, FATKAT™ naturally breaks down in the environment over time without creating harmful microplastics. Unlike conventional plastics, this eco-conscious innovation ensures we’re not leaving behind waste in the water.
Its aerodynamic build lets you launch bait farther than ever. The high-vis profile means you can track it easily across current and distance. And instead of toxic lead, we’ve chosen steel weights to keep fish, birds, and waterways safer.
From rugged riverbanks to crowded fishing piers, FATKAT™ empowers you to fish farther, smarter, and cleaner. Because we believe great gear doesn’t just help you catch fish—it helps protect the places that make fishing great in the first place.
Please forward any additional questions about the #1 Bobber Rig for Catfishing, the FATKATTM and we will answer them directly, or add them to the FAQ.
The Future of Fishing: Reinvented with the Best Bobber Rig for Catfishing, the FATKATTM
We’re on a mission to completely reinvent fishing gear, and we’re starting with the humble bobber. The FATKAT™ bobber isn’t just any float; it’s the best catfishing bobber on the market, engineered for serious performance and real environmental impact. What sets FATKAT™ apart is its construction from PHA-based biodegradable materials—a cutting-edge alternative to petroleum plastics that breaks down in natural conditions without leaving microplastic residue. You can learn more about this sustainable innovation from organizations like the European Bioplastics Association and National Geographic.
The result? A bobber that’s tough on fish, not the planet.
The FATKAT™ is the best bobber rig for catfishing, as it casts farther, tracks better on the surface, and holds up to the explosive strikes of big river cats—all while minimizing its environmental footprint. We also use non-toxic steel weights instead of lead, which helps preserve delicate aquatic ecosystems and reduces the risk to birds, fish, and humans alike. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, lead in fishing tackle remains a major threat to waterfowl and water quality.
With FATKAT™, you’re not just fishing—you’re fishing smarter, cleaner, and more responsibly than ever before.
The FATKAT™ Bobber rig is designed to keep your bait positioned effectively, often a foot or so off the bottom, where catfish are known to feed. Its specific setup, combined with its ability to cast far and reduce snags, and float with the current, allows you to cover more ground and present your bait where the fish are naturally positioned, increasing your chances of getting bites from big catfish.
Setting up your FATKAT™ Bobber rig is straightforward. You’ll typically use a double uni knot to attach the included leader (10 feet of 50 lb leader) to your main line. The bobber is designed to float, allowing you to adjust the depth of your bait. Detailed video tutorials are available on our website and YouTube channel to guide you through the rigging process.
Absolutely. The FATKAT™ is aerodynamically designed to help you cast farther, even with heavy baits or in windy conditions. Its internal balance and shape allow for longer, smoother casts—perfect for targeting catfish in wide rivers or hard-to-reach current seams from shore, pier, or kayak.
It is no secret; we love fishing for the big cats. While the FATKAT™ Bobber can be used for various types of fishing, it is specifically engineered for catfishing. However, its design, helps you target and land big fish, especially in river and moving water conditions.
Besides being environmentally friendly, the FATKAT™ Bobber is engineered for superior performance. Its weighted design allows for long distance casting, helping you reach those productive spots. It’s also designed to help reduce snags, especially when fishing in rivers or areas with obstructions, by allowing the rig to glide over obstacles. This means less lost gear and more time fishing. The FATKAT™ Bobber is exceptionally durable, despite being biodegradable. Thanks to its multi-chamber design, it continues to float even after suffering cracks or damage that would render other bobbers useless.
Unlike many of our competitors, we are selling a complete rig, not just our bobber. Each FATKAT™ Rig package typically includes: the biodegradable FATKAT™ Bobber itself, a steel sinker, a snelled hook, and 10 feet of 50lb leader. This complete rig is designed for optimal performance right out of the box. It offers superior castability and durability.
The FATKAT™ Bobber is the best bobber for catfish, and it stands out because it’s 100% biodegradable. This means it won’t harm the environment if left behind. Unlike traditional plastic or foam bobbers, it’s designed with eco-conscious anglers in mind. Therefore, it allows you to fish without worrying about contributing to plastic pollution.
The FATKAT™ bobber is made from PHA biodegradable material, which means it naturally breaks down in the environment without leaving harmful microplastics behind. Unlike traditional plastic bobbers, FATKAT™ is designed with sustainability in mind—keeping rivers and ecosystems cleaner. We also use non-toxic steel weights instead of lead, further reducing environmental impact.