The size sinker will vary from one ounce to five or even six ounces depending on the amount of current you are fishing. You want the bait to stay where it hits bottom ...more and not move.
I use a main line of 65 lb braid down to a swivel and then a 50 lb mono leader tipped with a 12/0 team catfish circle hook. Above the swivel use a sinker slide with ...more a no roll sinker clipped to it.
Big bait for big fish. Skip Jack herring is the best I've found. You can catch hundreds in the tail waters of most damns. If they are native to that body of ...more water of course.
It's all about placement. You gotta know where the big ones are and get your bait as close as possible to them. Then it's all about the tackle. Heavy duty ...more tackle. Then it's just a waiting game.
Try a fly rod with an open face reel, 4lb test... Slow rolling panfish assassin's on 32ounce. Jig heads. It will change your life. You feel even the slightest ...more hit.