One of the favorite methods of experienced catfishermen is to catch a small piranha to provide live or cut bait. Using a large (14/0 to 20/0) circle hook haywire twisted to 12 to 18 inches of strong (120 lb. test or greater ) wire then twisted to a heavy (180 lb. test swivel creates an easily made, replaceable rig. A 2 ounce (or heavier - as current demands) egg sinker is allowed to run freely on heavy line (65 pound or greater) braided line. This wire reinforced "Amazon" rig helps keep piranha away from the actual running line and minimizes the loss of hook, line and sinker. Correctly selecting a hole that holds a piraiba is not a given. Anglers will typically try likely spots that provide some turbulence or back current over a deep hole. Generally, if other, smaller, non-benthic catfish like jundira are present, you probably haven't found the monster's home. Enjoy the smaller but spunky, and superbly tasty jundira and then move on to the next hole.

Once the behemoth's home is found, the "take" will often be surprisingly subtle, not screaming like a redtail and really distinguishable from its smaller brethren. With an open bail (or clicker on) allow line to be taken until you're certain the fish is moving away from you and has had a chance to engulf the bait. Point the rod tip upward, engage your reel and allow the rod to be pulled downward until it points at the fish. With resistance occurring, the fish will usually react by running and hooking himself with the circle hook. This method is highly recommended because it will unfailingly result in a safe hookset in the corner of the fish's mouth, never in its gullet or stomach. Once the fight is on, the rest is up to the angler, because with fish this large and this agile, the rest is unpredictable.