catfish bait?

[snal]

Going to the lake for vacation tomorrow...wondering what I could use as a good catfish bait. I tried chicken livers and cut shad last weekend at night....for about 4 hours with no luck.(where the river enters the lake, in 3-12 feet of water) Wally World used to have stink bait and hot dog thingamabobs...but evidently no longer carry them.<br />Also, I'd like to try crickets for bream, never used them before...what the best way to hook em?<br />TIA

 

[Holdimhook]

Re: catfish bait?

Snal, there's no nice way to describe it, but with apologies to the cricket lovers out there, I'll do my best. Grasp the cricket between your left thumb and forefinger with his belly up. Hold the hook, preferably a long shank 4/0 cricket hook, in your right hand and stick it up his butt.Run the hook through his abdomen and thorax and bring it out past the barb just below his head. After hooking a few, this becomes fast and easy (about 2 or 3 seconds). Catfish love crickets. Also, a big gob of jumbo red worms or fiddleworms (nightcrawlers). Good luck and go get 'em!

 

[txswinner]

Re: catfish bait?

Try goldfish if legal in Alabama, on trotlines or jug lines I use goldfish, stink bait (need to get the right hooks, or old shrimp and liver. Good luck. If you want to go after the big uns learn to Grab (that is illegal).

 

[txswinner]

Re: catfish bait?

Try goldfish if legal in Alabama, on trotlines or jug lines I use goldfish, stink bait (need to get the right hooks, or old shrimp and liver. Good luck. If you want to go after the big uns learn to Grab (that is illegal).

 

[snal]

Re: catfish bait?

Thanks guys...I'll try the crickets for both species...and I went for shrimp last weekend...saw a sign for a roadside shrimp shack, thought I'd buy there old stuff...but they were closed.<br />BTW txswinner...I ain't "grab'n"! My screen name is my nickname...stands for "Skinny-No-Azz-Larry"...them catfish would swaller me whole! LOL!

 

[colding01]

Re: catfish bait?

For the really big ones down south, we like to use shiners. Put 'em right on the bottom or use a float and fish em just a few inches from the bottom. If you can't find any live ones, Wal-Mart usually has shad in a baggie. They work ok, but not as good as the live shiners. Might catch a pickerel if you're lucky. Try to find medium depth water with a slight current.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[BUBBLES II]

Re: catfish bait?

Try noodlin' for 'em, like txswinner says.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: catfish bait?

I like the strike king cat fish dynamite that stuff we use on the rivers has been working great. Also nightcrawlers have been working too.

 

[Ron G]

Re: catfish bait?

use the criketts to catch small bluegills,and use them they work good around here for the bigones and also you can use them as cut bait,if you get get in some big bluegills keep them fillet them out and soak them italian dressing then deeepffy,wish i was on vacation have fun!

 

[ufm82]

Re: catfish bait?

Gotta love fresh cut shad or skipjack. In lieu of that, shrimp makes for a great channel cat bait, albeit a small fish bait. You'll not catch many monsters on shrimp. <br /><br /> If all else fails, try my secret weapon. A chunk of squid (yes, squid) will oftentimes bring out a nice blue or channel when all else fails. It's different, it stinks and it's tough as shoe leather. Get the uncleaned variety and try to keep it frozen- it's much easier to handle. Cut a whole squid in half and use each half as one bait. The blue cats really seem to like the bait a lot. Ohio river channels eat it up too. Just a suggestion.<br /><br />UFM82

 

[TenE307]

Re: catfish bait?

this bait worked wonders for me when nothing else worked. some might not like it, but best night if catfishin ever had. the first one we found were frogs and toads one the bank. the biggest one about the size of a fist brought in 4. just use a circle hook and hook it through both jaws. here is the one people dont like but it works. around here we have many wind storms that causes problems with some bird nest. when the little ones (without feathers is best) fall fromt he nest and die, i just continue their legacy to help me catch some catfish. the easieast way to hook a baby bird is along the back between the wings. tried many ways to hook it so we didnt lose the birds (only had two) the first was gone after about 30 sec in the water, fish about took the pole with it. with the next one we tried to figure out ways to tie the bait to the line and have a hook behind it. had many more bites, but we would just pull the bait from the mouth. circle hooks are great for the cats!

 

[silverselkie56]

Re: catfish bait?

Homemade cat fish bait - Chicken gizzards, chopped up to usable size and soaked in garlic oil for 3 or 4 days (must soak into it). We then divide it into small foil wrapped paks and freeze them. When we need some, we just take a few out and off we go. It is handy and the cats love it.

 

[fishNnut]

Re: catfish bait?

there's a million ways to catch cats big and small. My two fav's are stinkbait and something wigglin. Hogwild does very well along with the catfish dynomite, the sausage links are cleaner and just as effective, but the mullberry's work the best. As far as for the bigguns' the most effective i ever have used for big blues is just the tail of a minner scaled and hooked on the tip of your Gamakatsu/octopus circle hook. Set your depth at about 3 ft. and work it like a jerk bait with your pole on the ground(or boat) with your hand. 5 30 plus Lb'ers with this method, good luck.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: catfish bait?

1 box of 20oz. Wheaties. I container of pig brains. 1 pound hamburger.<br />Mix till consistent enough to stay on hook. Use brain cup to cast with and hold on is all I can tell ya.<br /><br />Another great bait is Tyson bonless chicken strips.<br />Don't ask me how, but they know the difference.<br />The bite is way off if not Tyson.

 

[Bob La Londe]

Re: catfish bait?

<br />Caught this guy on a shop rag. Literally.