Fresh Squid Baits
Fresh Squid Baits
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Best Baits for Catching Catfish
Several species of catfish can be caught with live baits, cut baits or stink baits.
Live baits for catching catfish include earthworms, crickets, insect larvae and even whole large fish, with the type of live bait usually dependant on the species of catfish. The most commonly used live baits for smaller catfish are usually earthworms and nightcrawlers.
Earthworms can be dug fresh from the garden. Nightcrawlers can be bought at tackle shops. Either choice has potential to catch catfish, panfish and other small fish.
Live minnows are a good bait for some species of catfish. Minnows catch a variety of species, so anglers fishing these baits may not catch catfish exclusively. These live baits are effective not only on flathead catfish, channel catfish, blue cats and white catfish but other species such as chain pickerel, crappie and smallmouth bass.
For trophy blue cats of 30 pounds or more, anglers sometimes use large live baits such as alewives, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, river herring, menhaden or other forage species. These live baits draw the attention of hungry blue catfish that feed in channels or along drop offs.
Crawfish or crayfish are another good live bait for catfish. The size of crawfish used is important when catching catfish. In areas where most catfish are 1-5 lbs, smaller crayfish are necessary. For trophy class catfish, anglers sometimes use large crawfish. Most anglers remove the claws of live crayfish, in order to draw more strikes.
Cut baits also work well, especially baits with strong odors. Cut baits may include fresh or brined fish, shrimp, squid, crawfish and other natural baits. In additional to natural choices, catfish anglers employ a variety of household foods such as chicken livers, bacon, hotdogs and cheese. Depending on their texture and firmness, cut baits may be fished on traditional live bait hooks or may require a variety of tricks to keep them on the the hook.
Salmon eggs are another popular catfish bait. Salmon eggs are available in preserved forms that do not need refrigeration or special handling. They stay on hooks well and their scent attracts catfish easily.
Catfish baits made from special mixtures of ingredients, often called "stink baits" can be purchased or concocted at home. There are many types of stink baits. Flavors, scents and ingredients may include blood, liver, fish, cheese and seafood. Others such as garlic, hot peppers and anise sound unusual but are known to be effective for catching catfish.
Once a stink bait is created, binders are added to solidify the mix. Commercially produced catfish baits are available as pastes, blocks or as moldable solids. Homemade catfish baits usually contain bread dough, cheese or other solids that act to solidify and retain the secret mixture.
Catfish anglers sometimes employ special rigs to retain stink baits on the hook. Tackle may include sponges, spring type devices, small mesh covers or other means of covering or embedding bait and attaching it to the hook.
Whether an anglers chooses live bait, cut baits or stink baits, fishing for catfish can be an enjoyable experience. Some anglers release catfish while others harvest a few fresh fish for dinner, experimenting with a variety of catfish recipes.
About the Author
The author is an outdoor enthusiast and writes content for outdoor websites including Freshwater Fishing News, Chesapeake Bay and Fish - Fishing Art.