Are you a new angler? If so, you might be looking for the best bait for catfish. If our guess is correct, read the article thoroughly. In this article, we will cover every single detail of the best catfish baits and lures for professionals.
If you search about the baits that professional anglers use for the catfish, you will observe a variety in it. Different people use different tricks that may be natural or artificial to catch catfish in their area. The combination is due to the change in the catfishes of other regions.
Best Bait for Catfish: Overview
Fishes of the same species at different locations prefer different foods such as insects, worms, or small fishes. Even some fishes eat sea vegetables or plants. To catch a specific type of fish in a particular area, you must study that species in detail.
Here we would discuss different baits best for various species of fish and also their conditions of use. Let’s dive into the details of the live and artificial lures for catfish.
Use Live Bait to Catch Catfish
Every angler has a different choice for the best bait for fishing catfish. Many prefer live bait such as Gizzard Shad or a Brim, while others prefer artificial lures such as punch bait.
There are many live bits, such as nightcrawler, shrimps, and many others, that we would discuss below. Catfishes, such as flatheads, are fond of live prey, and you can catch them easily with live bait. However, catfishes like blue and channel feed on both live and dead food.
Use Artificial Baits to Catch Catfish
Many professional anglers prefer artificial lures to catch catfish and its other species. The reason behind using artificial lures instead of living bait is that it is a one-time investment. You can reuse artificial lures, while live baits are cheap, but you can not reuse them.
Another reason is that the artificial lures have a unique smell that attracts the fish. The olfactory senses of the fish are very sensitive, and they can even taste the water to detect the location of food. Here we will discuss both types of baits,i.e., live and artificial.
Best Baits for Catfish
Every bait has specific characteristics that are different from other baits and work in a particular way. Similarly, Catfish baits also come in huge variations, and the anglers get confused about the best catfish bait.
Here we are going to discuss ten different types of fishing baits for catfish. We will also examine each bait’s specifications and tell you the conditions suitable for using such bait. Read the entire article to get complete information about what bait to use for catfish.
Chicken Livers
If you are fishing in deep waters, we recommend using chicken livers as bait. Chicken livers are readily available, and you can find them at any chicken shop. Moreover, chicken Liver is the favorite food of most species of catfish.
Also, its smell is strong and is capable of attracting fish towards itself. It does have a drawback also, that it loses its shape after some time. To counter this drawback, you have to refresh the bait after every 15 to 20 minutes.
Another drawback is that it quickly gets free of the hook. So try to use a clip that holds it tightly so it doesn’t get free quickly. You also have to avoid the sudden pulls of the string to stop the removal of chicken liver from the hook.
Asian Carp
Asian Carp is famous among anglers for its high scent that attracts big blue and channel catfishes. It’s oily from the inside, and when you cut it into pieces, the smell of the meat increases and spreads quickly. Many catfishes are fond of eating this pest as a meal.
Though this pest is best for catching catfishes, many states declared its use illegal. It is due to its fast proliferation, and its excess is bad for water reservoirs and rivers. However, if your state allows Asian Carpo for fishing, it is good news for you and many other anglers.
Crawfish
If you want to use crawfish as bait for catfish, we recommend not buying them from a store. You can easily find crawfish under the rocks at the shores or the sides of a river or stream. Or you can also catch several by a simple trap of chicken pieces.
Crawfish is on the list of the best food for catfish. So whenever you use crawfish as bait, be hopeful that you would find a blue or a channel catfish. To hook crawfish, cut the head off and bind the entire body to the hook. You can also attach separate pieces of crawfish.
Nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers are so famous among anglers that even a new angler knows their importance in fishing. These are the most readily available bait for catfish. You can even find them in your garden or any grassy place.
It is loved by most species of catfish and also other fish types. Nightcrawlers or earthworms have a very flexible body which makes it easy to hook them. If you are looking for big fish, try to use long worms.
Stink Bait
The olfactory senses of the catfish are very sensible, and they can detect even a slight water change. Stink Bait has a very sharp smell that quickly spreads in the water. The catfish catches it and swims towards it as it is one of the regular food of a catfish.
Stink Bait is available at many stores, but many anglers prefer to make their special Stink baits. The anglers combine different materials that a catfish uses as food and ferment them until they start giving a pungent smell.
Punch Bait
Punch Bait is almost similar to Stink Bait. The only difference is the material used and the smell of both baits. The smell of punch bait is not so strong as stink bait. You can also make it at home by using cheese and dough.
Many anglers add other ingredients to cheese and dough so it becomes more solid. To increase the smell of the bait, you can add fish or other elements.
Blood Bait
Many baits are unsuccessful in shallow waters. However, Blood Bait can give you good results even in shallow water if the current is low. The name shows that Blood bait is a mixture of blood with some other thing. Mostly sugar is the second item in Blood Bait.
The best thing that attracts the catfish is the scent of a blooded meal. That’s why many anglers use Blood bait to attract fish. However, it is hard to make a Blood Bait, but the results are unignorable. The anglers often mix some blood with a coagulant to make it hard.
Shrimp
Shrimps are the types of shellfish that are very easy to tie to the hook. Also, it is the favorite meal of most fishes, including the catfish. You can also freeze shrimps for later use. It is the best bait for catfishes such as channel cats or bullheads.
Shrimps are multi-functional,i.e., you can use them both as live bait or dead bait. Many anglers add garlic salt to the dead shrimps to increase their scent and lifetime.
Skipjack Herring
SkipJack herring is a type of small fish that is used as bait for catfish. However, its use is infrequent as it is found only in coastal areas. Many water reservoirs have these live baits, but they are only specified for fishing tournaments.
If you want to catch small fish, chop the SkipJack Herring into small pieces and use each piece separately as bait. The catfish goes wild when it detects the smell of blood in the water, and it starts chasing it. For bigger fish, you can tie the whole fish to the hook.
White Suckers
It is also known as no-fail bait for catfish. There are almost no chances that you couldn’t find a fish while using white suckers as bait.
However, it is better to catch white suckers on your own instead of buying from the store. White suckers are small in size, and catfish love to eat small fish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you bait catfish with corn?
To bait catfish with corn, first, you need to soak the corn in water for several hours. Then boil it for two hours, so it swells. Catfish love boiled corn and its sweet smell. Remember that it is not possible to catch a catfish with dry and unboiled corn.
How deep should you jug fish for catfish?
There is no specific dept for the jugfish if you want to catch a catfish. However, it should be well two feet above the ground. Most anglers keep it 18-60 feet below the water level.
Do catfish feed more during the night or at day?
Catfish are 24 hours eating fish. They eat at any time, whenever they get some food. However, in warm weather, they prefer the nighttime for food. That’s why most anglers prefer night fishing in warm weather.
Where do catfish feed at night?
In warm weather, the catfish move from deep waters to shallow waters for feeding. It is better to find catfish in shallow waters at night.
What months do Catfish spawn?
Channel Catfish usually spawn in May and June when the water temperature goes to 65 degrees. Try to fish at night during these days because catfish often come to shallow waters during night time these days.
Final Words
Finally, you have to keep in mind that the bait depends on the area. You have to check which bait best suits your area’s fish. Visit a bait shop in your area and inquire about the bait that most anglers use. It is the easiest way to know about the best bait for your site.So, that was all about the best bait for catfish. Each bait discussed above has specific features that make it unique from other baits. If you are a pro angler and think that some other bait is also best for catfish, let us know. We would appreciate your effort.
