Catalpa worms are a very good Catfish bait ... and those "nuclear" nightcrawlers are probably good, too. But, there's an even better bait for Catfish & panfish What is it, you say Well - I don't know their scientific name ... I always heard them called "green worms". They're about the same size as a nice sized earthworm (but not as big as a nightcrawler) ... and they are "green" (not grass green, but more like a washed out "OD green") ...for those of you unfamiliar with "OD Green" -that's "military" code for Olive Drab green )the color of work fatigues/uniform. You find these worms along river banks, where the banks are composed of sand, mud, and leaves. They're usually found in the shady spots of the river bank. You'll know they are there ... just look for lots of holes in the bank, with mounds of tiny "pellets" around the holes. Dig them out with a pitchfork, and try not to cut them in two with the tines. When handled, injured, or especially when a hook is stuck into them - they will exude a slime ... and it smells terrible. The smell is a little difficult to get off your hands, without some good soap (Lava) and a good scrubbing!! But ... they will catch you a mess of Catfish or panfish (if you can keep the Drum off of them long enough ...LOL!!)
As a teen, I used to fish the Ky River .... "green worms" were free bait (and free is good when you're a poor boy). I never used them for Crappie ... but, my fishing buddy (of those years) and I caught Catfish, Bass, Waterdogs, Eels, Bluegill, and plenty of Freshwater Drum with them. ...cp