Thread: No bait

Bait shop only has large minnows. Cats mainly feed on shad in this lake . What does a guy do?
Be nice crappie fisherman using down times to try catfish with my kids!


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I use hot dogs for catfish bait. They work great. Worms will work, too, but they're more expensive.

If I had to buy minnows to fish, I'd take up golf.

Buy a bucket of waxworms & put them on a small jig or hook about 6" under a float .... pitch it out close to rocky banks and catch Green Sunfish .... cut the Greenies up and bait your Catfish rods. Then the kids get to fish for fish to catch fish with ... double fun !!

Or teach them how to catch nightcrawlers (after a good rain or after watering the yard).

Hotdogs, Beef Melt, Chicken Livers, Chicken gizzards, etc. (anything bloody or with a heavy scent, even if you have to add the scent) will catch Catfish.

A buddy of mine uses popeye jigs & waxworms about 18" under a float on steep rocky banks or cliff ledges for bedding Bluegill, and catches many Catfish in the process. I catch my share on jigs, cranks, & Road Runners when Crappie fishing.

Originally Posted by JiggyJay

Bait shop only has large minnows. Cats mainly feed on shad in this lake . What does a guy do?
Be nice crappie fisherman using down times to try catfish with my kids!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I know in saltwater you can't keep the catfish off your line with fresh shrimp. I used shrimp for freshwater cats too, and they love it also.

Also, if you deer hunt, save the heart. Freeze it in cut up chunks and use it later. It stays on the hook really well and the cats Luv, Luv, Luv it!


Chris

Get a cast net and catch your own shad. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

Chris

And don't forget these guys .... if/when they show up in your neck of the woods :

A local guy goes to the grocery store and buys tilapia. Cuts chunks and catches cats.
Mainly flathead.

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this time of year about every lake is filled with huge schools of small shad. my buddy uses a net but simply drops it down off his pontoon and even he ketch's lots that way. yesterday he caught mostly small sunfish which are perfect size for putting on his hooks and only couple of small shad. IF you take a few minutes to learn to cast it much more effective.

Our buddy the kitty kat guy ketches lots while using crankbaits for bass right now. usually uses shrimp and does well. is why I don't have to go kitty fishing as he always has several for us every weekend.

I second shrimp if you are looking for eaters. Catch perch, break, etc and cut up for big uns.