Livebaits, Cutbaits, Worms And More

American shad

he closely related exotic goldfish also makes a fine bait on setlines or rod and reel. Surprisingly, cut carp doesn’t rank nearly as high for channel, white, or blue cats. As a caution, be sure to check state regulations on which baits are legal and how they may be obtained. Rules vary.

Across North America, white suckers are a can’t-fail bait, as this most common species is suitable in size for yearling channel cats and up to 40-pound flatties. Slice ’em and dice ’em for float or bottom rigging for blues and channel cats, or tail-hook a 2-pounder to lure a mother flathead from her lair.

Note the difference, though, between pond-raised bait suckers and wild ones. Cultured baits don’t flee, a movement which often triggers a lethal attack from a predator. Seine baits or catch suckers on live worms, instead. We’ve found that keeping pond-raised suckers in a tank with a big flathead quickly trains the suckers in survival, making them better baits.

Smaller members of the catfish clan—stonecats, madtoms, and bullheads—make excellent baits. Indeed, studies of catfish show this species to be quite cannibalistic. In some waters where flatheads have been introduced, bullhead populations have plummeted.

Some prey preferences come as a surprise. Big blue cats often chomp bowfin before they sample more tender morsels. Observations in aquariums show that the big fish love 3- to 4-pound dogfish. On the other hand, freshwater drum (sheepshead) make a poor snack, despite the drum’s fine white flesh and relative defenselessness.

Wherever gizzard and threadfin shad abound, catfish prey on these aromatic, abundant species. Catfish guides on Santee-Cooper and many other southern reservoirs use cast nets to gather a tank full of livebait to start the day. Skewering several 4-inch threadfins through the eye socket provides a tasty bait for channel cats, blues, and flatheads. Cutting larger gizzard shad in half and rigging them on the bottom also brings action.

In early spring and fall, 3-inch shiners and redtail chubs from bait shops make fine baits for channel cats. These selections follow the general rule: Smaller baits in colder water, big stuff for summer nights.

Sunfish make great baits, remaining lively on the hook or when cut. Toughest and liveliest of all is the green sunfish, a prime flathead bait on line or

rod and reel. Bluegills, pumpkinseeds, redears, and the rest of their clan are appetizing, too.

Invertebrates

Flathead catfish share with bass an innate love of crayfish. Often just rubbing a cat’s belly reveals their lumpy remains. Tail-hook live craws and bottom rig them. But as flatheads grow, they’re less likely to take these smaller baits, or maybe they have a harder time beating their 5- to 10-pound kin to the forage.

For channel cats, craw tails make a fine bait for bottom drifting or float-fishing in summer. When using a whole craw, try crushing the head a bit to release those tasty brain morsels that Cajun crawdad fans can’t resist.

Catfish eat clams—freshwater mussels, Asiatic clams, snails of various sorts, even zebra mussels. Blue cats are notorious for foraging on mussel beds. Shake their bellies and you can almost hear the shells rattling.