Years ago, most of us believed that softbaits weren’t a legitimate alternative to cut or live baitfish, or even attractor baits like dipbaits. Recent developments, however, have redefined the softbait lure category. In the bass and saltwater arenas, some of the hottest softbaits no longer contain synthetic plastisol, for one thing. Rather, these third-generation baits, including select products from the Berkley Gulp! line, FoodSource Lures, and Fishbites, are formulated with ingredients that begin dissolving the instant they’re submersed, and eventually they biodegrade completely. Some of them even provide nutritional value to fish.

Third-generation softbaits are proving effective on catfish because they offer an appealing balance of taste, scent, shape, and texture. They likely won’t replace natural cutbait—arguably the best all-around bait ever. Yet, the more we experiment with softbaits and identify situations in which they excel, and as bait formulas for enticing cats continue to improve, softbaits have earned a legitimate spot your catfishing arsenal.

Presentations and Bait Options

Softbaits excel when coupled with a jighead or beneath the same float riggings you’d use with traditional baits. They could be effective alternatives to cutbait while drift-fishing reservoirs, too. In many ways, these baits are the most efficient options for catfish, and when you’re actively casting and retrieving them—a fairly exotic approach for catfish anglers—softbaits also are a lot of fun to fish.

Even though some of them, such as those labeled as “cutbait alternatives,” were designed to be fished stationary on bottom or under a float, most work better when you add action, particularly the case with channel cats. Choose baits that resemble something alive and provide some action when you pull them through the water. Thin, flat baits work better than thick, rigid ones. A thinner bait worked on a jig imparts a swimming, undulating action that appeals to catfish. Under a float or on bottom, current provides a subtle waving action.

Berkley Gulp!—Gulp! baits reportedly have 400 times more scent dispersion than regular soft plastic baits. They’re 100 percent biodegradable and composed of all-natural ingredients. When kept out of water for extended periods, however, it’s vital to return Gulp! baits to their ziplocked package, or they harden and become unfishable.

Several varieties and sizes of Gulp! have proven appealing to channel cats, chief among them the curlytail varieties like the Minnow Grub and the Jigging Grub (a Cabela’s Gulp! exclusive). The Jigging Grub has the traditional curlytail grub shape, while the Minnow Grub has a fatter body. Rig grubs on a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jighead and deadstick or retrieve them slowly over bottom. Ultra-slow crawls with 20- to 30-second pauses can be effective. When catfish strike a jig-and-grub combo, you’re reminded that they really are hunters.

Some of the Gulp! Saltwater products, including the Shrimp and Peeler Crab, have produced nice catches of channel cats, as well. We’ve caught some good fish on these baits drifted under slipfloats in rivers. Catfish should also find Gulp! Cut Bait appealing. It comes in precut strips that mimic cut fish, something to try on drift rigs.