What Kind of Bait Does a Catfish Like the Most?
Catfish will respond to several natural and store-bought baits. Trial and error can give you a feel for what to use when you fish your preferred waters. Advice from local anglers can help you determine the best baits for unfamiliar areas.
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Fish
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Catfish like oily carp or herring, as well as locally caught chubs, suckers and sunfish, if these are legal to use. Baitfish such as shiners and minnows work well, too. These baits work well live or dead and are known as cutbait when they are cut up.
Crawlers
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Earthworms and nightcrawlers are popular baits for catfishing. Load up the hook with worms and inject some air into them so the fish can easily see the hovering bundle as they hunt.
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Crayfish
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Crawdads, crawfish or crayfish look like small lobsters and can be found in bait shops or under rocks in the shallows. You should rig these by the tail to mimic a natural retreat by jigging.
Mussels
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Any native mussels that are not protected species are good for catfishing. Catfish will regularly swallow mussels whole, digest the mussel and pass the shell.
Critters
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Frogs, salamanders, waterdogs and toads that you catch or buy live are excellent for catfishing. Hook the bait through the lips to fish the top and mid-water, or cut a frog in half and fish it on the bottom.
Commercial Bait
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Blood bait, dip baits, dough baits, stink baits, nuggets and sponge baits are formulated to attract catfish to their scents. You can buy these at your local bait supply store, but many anglers borrow personal recipes from friends and relatives.
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