| One of the most important things to think about when | | | | Flatheads, use a different method, with palm-sized live |
| choosing your catfish bait is that you shouldn't choose | | | | shad presented near the bottom and around thick |
| the bait based on your own preference. Instead, your | | | | cover. |
| concern should be the preference of the catfish. | | | | One catfish bait that is synonymous with production of |
| In the area you plan to fish, and with the type of | | | | large numbers of catfish is chicken livers. The part of |
| catfish you intend to look for, what is the best option | | | | the chicken that makes so many humans turn up their |
| for luring in the catch? Also, with the style of fishing | | | | noses produces a strong, meaty smell that can draw |
| you prefer, what catfish bait is best suited to your | | | | out catfish in large numbers from a wide radius. |
| preference? | | | | While you most likely won't catch a prize-winning large |
| If you are intending to fish for large catfish, remember | | | | cat with this bait, you'll most likely go home with an |
| that they prefer large meals. In such cases, a large | | | | incredible amount of channel cats that weigh up to a |
| chuck of shad can certainly do the trick. Because adult | | | | good ten pounds. Note that initially keeping a chicken |
| Flatheads have a diet almost entirely of live fish (with | | | | liver on the hook can be difficult, though they will |
| shad actually making up much of that diet because | | | | toughen after a little time in the water. Try using treble |
| they are found in the river channels), this catfish bait | | | | hooks with small pieces of bait, wrapping the liver onto |
| produces great results. | | | | the hook. That way, the hook can penetrate the bait in |
| Use shad in almost any reservoir and lots of rivers, | | | | several places for a more secure hold. |
| especially since they are readily available to fishermen. | | | | For best results, make a lob cast instead of fast-action |
| Cut the shad into chunks or strips, sizing them based | | | | snapping cast to make sure your bait doesn't travel |
| on the size of the catfish you aim to catch. Cut off the | | | | further than you hook. Use this relatively cheap bait for |
| head and tail and slice strips across the body for the | | | | channel cats and small Blues in areas where the |
| most efficient usage, or if the shad is extremely small, | | | | currents are not too strong, and don't leave the liver on |
| you may wish to use the whole fish as catfish bait. | | | | the hook for more than 15 or 20 minutes because loss |
| The Carolina rig is probably the most popular way to | | | | of natural juices takes away from their appeal after |
| fish with shad, using a large enough barrel weight to | | | | this amount of time. |
| keep the rig on the bottom. If you are looking for | | | | |