| Some of the baits I have used for used for | | | | raw or grilled with seasoning. So if you |
| CATFISHing here on the Ohio River are, | | | | have some scrapes left over from a cookout |
| chicken liver, minnows, shrimp, Spam, French | | | | just put it in a small freezer bag. If you |
| Fries and more.Fresh chicken liver works | | | | have a friend that works in a restaurant |
| better than frozen liver that has thawed | | | | that has steak, ask them to make up doggie |
| out. It does get bites however, cats peck at | | | | bag of scraps for you. It stays on the hook |
| it so by the time you pick up the rod they | | | | very well when casting and the fish have a |
| have cleaned the bait off the hook. My | | | | hard time just pecking it off the hook. All |
| experience is the fish swallows the bait more | | | | of those eight fish were hooked, none |
| often than getting hooked. The biggest | | | | swallowed it. So I was able to released them |
| drawback is keeping the bait on the hook | | | | to grow bigger for the next season.This past |
| when casting from the bank. Trying to get a | | | | summer I was able to use a casting net to get |
| long cast with chicken liver is very | | | | some gizzard and thinfin shad for bait. |
| difficult. It seems like half the time the | | | | These fish die very quickly. So I just cut |
| liver will just fly off the hook with any | | | | them up for bait. Skipjack is a great bait |
| forceful cast. This is no problem if you are | | | | if you can get them. Around Cincinnati they |
| fishing from a boat, just flip it out and | | | | can be caught on a rod and reel in the Fall. |
| feed it line so the current can take it away | | | | Other than that the only place I know for |
| from the boat for you.Spam does get bites but | | | | skipjack year round is the power plant at |
| is even harder to cast from the bank. three | | | | Aberdeen Ohio. I have some frozen cut |
| out of four cast can see the bait go flying | | | | skipjack from last Fall to start off this |
| in the air before the line hits the | | | | season.July 19 2003 I caught two Channel Cats |
| water.Shrimp works well for it does have a | | | | around 2 1/2 lbs. using the skin from fried |
| scent to it and stays on the hook when | | | | chicken. It says on the hook for casting |
| casting from the bank. You normally have to | | | | O.K. Had 3 other bites but they stripped off |
| get the shrimp when it is on sale and freeze | | | | the bait. I'm not sure if large cats bite on |
| it. Then get it out the night before you | | | | it. Just started using it today. So when |
| fish to let it thaw out.Minnows are good for | | | | your family is done eating their chicken |
| there are so many fish that will feed on | | | | dinner put the scraps of skin in a small zip |
| them beside catfish. So even if the cats are | | | | lock bag in the freezer till you go |
| not biting you could get a perch, largemouth | | | | fishing.ALso learnd in July 2003 from another |
| bass, stripper or a white bass.Yes! I did | | | | Catfisherman about Chicken nuggets for bait. |
| say French Fries as bait! I have caught | | | | He had been telling me about it a couple |
| channel cats up river and right in the | | | | time this summer. The other week I saw him |
| downtown Cincinnati area on FRENCH FRIES. I | | | | actually catch a 5 lb. channel cat out of |
| did read posting from a guy that caught a | | | | the river using chicken nuggets. He turn to |
| large Flathead on fries by one of the | | | | me and said that was the smallest one of the |
| restaurants on the river in Newport Ky. Any | | | | day. He had landed 5 other cats earlier that |
| fast food place that sells fries works. If | | | | morning and released them. HE had stopped at |
| possible pick some up when heading to your | | | | McDonalds and picked up a 6 nugget serving |
| spot so they are on the warm side. That | | | | that morning. He said he has used other |
| allows the grease to get into the water to | | | | companies nuggets in the past.I hope you get |
| make a scent trail easier.I had great success | | | | a chance to try out some of these baits this |
| in February 2004 using chunks of steak for | | | | season. Tight lines and plenty of action to |
| bait. I caught 8 bluecats with it, largest | | | | all! |
| being 13 pounds. It did not matter if it was | | | | |