what is the best bait to catch big cats?

I catch alot of Catfish between dusk and dawn (but it dosent have to be), i get a can of dog food, and punch a few holes in it and let it sit for maybe 30-45 minutes then come back and fish with a live worm, or live bait of some sort.

johnboy

http://www.fishingclub.com/communit...p;t=144346

 

Has a lot of baits people use, my personal favorite is fresh real beef blood. Do some research on Folic Acids and Cats you will be surprised how much folic acids play a role in their choice of diets.

Its easier to Judge then be Judged, Its better to be Judged and Learn from it. Holdrege, Nebraska

Redneck catfish soup

I don't fish for cats, but sure seem to get asked a bunch of Q's when out on the water. I read this thread so that I might be able to offer some good advice when someone asks. Keep the wisdom coming, you guys make me look good! Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

I fish all the time for cats i get my biggest cats on fresh cut bait i use worms a lot but every little fish takes a bite. So cut bait,shrimp and are a few i use here in the chesapeke bay.

I like Sonny's Bloodbait. I seem to have great luck with is.

I use lye soap,it works great

It depends on species. My favorite eatin' cat is a flathead, which without doubt prefers live bait, like a 4-6" goldfish (carp). A flathead can't pass that up, even if it is dead. Blue cats eat most anything, predators like flatheads but I've found most every kind of forage and trash in their bellies, so to avoid mercury and other heavy metals I try to avoid them and channel cats. I've found the easiest (for me) bait (among the best choices) all three will eat is a rotting hotdog. The ones with some cheese in the middle attract better but are harder to keep on a hook. The 99 cent cheapest 6 pack dogs do about as well. When I plan to go get some cats I will buy hotdogs on sale that are reaching or past the expiration date, then leave them out on the counter overnight. Point out the data when checking out, as lots of times they let you have them free. When I see them swell up a bit I either refrigerate them if to be used soon, or freeze them. Before freezing I use a long tent needle to thread some mono line through the center then attach a treble hook so as to cradle the dog. I tie a loop in the other end for easy attachment to a mainline later. The frozen dog will begin to thaw under water and will be difficult for fish to steal it. Cats will swallow it frozen.

If you plan to use jugs or a trot line for whatever kind of cat comes along then I recommend blood bait. I occasionally buy 5 gallons of mixed slaughterhouse blood, needing only about a gallon. They sell by the bucket. I keep a stack of metal ice cube trays that make the old fashioned big cubes for this recipe. Place a treble hook in each cube, eye up. Either pour straight blood in the tray to flood the hook bends, or mix up a concoction first. Add a teaspoon of anise oil, some garlic oil, some melted Ivory bar soap, some Wheaties (catfisher- never toss out cereal or cornmeal ruined by bugs), chicken guts, whatever in a blender, then pour that over the hooks. Put the trays out in the sun where ants can get to it, let them naturally bake dry. Be sure no rain gets on them. Leave dead bugs that get stuck on the cubes. Pop the dried cubes out onto a cookie sheet greased with some oil, then freeze. Keep frozen until catfishin' day. Pack them to stay frozen, making attachment to a line easy and not too sloppy. When you run the lines just unsnap the empty hooks and those holding cats and replace with a frozen cube. Retrieve hooks with cats on them when cleaning the fish. I've learned not to try removing trebles from cats in the boat! Unsnap or cut the hanger line (trot line or jug), retie if you have to. I tie snap swivels to jug lines using Palomar knots every 5' or so down to bottom, which keeps me from having to retie hooks.

Hope this isn't too old fashioned for ya.

Jim

For big cats; Live bluegill or carp. Period!

I like fresh chicken liver (raw) on a trebel hook and I have mesh basket right above the hook that I use some strong smelling dip bait in. This combo almost always hooks one for me. The dip bait attracts them while its disolving in the water and the chicken liver or goldfish or whatever I get at the baitshop is what makes them bite. If you have problems with chicken liver staying on your hook you can dehydrate them some to make them tougher, but first season them with some garlic powder,brown sugar, and a little honey. helps them stay on the hook and the seasoning helps the catfish smell it better.