The Best Baits for Catfish: Top Picks, Techniques, and Setups That Work
Catfish are one of the most popular freshwater game fish in North America. Known for their size, strength, and bottom-dwelling habits, catfish can be caught using a variety of baits and techniques. Whether you’re chasing channel cats in a river, blues in a reservoir, or flatheads in logjams, your success often starts with the right bait.
In this article, we’ll break down the best catfish baits, how to present them, and which setups will help you land more fish.
🎣 Top Catfish Baits (Natural and Prepared)
The Best Baits for Catfish
1. Cut Bait
Best For: Blue catfish, large channel cats
Bait Examples: Shad, skipjack, herring, carp
Why It Works:
Catfish are opportunistic feeders with a strong sense of smell. Oily fish like shad give off a strong scent trail in the water, attracting big blues and channels from a distance.
How to Use:
• Cut bait into chunks (1”–3” depending on fish size)
• Hook through the tough part of the flesh to keep it on
• Let it sit on bottom with a slip sinker rig
2. Live Bait
Best For: Flathead catfish (and trophy blues)
Bait Examples: Bluegill, bullhead, goldfish (where legal), shad
Why It Works:
Flatheads prefer live, struggling prey. The movement triggers their instinct to ambush.
How to Use:
• Use a circle or Kahle hook behind the dorsal fin or through the lips
• Fish in current breaks, structure, or near submerged logs
• Rig with a heavy slip sinker and strong leader
3. Chicken Liver
Best For: Channel catfish
Why It Works:
Chicken liver is inexpensive, bloody, and full of scent—perfect for attracting hungry cats.
Pro Tip:
Wrap liver in mesh or pantyhose to keep it on the hook longer.
Best Setup:
• Use a treble hook or bait holder hook
• Fish in still or slow-moving water where you can let it soak
4. Dip Baits and Punch Baits
Best For: Channel catfish in warm water
Popular Brands: Danny King’s, Catfish Charlie, Secret 7
Why It Works:
These stink baits are designed to release scent rapidly and attract cats fast.
How to Use:
• Use a dip worm or sponge hook
• Cast near structure and let it sit
• Refresh bait every 15–20 minutes
5. Nightcrawlers and Worms
Best For: Eating-size catfish (all species)
Why It Works:
A universal bait that works year-round, especially in ponds, lakes, and streams.
How to Use:
• Thread onto a baitholder hook
• Fish on the bottom or under a float in shallows
• Great for beginners and kids
6. Hot Dogs and Shrimp
Best For: Channel cats
Why It Works:
These grocery store baits work surprisingly well when soaked in garlic or Kool-Aid. The added scent makes them more appealing.
How to Use:
• Cut into chunks
• Hook once through the end
• Use with a slip sinker rig or float in shallow water
🪝 Effective Catfish Rigs and Setups
1. Carolina Rig (Slip Sinker Rig)
Great for: Most bottom fishing situations
Setup:
• Sliding sinker on main line
• Bead and swivel
• 12–24” leader to hook
• Works with live or cut bait
2. Float Rig
Great for: Shallow water, near cover or vegetation
Setup:
• Slip or fixed float
• Split shot sinker below
• Hook with worm, cut bait, or liver
• Drift near structure or edges
3. Santee Cooper Rig
Great for: River or lake fishing with live/cut bait
Setup:
• Same as Carolina rig but with a peg float on the leader
• Keeps bait just off bottom, increasing visibility and scent distribution
4. Three-Way Rig
Great for: Fishing in current
Setup:
• Mainline to three-way swivel
• Dropper line to weight
• Leader to baited hook
• Ideal for rivers and heavy structure
🎯 Tips for Better Catfish Success
• Fish during low light: Catfish are most active at dawn, dusk, and at night
• Find structure: Look for logjams, ledges, holes, or current seams
• Use heavy gear: Catfish fight hard—use medium-heavy rods, strong hooks, and 15–50 lb test line
• Be patient: Let the bait sit and soak; catfish often take their time
• Use scent to your advantage: Always refresh baits and keep hands clean to avoid masking odor
Catfishing is a game of scent, patience, and presentation. Whether you’re using old-school chicken liver or high-end cut bait, success comes down to understanding how catfish feed and where they live. With the right bait and rig, you can turn any quiet riverbank or dock into a hotspot.
Thanks for reading this blog post! If you’re a fishing fanatic like me, show your passion by rocking one of the fishing shirts available in my shop. Every purchase helps support my mission to spread the joy of fishing, protect the waters we love, and keep the spirit of the outdoors alive.
Tight lines,
Danny Egan
Egan Fishing
