The humble catfish is one of the most sought after fish in freshwater fisheries throughout the world. As a food source its value is indisputable; wild ones are common in most rivers and lakes, and their hardiness makes the catfish a good candidate for large scale farming operations. That’s the real reason why catfish is almost always the cheapest fare at your seafood market. It has nothing to do with the perceived cleanliness or quality of catfish and everything to do with the ease with which they are grown.
For folks with access to a good fishing hole or two, the catfish becomes an even more attractive food source. In many waters they present one the best options for anglers looking to hook dinner. They’re prolific, and they’re certainly not picky eaters. Put out a trotline or two, and you could have a whole mess of fillets ready for the table in no time.
The most important thing to remember about homemade catfish bait is a basic fact of the catfish’s biology. For catfish it’s all about taste and, to an extent, hearing. They are largely nocturnal, and as such they don’t really rely on their relatively weak vision to keep their bellies full. It’s the fishes’ “whiskers,” or barbels, that taste the water and bring them to your bait.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise that homemade catfish baits focus on strong tastes and smells. Delicately tied fly lures have no place in the tackle box of a dedicated cat fisherman. Recipes for baits range from simplicity to sheer putrescence, so if you try some of these concoctions, well, don’t use the good blender.
Some good catfish baits can be made with very little effort. Start with something that might make a decent bait on its own, and enhance it. Chicken livers, for example, are a favorite among cat fishermen. However, they are soft and messy, and it’s sometimes quite difficult to keep livers on the hook while casting. Try drying the livers in the sun until they toughen up, or use a food dehydrator. Add some garlic salt while they’re drying for extra aroma.
A similar approach works for other common baits. First, get some sliced hot dogs or chicken gizzards. Gizzards have the added bonus of being both cheap and tough enough to stay hooked for a long time. Again, add some garlic salt and a bit of pungent sauce like soy, teriyaki or even vanilla extract. Shake it well and refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it. You can let it sit outside for a while if you want to expedite the process for immediate use.
Other catfish bait recipes are more involved. Many of them mimic the store-bought stinkbaits that you’ve probably seen before. Your base will be flour, oatmeal or bread to give the bait a doughy consistency. After that your options are wide open. Blend or chop up your choice and mix it with the flour until it gets firm enough. You can use chicken, bait fish, hot dogs, meat trimmings and cheese, just to name a few. A can of dog food makes a nice, frugal addition. Again, pungent sauces and garlic are good. Feel free to experiment with different concoctions, but it’s a good idea to use your experience. If the fish have been biting on chicken, use chicken. If they seem to prefer live bait, use perch or minnows.
Bait is all well and good, but chum is your secret weapon. Homemade catfish bait also makes excellent chum, which is a stinky mixture placed in the water near your spot to attract fish. Use a mesh chum bag or old pantyhose; fill it up and tie it off to a tree or dock. An easier chum option is to punch a few holes in a can of dog food, tie a string to it and hang it in the water.