There are lots of debate among catmen as to what is the best bait. I have some examples but cannot cover all baits. Your choice of bait can be selected according to the species of cats you target. Sometimes the size of fish in your waters determines the type of bait you select. Your method of fishing (presentation) may dictate which bait you decide to use.
I will start with baits for channel cats because they are more widespread and available to all catmen. The most available and convenient baits are prepared baits. These are found in most bait shops and can be stored in tackle boxes until needed.
Prepared baits are normally effective on immature channel cats. They are meant to mimic dead fish or other organic materials that scavenging channel cats seek.
Channel cats will eat almost any organic material but as they grow larger they tend to favor natural baits. Following heavy rains channel cats expect to encounter worms in the water.
At certain times grasshoppers and other terrestrial insects are numerous. The opportunistic channel cats watch windblown banks for meals.
Throughout the year as fish spawn there will be small fish and minnows available for channel cats to feed on. You can seign or trap these or buy them at bait shops.
Larger mature channel cats have a taste for higher protien baits to sustain size and growth. Larger minoows such as chubs and suckers are favored over smaller baits. These can be caught, seigned, or even bought at bait shops.
A summertime favorite on the Red river in Manitoba is a goldeye. These are caught from creeks and rivers on hook and line. Usually fished as cut bait for the trophy channel cats.
Shad and skipjack herring are also a preferred cut bait for channel cats particularly in rivers.
Skipjack can be caught on small jigs or sabiki rigs but shad must be cast netted or seigned.
Smaller blue cats can be taken on worms and terrestrial insects. Larger fish have diets of fish. Large shad and skipjack herring make good baits in waters they are found.
Skipjack herring are often caught in tailraces and hot water discharges with small jigs and sabiki rigs.
This large chunk of shad is typical of big baits used for trophy blue cats on big rivers such as the lower James river. Shad are castnetted or caught with gill nets.
Blue cats will eat any cut fish but herring and shad are popular because they are parts of the normal diet and their oily flesh produces a chum trail for the cats to follow.
To see more information about cut baits for cats, you can click this link. Cutbait Cats
Small eels are popular on tidal rivers like the Cape Fear and James. These can be caught in eel pots or purchased at bait shops.
Flathead are predators and 98% of their diet is live fish. Flathead in different waterways tend to have favorite live baits but will seldom pass up any lively baitfish.
Bluegills are a favorite bait because they are readily available hardy baits. Flathead encounter and eat the bluegills often.
Rock bass are even hardier and more energetic baits. They are not as common as bluegills but their struggles seem to attract more attention from flathead.
In Spring before water temperatures get high, suckers make a good flathead bait.
Small carp make good baits even when waters warm, if you can get them.
Larger goldfish make good substitutes for small carp. These are often sold in baitshops near flathead fishing areas.
Here is an article I wrote about goldfish. You might find interesting information about these fine baits.
