Artificial Bait For Catfish

[Outdoor Zack]

In one of the places I fish, a muddy, slow-moving stream, I know that there is a decent population of catfish.  I've caught them before using worms and a bobber, but I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with artificial bait?  Would a soft-jerkbait just dragged along the bottom of the stream work?  Thanks in advance.

[Bluebasser86]

Any of the Gulp! brand baits fished slowly along the bottom will catch catfish I promise. A deep diving crankbait ticking through the rocks will get their attention also. 

[scaleface]

I have caught many in lakes and rivers . Crankbaits are by far the most effective lures I've used . If you can find an area with faster current , that will be a good place to catch channels . Ive had luck just holding a shallow diving , rattling  crankbait still for several minutes and let the current work it . 

[soflabasser]

You should try using swimbaits.I have caught many channel catfish on swimbaits and it's always a suprise when I see them on the end of the line instead of a big bass.

[Outdoor Zack]

You should try using swimbaits.I have caught many channel catfish on swimbaits and it's always a suprise when I see them on the end of the line instead of a big bass.

 

 

You should try using swimbaits.I have caught many channel catfish on swimbaits and it's always a suprise when I see them on the end of the line instead of a big bass.

 

I assume you just fish it along the bottom?

[bigbassin']

I've seen friends catch them with senkos covered in scent, but I've never had any luck trying it.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I catch a bunch in the winter on blade baits. The blue catfish on the Potomac are pretty aggressive, so I catch them on pretty much all bass lures. The ones with the highest catfish ratio for me are:

 

-drop shot

-jigs

-Carolina rig

-bottom ticking crank baits

 

I also second what Bluebasser86 said about Gulp... they love that stuff.   

[soflabasser]

@Outdoor Zack,yes you fish the swimbait as close to the ground as possible. Reel slowly and occasionally give a twitch.This is also a great technique to catch big bass.

[Outdoor Zack]

I catch a bunch in the winter on blade baits. The blue catfish on the Potomac are pretty aggressive, so I catch them on pretty much all bass lures. The ones with the highest catfish ratio for me are:

 

-drop shot

-jigs

-Carolina rig

-bottom ticking crank baits

 

I also second what Bluebasser86 said about Gulp... they love that stuff.   

 

Sounds like a few things to try.  But about the Gulp! baits, which lures do you recommend?  I though most of their products were for saltwater?

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Sounds like a few things to try.  But about the Gulp! baits, which lures do you recommend?  I though most of their products were for saltwater?

Saltwater Gulp works fine in freshwater. There is also a freshwater Gulp product. The ones that seem to excel for me are the minnows, leeches and grubs. 

[Outdoor Zack]

Saltwater Gulp works fine in freshwater. There is also a freshwater Gulp product. The ones that seem to excel for me are the minnows, leeches and grubs. 

 

I'll have to keep an eye out for them.  Thanks.

[Bluebasser86]

Sounds like a few things to try.  But about the Gulp! baits, which lures do you recommend?  I though most of their products were for saltwater?

A 3 or 4 inch Gulp minnow on a jighead swam slowly along the bottom or vertical jigged has accounted for dozens of channels, blues, and a few flatheads, and I don't even fish them that often. 

[Bankbeater]

Well so far this year I have caught them on shallow running crankbaits, senkos, and bladed jigs. Most of them have been shallow.

[Bluebasser86]

Well so far this year I have caught them on shallow running crankbaits, senkos, and bladed jigs. Most of them have been shallow.

That's probably the most important part. When they're shallow, it's typically because they're feeding aggressively or actively looking for a meal. I had one night this summer that I caught over 30 channel cats in the 1-8 pound range on spinnerbaits and bladed jigs and missed several more fishing right against the bank. The shad and craws were very active that night and it appears they were taking full advantage of it. 

[davecon]

I know this sounds crazy, I have trouble believing it and I used to do it, but here goes - cast a rattle trap out, color makes no difference, let it sink to the bottom then rip it up using the rod only. If one doesn't hit it wind up the slack and rip it again. Now this was in an area with hard sand bottom and no vegetation but I used to be able to fill a 48 quart cooler with fish that averaged 5 pounds in a little over an hour. If the wife wanted to have a family fish fry it was almost as good as going to the fish market. It was that reliable. Won't hurt to try.

[Outdoor Zack]

Got some new jigs earlier this week and I got to thinking, would a jig 'n pig or jig 'n craw work well for catfish?  Has anybody had luck with jigs?

[Bluebasser86]

5 hours ago, Outdoor Zack said:

Got some new jigs earlier this week and I got to thinking, would a jig 'n pig or jig 'n craw work well for catfish?  Has anybody had luck with jigs?

Cats, especially flatheads, love jigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Outdoor Zack]

Nice catches!

[smallie.mike]

Chatterbaits!!!!!! I can't keep the channel cats off these things in my local rivers!

[Bluebasser86]

8 hours ago, smallie.mike said:

Chatterbaits!!!!!! I can't keep the channel cats off these things in my local rivers!

They love them around here too. I had 33 channel cats in a single night last summer on a black and blue and a sapphire blue homemade versions. Flatheads will eat them as well.