Quoted By:
Catfish are pretty easy. Just toss some bait out there, and they'll take it.
I've caught tiny Bullheads on huge circle hooks. I've caught massive Channels on tiny j hooks.
I like to put a 1oz pyramid weight on there, just so I can keep my line tense and see the slightest movement (hate gut hooks).
For bait, just about anything works.
My personal best was caught on a live crayfish.
My go-to sure-catch bait is chicken livers- I've had nights where I can't get them to stop biting on them. I usually take my canoe out to drop the bait in a good spot (those things easily rip off a hook on a big cast), then head back to my dock and mount the pole. One night I had a cat on the line every single fucking time I got back to the dock (in under 2 minutes) like 5 times in a row.
Catch a sunfish and cut it in to pieces, or give it a nice gash down the side and use the whole thing. (depending on your local regs... no size limit in my neck of the woods, and as long as you take no more than 50 fish per day or 25 of a single species, it's all legal)
One bait I haven't really heard anybody mention, but have had great success with, is Pork Hocks - chopped up pig legs; bone, skin & meat. The skin is so tough that it just wont fall off the hook. I have to use a bait knife and pliers to remove it when I'm done fishing. I've had fish swallow it, and I got my bait back intact. Plus it's cheap.
Basically, anything will work... It's just more about time and placement.
Chicken Livers are generally your best bet though. Cheap & proven effective.
Just watch out for turtles - they'll take just about anything a catfish will.
