>>823315There are different species of cats, 3 main freshwater ones in the US- channel, flathead, and blues. Channel cats are probably the most widespread and common but can still get pretty big if you are fishing them on a bass setup. Flatheads and blues get really big and you would have a hell of a time landing a medium blue cat on a bass setup.
Channel cats will go for anything, alive or dead. I have caught a bunch on nightcrawlers and commercial stink baits. I have had channel cats hit lures a couple times but it is rare. I think you have to go right past their mouth while they are hungry, they aren't going to hunt it down like other predators.
Never had a blue or flathead, I have never actually targeted them in a body of water that had em. I hear they like live stuff too, a 3"-4" bluegill hooked up towards the bottom is supposed to be the way to go for that.
Pic related is a channel cat I caught on an ultralight with a beetle spin lure while going for crappie at this little pond just before I moved out of IL.
>>823319I have that same problem with those damn worms. Zoom makes lizards like that with a black body and chartruese tail. I get lots of bites on them, but a lot of times it will be bluegill or cichlids grabbing the tail with no chance to hook them, or a largemouth will grab the tail and I will try to set the hook and start reeling it in and the bass lets go a couple seconds later.
Chartruese Pepper lizards are definitely one of my favorites when nothing else is working. There is another Zoom lizard color called "Cotton Candy" that has a light purple-ish body and chartruese tail, but the tail isn't so bright that the fish don't touch the rest of the lure. There is a Zoom pumpkin chartruese like that too where the chartruese tail isn't super bright.
>>823323Did you buy that rod online? They look nice and the price is decent, there aren't enough good rods in that $80 price range. Pretty much Abu Vendettas or whatever store brand you can find.
