Fishing with liver

[mrklean]

How do you guys fish with livers? I have heard a few different ways and wanted to see what you guys do. I wanna try to make it out sunday if im lucky and was gonna try using livers.

[Carp-fisher]

I used to fish with chicken livers quite abit...they are my go-to bait for channel cats 5 lbs and under. I usually use like a 1/0 or 2/0 kahl hook and a slip sinker with a chunk of liver about the size of a golf ball or under. The key is to keep the liver in a cooler and to use a pole with a soft tip and lob side armed. Turkey livers are really good if you can get a hold of them but my success has been limited with beef and pork liver. Oh and keep a rag handy 'cause that blood gets everywhere....

[mrklean]

i figure i would try them first the are really cheap and can get them pretty quick, was thinking livers first then go to cut bait after awhile

[graybeard2]

I use livers a lot when it warms up, but IMO when it's early like this, cut bait is the way to go.

[mainbutter]

I gave up on chicken livers, cut bait stays on the hook so well I don't bother with livers anymore.

[Dennis Steele]

I used to fish with chicken livers quite abit...they are my go-to bait for channel cats 5 lbs and under. I usually use like a 1/0 or 2/0 kahl hook and a slip sinker with a chunk of liver about the size of a golf ball or under. The key is to keep the liver in a cooler and to use a pole with a soft tip and lob side armed. Turkey livers are really good if you can get a hold of them but my success has been limited with beef and pork liver. Oh and keep a rag handy 'cause that blood gets everywhere....

I do just about the same as Carp Fisher.

I do however like circle hooks (4/0) and long rods.

Just keep wrapping the liver around and around trhe hook kind of like a gob worms on a hook.

Another tip to keeping the liver on the hook is to get fresh livers if you can. A lot of time those tubs of liver have been previously frozen. The freezing breaks down the liver's membrane and it just falls off the hook.

Or you can wrap the liver in cheese cloth, or your wifes nylon stockings before putting it on the hook.

If there are smaller cats in the area they usually can't resist a hunk of chicken liver.

[mrklean]

i had heard about the nylon thing before thats what i as wondering about. Never really fished cats before so i think catch some smaller ones to start out with would be fun gotta start out someplace

[HuskerBen]

I know some old timers who rolled livers in cornmeal and set them out in the sun to dry out a bit. The skin toughens up, and they stay on the hook better. But I've always had the best luck with very fresh chicken livers, because the blood is such a good attractant. Just cast carefully.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Make sure its a HOT sunny dry day if your going that route.

I will never touch another chicken liver again after trying that my 1st time catting. I swear I was smelling Rank Liver for 3 days...

[MidCoast]

CHICKEN LIVER WORKS PRETTY WELL, BUT SOMETIMES TOO MANY BAIT FISH PICKS IT OFF THE HOOK

[EBass]

cheese cloth like Dennis mentioned. Seems like a lot of work, but if that's what they want.

[zzammon]

To piggy back on mrklean's question.

I butcher chickens, but can't get myself to give those tasty livers to the cats. Is there any other portions of the chicken to use, such as lung, intestines, maybe even the heart? I could part with that.

[Gordie]

Chicken hearts are great to eat also.. Ive use the nylons and cheese cloth also..

[Hamper]

Never seen anyone use this before cant wait to try it out, thanks!

[Brad B]

Hamper,

Chicken livers and cut suckers are probably the best two baits of channel cats. Stink baits do work from time to time but some type of meat seems better.

[Hamper]

Sweet I don't mind getting a little bloody, gonna go try this soon as those stubborn rivers go down. Crappies were bitin really good on Buffalo Lake yesterday when it was all overcast and nasty round 6pm definately gettin the itch!

[rudeodrive89]

Livers work great but can be frustrating.

One thing that we do is use both chicken and Beef Livers. Chicken livers seem to work much better as an attractant, but fall off the hook with the cast or in the current frequently. Beef livers will work by themselves but I have found them to be less successful than chicken livers.

Usually what we do is use both on the same hook. Place the chicken liver first and hook it several different locations, then cut a small piece of beef liver to put on next. This beef Liver will help to keep chicken liver on during cast and while underwater. Also if the chicken liver still comes up in the water you still have an effective (but less effective in my opinion) bait on there with the beef liver.

Also I have used nylons as well and they work.

We used to fish exclusively with Livers, but have switched over to using more cutbait (primarily caught redhorse). We still usually bring livers along, and they will work my PB is on chicken livers.

If your starting out, wow man wait till you get into a biggun it is absolutely awesome from shore, and also if you find yourself being frustrated by livers dont worry stick with it and you will catch some great fish.

[Hamper]

Thanks for the great info drive, I'll be hitting the Montissippi tommorrow with your info as I've heard of straight up livers falling off the hook or getting nibbled. I clean chix everyday at work so have an adequate supply to work with. You also mentioned you swithed to cut bait. I heard thats better to use during these early spring sessions stationary and switch to livers in the summer. Any difference?

[mrklean]

This was my first one i got on liver, the second one was a little bigger but no one around to take a pic. Gotta say i think im getting hooked and i havent even got into flatheads yet.

[Barbelboy]

mrklean,

One more tip. Go buy one of the small rubbermaid or other platic tubs. Keep the liver in there and do all of your baiting in the little tub. As previously stated, liver is bloody and will drip all over everything in the boat. I've converted my once pristine crestliner to a magnificent cat fishing machine by bathing every part of it in liver juice or catfish slime over the last 4-5 years.

Oh, and don't leave the liver in the fridge too long thinking you'll use it later. It starts to rot and off gases in the fridge. I went for days wondering what was making me gag everytime I reached for a beer!

[Hamper]

Hey found the Montissippi spot after finding the spot behind the trailer park and you guys were on the money. From 1pm-3pm broad daylight caught 6 cats a smallmouth and a turtle. Cats were on the smaller side 5-8lbs but still tons of fun. Couldn't have done it without the help of you guys and this forum. I was using suckers cut into 3rds from the advice on a previous thread never heard of it and it was money. This is the best MN forum.

[Brad B]

Hamper,

Glad to hear you got into the cats at montissippi. Those smaller ones are the ones that are good eaters. remember thou you can only keep one over 24 inches. so the other 4 or all 5 fish for that fact can be under 24". this would only apply if you want some to eat. was the pier out yet.

[Brad B]

This was my first one i got on liver, the second one was a little bigger but no one around to take a pic. Gotta say i think im getting hooked and i havent even got into flatheads yet.

Nice fish. yea catfish fishing can get addicting. You should try to ice some next winter that is a blast when you pull them up your hole.

[mrklean]

hamper where did you get your bait at, was looking for a place with good sized suckers

[Hamper]

Brad, the pier was not out yet, it was sitting right next to shore, however, so it should be out there soon.

mrklean, I always get my bait from tesoro in Buffalo, used to be conoco right on 25. The medium suckers are around 5 bucks for a half dozen. But they worked like a charm.

I imagine around 7-9pm they would be goin nuts since this was midday. Thanks to everyone for their help.