How big of live bait do you use?

[Shawn Kellett]

Some buddies and I were talking the other day and were wondering how big of live bait the catfish guys use.

[pureinsanity]

32" northerns.

JK. well typically we used up to 7" bullheads and no larger than 12" suckers, but that was because the laws kept us to that restriction. Now we can use up to 10" bullheads.

[fishinfey8]

Do you think the change in three inches will help catch bigger fish?? I have never fished for flatheads before just wondering. I've heard a lot of cat guys talk about being able to use bigger bait. Is this because it will be easier to get bait, or the catch rate and/or size will go up?

[Scott K]

As big as possible, although, I have caught big fish on 5 inchers as well. I guess it all depends on the spot. If I am fishing a sand bar, or a point, I will throw on the largest I have, if I am fishing a thick snag pile, I will throw on a smaller one, so it doesnt get itself into a snag. But usually, I just put on whatever unlucky one, I was able to grab first.

It sure widens the bait choice, when catching your own bait. It is much easier to get 100 bullheads, when you can use between 5-10 inches, then when it was only 5-7 inches.

[DTro]

Like 4WE said, as big as legally possible. Mostly though it's whatever I can get my hands on. If my bait spots are only giving up 6"ers, then so be it.

Flats will eat a bigger bait than you can use. I've read stories of 20+" bass being found in them.

The biggest problem with "mega" baits is that they are harder to keep alive and also finding a reliable methed to transfer the hook from the bait to the fish you want to catch.

I was watching Keyes last Sat and they had a great rig with a bridle that went through the nose of the sucker and then 2 trailers with trebles that they hooked on each side. That looked like a super option, but not sure if it's legal here in MN (they were in Hayward).

[dan z]

I have used some chubs that I could fillet. It all depends on were I sit some days the small stuff works some spot the bigger the better. I remember using 15" stuff in the recent years with okay results. Its reallt hard to keep the bigger bait alive in the livewell/bucket even with air...

thankfully I can catch the bait in the same waters I fish.

[TruthWalleyes]

Going from 7" to 10" just means that most of the bullheads that i use will now be legal

Suckers i try not to use bigger than 12" because they are pretty hard to keep in one spot on the bottom!!

10" bullheads have not caught me anything huge...but i have gotten a flat as small as 24" on a 10" bullhead

[pureinsanity]

Do you think the change in three inches will help catch bigger fish?? I have never fished for flatheads before just wondering. I've heard a lot of cat guys talk about being able to use bigger bait. Is this because it will be easier to get bait, or the catch rate and/or size will go up?

I personally think the bigger bait is nicer because well, when we fish for bullies wed have to measure them to make sure they meet the 7" or less. Now it is not such a big deal. Its going to be hard to find the bigger bullheads, but it will be nice to use them when we do find them. Now basically any bullhead you catch you can toss into your bucket as they are close to 7inches maybe smaller or bigger.. Most of us that use bullheads frequently can tell you the approximate length of a bullhead by looking at it.

Bigger bait sometimes means bigger fish. I have also caught a big fish on a piece of cut bait the size of a 50 cent piece.

I think in theory the bigger the bait the bigger the fish. it isn't always true, but it would be nice if that was the case lol

If you were given a free steak, free of charge, would you take the 10 oz or the 14 oz? Would those extra 4 oz lure you in to going for the bigger steak? Probably.

[reinhard1]

we were fishing for crappies on mille lacs in cove bay years ago. but we had tip ups just in case a pike was prowling. all the pike we caught that day were on tear drops with crappie minnows. only one on the tip up with suckers. the largest my 22 pounder i have mounted was on a crappie rig as well. an old timer told me about that spot on cove bay, he called it "submarine ally". two of my largest walleys i caught [both 31 inches] were caught on light gear with small baits. good luck.

[fishinJohn]

I am glad this came up. I fish with bluegill (legal here) and caught a few my last time out that seemed like they may be too big to use for bait. There was a slight conflict because these were "keeper" bluegill although I would not keep anything from that water. I suppose there is no better outcome for a quality bluegill in lousy water than being bait for a giant catfish. So is there a size that is too small for a flathead? I will be going bigger in the future so it may not matter.

[Scott K]

To be honest, I would much rather have a livewell full of 7 inchers, then a livewell full of 10 inchers. Although, a selection of 6-10, is always best.

[pureinsanity]

No, I've seen them take large bullheads, to inch by inch cut bait, to a single crawler.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

two maybe two and half pound sheephead

[Gordie]

Ive caught 40lb flats on 3 inch creek cubs and have seen bigger ones caught on fatheads but I like to use big baits also but my PB came off of a 5 inch bully but I will be tossing out a few 10 inchers this year.

I guess its whats available now when it comes to suckers its like spearing go big or stay home