Best Bait???

[cubbies11]

I have several ideas for bait after reading this post. I was just wondering what everyone likes to use and how the pastes and those rubber tube things work around here? What about chiken livers (used them down south)?

Cubbies

[hanson]

Well... If you've been reading all the posts lately, you should have a good idea.

I personally like Goldeye or Mooneye for channel cats cut up into chunks. Goldeye really shines up on the Red River and works very well in the cities too. If I don't have any Goldeyes, cut sucker would be my 2nd choice. When fall rolls around, its hard to beat frogs for channel cats either.

I don't use dip baits, stink baits, dough baits, or anything like that. Fresh cut works well enough for me. I know the guys down south like prepared baits but I don't have confidence in them yet.

You should be alright with chicken livers too.

[Maashkinoozhe]

Hi Chris -

Where would one get mooneye/goldeye for bait? No trouble getting suckers...

Thanks!

Dave D.

[bgreen82]

the few times ive been out and had some success we used cut shad, and then some liver. dont know what kinda liver, that was a friend of mine. ive only been out catting about 5 times and 4 of them ive used cut shad just cuz there is a place i can get lots of them.

[hanson]

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Where would one get mooneye/goldeye for bait?

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Ha, ha! Million dollar question!

I usually get my goldeye when I'm up north on the Red Lake River. I've got a spot that I can fill a cooler in no time flat. I just freeze them whole and go from there the rest of the summer. Fresh cut bait is always better but freshly frozen isn't too bad either. One of these days, I'll get a vacuum packer and they will be super fresh.

The spot happens to be right below a dam and we catch them all over. Catch them on the bottom with nightcrawlers or catch them 6 inches under a bobber with a crawler on a hook. Lots of fun to catch too. I can keep my dad busy all day catching bait while I'm waiting out a cat!

[bgreen82]

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One of these days, I'll get a vacuum packer and they will be super fresh.

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yeah, my folks got one and they are great for freezing bait. i would suggest it whole-heartedly.

[Kurt Paulsen]

If you are looking for Goldeye, try around streams that meet with a larger river. They really like calmer, cloudy water. Try on the surface with minnows or crawlers. Try a few different spots until you find them. I have always had luck around larger streams. Even up stream aways, if it is deep enough. If you can't find any inlets, look for calm pockets and backwaters.

[Maashkinoozhe]

Thanks Chris and Kurt! I've also been meaning to expand my species list too, so it'll be nice to do that and get some nice catfish bait.

Dave D.

[Capt. Quicksteel]

I'm not as experienced as some of these guys but I've had great luck using chicken livers. If I can get them I actually use turkey livers because they're tougher on the hook. You feel kind of goofy going into a fancy deli and asking for them but the channels love 'em. If you have only chicken livers,I hear you can toughen them up a bit by putting them in the microwave for 10 seconds but I haven't tried that.

[Kurt Paulsen]

Do you find that other spieces take a snap at those livers as well? I use a crawler quite often because it will catch almost anything. There isn't much I hate more than getting skunked, so I would rather catch carp all day and the occasion cat rather than nothing or a bite and hour.

[Capt. Quicksteel]

I guess I've never caught anything else on the livers. I'll have to keep that in mind....

[AQUAJOE]

Anybody ever use cut up smelt?

[cubbies11]

I used chicken livers today picked up 2 small channels and 1 carp (yep carp on a liver).

Cubbies