Homemade Catfish Bait: The Best Bait for Catfish
If you’ve ever wondered what the best bait for catfish is, homemade catfish bait you make yourself is the best kind. So we’ve decided to start a collection here of our favorite and tried and true catfish bait recipes.
While you can get a number of different (and pretty stinky) pre-made baits at the local bait shop and even some big box stores, these usually will only leave you pretty disappointed at the end of the day. There’s a number of reasons why you would want to make your own catfish bait, and the best reason is because it actually works! There is nothing worse than going fishing and coming back home empty handed! But, when you use the right bait, that almost never happens. It’s also a lot cheaper in most cases – pound for pound it can save you several dollars each time.
You’ll likely want to experiment with these different recipes to see what works the best for you – some people swear by one type, while others prefer another – some are convenient, while others are a little more involved to make. But all of these are ones I’ve used with pretty good results, so as crazy as some of these sound I assure you they’ve all been personally tested by me and do way better than anything you’ll get out of a patch or a can from the bait & tackle shop. You need to also remember the season, weather, location, and other fishing conditions can affect your success – so if these don’t work the first time, don’t give up – they DO work! You just might need to experiment for the right time of year.
Quick Easy & Convenient Baits
Before we go fishing, we usually make a stop at the grocery store where we get something my wife absolutely hates: chicken livers!
The grocery store sells ours pre-cut, and so this is really handy, as you just put it on the hook and are good to go. I’ve also found that if I have too many I can stick them in the freezer and use them next time I go fishing without a problem. (Another bonus to storing them in the freezer is my wife will beg me to go fishing because she can’t stand seeing them!)
Other things that will work well in a pinch are actually standard lunch fare for a toddler: hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Shrimp is another one that will work, but they can be pretty pricey.
If you want to try an experiment, try soaking the livers, hot dogs, or chicken nuggets in cherry soda or cherry cola…catfish seem to really like that for some reason!
Next on the list is dough balls.
If you are making dough balls, remember that catfish will eat anything that smells really strong or has a sweet flavor. It helps to have a basic base for the dough balls, like flour, water, and shortening or grease. (If you happen to have bacon for breakfast some morning, make sure you save it because that works really well!) The measurements here are just approximate, I never actually measure anything, just mix it up in a bowl and if the mixture is too thin, thick, or not the right consistency I’ll add more flour or water or grease as need be. Tuna is another tried & true favorite, especially because it is so convenient.
Here’s one doughball recipe:
1 1/2 cups flour (you may need more)
1 cup Cheez-Whiz or Velveeta type of cheese
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can tuna (with water/juice)
1/2 cup Shortening
water if needed
Combine all of the ingredients together until you get a doughy paste perfect for balls…if it is too runny, add more flour, if it’s too thick, add some shortening or water. If using processed cheese cubes, mash it up with a fork. Roll into little balls and freeze/refrigerate until use.
If you ever talk to anyone about making dough balls, they’ll give you a number of different recipes to try out…so don’t be afraid to deviate or experiment with just what you have. The most important thing is that it needs to be able to stay attached to the hook without falling off once it hits the water. Start with flour & shortening (or grease from cooking) as a base – then add whatever else sounds good to you. Some people will add cherry gelatin, strawberry gelatin, mustard, and many other different things. There’s plenty of different wacky and crazy baits out there.
What’s your favorite homemade catfish bait recipe? Share it below so I can try it out!
Category: Bait