For those that sling the rancid goo what's your favorite?

Not sure if they still make Premo, but I caught 109 lbs in 4 hours on swim noodles several years ago.

For years we used Bee-Jay bait.  These days I'm using cut bait for catfishing.

On 7/9/2023 at 3:24 AM, GreenPig said:

Not sure if they still make Premo, but I caught 109 lbs in 4 hours on swim noodles several years ago.

I've never tried Promo but ill have to give it a shot. Overs the years I've tried several different ones-- catfish charlies, junnies cat tracker, various Berkley options ....my favorite has always been sonnys super sticky, now goes by Triple S made in Farmington, Iowa where my grandpa lives.

Sonny's/ Triple S is the best I've tried.

It stays on the hook and attracts them.

I like the punchbaits. They stay on the hook even in current. Danny King might be the best.

I’ve never caught a single fish on any of that nasty mess. I can still smell it from 25 years ago tho 

There was a local guy here that made some called Aiking Bak (pronounced "aching back"). I remember using that stuff as a kid with my dad on a sponge bait and it worked really well. Only thing I've used since then was Sonny's and it worked well but I'm almost never chasing eater sized catfish and even if I am, cutbait, grasshoppers, nightcrawlers, shrimp, chicken livers, or pretty much whatever else you want to use that isn't as disgusting smelling will work as good or better. 

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

There was a local guy here that made some called Aiking Bak (pronounced "aching back"). I remember using that stuff as a kid with my dad on a sponge bait and it worked really well. Only thing I've used since then was Sonny's and it worked well but I'm almost never chasing eater sized catfish and even if I am, cutbait, grasshoppers, nightcrawlers, shrimp, chicken livers, or pretty much whatever else you want to use that isn't as disgusting smelling will work as good or better. 

I've never used grasshoppers for cats. I've always heard they are underrated. Guess I should try em.

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

I've never used grasshoppers for cats. I've always heard they are underrated. Guess I should try em.

They're one of my preferred channel cat baits in the summer and early fall. Oddly enough, there seems to be preferred species of grasshoppers by the catfish also. They eat a few types here really well and tend to kind of ignore the rest. I think maybe there are certain kinds they encounter frequently that they like, and other ones that rarely end up in the water that they don't eat normally. The ones that are exceptional flyers they don't seem to like very well. The one that can only fly short distances, those they seem to really enjoy.

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

They're one of my preferred channel cat baits in the summer and early fall. Oddly enough, there seems to be preferred species of grasshoppers by the catfish also. They eat a few types here really well and tend to kind of ignore the rest. I think maybe there are certain kinds they encounter frequently that they like, and other ones that rarely end up in the water that they don't eat normally. The ones that are exceptional flyers they don't seem to like very well. The one that can only fly short distances, those they seem to really enjoy.

How do you gather your hoppers? You've got me intrigued

2 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

How do you gather your hoppers? You've got me intrigued

A small net works well but I've always grabbed them by hand. A seine net walked through tall grass works great also but requires 2 people and a seine net. 

17 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

A small net works well but I've always grabbed them by hand. A seine net walked through tall grass works great also but requires 2 people and a seine net. 

I'm gonna have to try this

Not just grasshoppers but crickets are also pretty good channel catfish bait. 

I usually put two on a hook under a float and throw it around some brush or under overhanging trees. If they are there, the float will usually go down pretty quick.

1 hour ago, mrpao said:

Not just grasshoppers but crickets are also pretty good channel catfish bait. 

I usually put two on a hook under a float and throw it around some brush or under overhanging trees. If they are there, the float will usually go down pretty quick.

Float fishing for cats is new to me this year...nothing better

On 8/11/2023 at 2:04 PM, DitchPanda said:

Float fishing for cats is new to me this year...nothing better

It can be pretty fun.

Especially when a nice one heads for the cover.

Triple s used to be Sonny’s