Iguess there is a pretty large share of the fishing fraternity who look down on the "lowly" bottom-feeding catfish. They classify it more as a "trash" fish than as any type of game
fish. Probably most of these folks have never wrestled in a really big cat, though, and they've surely never enjoyed a platter of catfish fried up by someone who really knows their way
around a skillet. Those of us who've done both have a tremendously higher opinion of these whiskered fish.
Before you can start enjoying all of those delicious fried catfish however, you've got to catch a few. It's likely that just about every sort of bait the human mind can devise has been tried
on cats at one time or another, from red worms to chunks of cheese to some really sickening stink-bait concoctions. At some time or another, I guess I've tried most of them. But for the past several years I've relied on only four baits for catfish. If the cats won't bite on at least one of these, they just aren't going to bite on anything.
As I just finished adding 200 lbs. of catfish meat to our deep-freeze this morning, all taken from one trotline set for one night, I guess I know what I'm talking about. Especially when
you consider that there aren't any big rivers in this area-so all these cats came from a river shallow enough for me to wade across almost its entire length. Anyway, try these baits, and
expect results.
1. Ivory soap chunks: Use a finetoothed saw, like a hacksaw or coping saw, to cut a bar of "Ivory" soap into a dozen chunks, then bore a hole in each chunk to insert a treble hook. Affix
one of these baited hooks to the end of your line, and add a fairly heavy sinker about a foot above the bait. Just cast out, tighten your line, and wait for a cat to take it. It's been at least 20 years since an elderly catfishing enthusiast showed me this trick. It was the only catfish bait he'd ever used. The reason Ivory bar soap is attractive to cats is because it's real soap and real soap is made with fat. The other things we call soap are chemical products, and the cats can tell the difference, even if you can't.
2. Catfish cookies: Go to a drug store and purchase a small bottle of anise oil. Be certain it's anise oil, as anise extract isn't nearly as effective. Mix the oil with a cup of milk, then add enough flour, corn meal, or other thickener to make a thick doughy paste. Work balls of this paste onto bait-holder style treble hooks, then bake in a medium-hot oven, until firm but not hard. Usually I rig and fish this bait in the same manner as with Ivory soap chunks. Sometimes though, better results seem to happen when you rig it on a 6-inch dropper line, about a foot
above the sinker, as a second bait.
3. Worm gobs: Just use a large single hook and thread as many nightcrawlers or other worms on the hook as you can fit. While catfish feed primarily by scent, they can see too. So it seems like maybe once they've located this bait using their powerful olfactory senses, the sight of this wiggly mass helps to entice them into a good solid hit. Fish this about 6 inches off the bottom.
4. Fresh blood bait: When you're butchering, whether it be hogs, chickens, or whatever, catch some of the blood and pour it into containers. You can freeze it for later use, or mix up some bait right away. It will stay good for at least a couple of weeks. Mix together enough blood and cornmeal to form a very thick paste. Place it in some type of covered container and refrigerate overnight to "blend." To use it, bury a treble hook (a single hook works almost as well) in a
gob of this dough. Wait awhile, until the outside of the bait just starts to crust over. Then fish this bait from a few inches to a foot off the bottom.
Trotlining, I use all four baits on the same set-up, running something like this: Ivory, cookies, worms, blood-bait, Ivory, cookies, worms, blood-bait, over and over until I've filled all the hooks. Using limb lines, or set lines, I use all four baits together as well. Pole fishing, I try one bait at a time, until I see which gives me the best results at that particular time and place.
Like I've already said; if the cats won't hit on at least one of these baits, they're simply not going to hit on anything. Try them, and see for yourself; I'm quite sure you'll come to agree.
Cook 'em right Just to keep you catfishing, I'm going to include my favorite method for enjoying your catch. My wife got this recipe from her West Virginia grandmother, who got it from hers,
who got it who knows where.
Clean and cool the fish (preferably on crushed ice) as soon as possible after catching. Cut extra large catfish into inch-thick steaks; all others just remove the heads and fins, clean and skin. Place cleaned and well rinsed catfish in a large bowl or other container and add milk just to cover. Cover container and chill overnight. Melt about half an inch of bacon grease in a heavy iron skillet. Dip each piece of catfish in lightly beaten egg, then roll in cornmeal seasoned
with salt and pepper. Fry a few pieces at a time in the hot bacon grease until just nicely browned, turning once. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with your favorite side dishes. After dinner, give the milk the catfish had been soaking in to your cats. They'll love it, it's good for them, and it traditionally brings luck on your next catfishing outing.
