Catfish can be some of the most diversely finicky fish out there, but when you find what the catfish in your pond or river are looking for, you are in for a treat. Choosing the best catfish bait often comes down to experimentation and having several options on hand. There are two main types of catfish bait to think about: fresh (or recently live) catfish bait such as shad, crawfish, worms or chicken liver and catfish bait dips which mimic the smells of fresh bait. In this article, we hope to give a basic overview of some options for your next fishing trip.
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Wild Cat Shad Catfish Dip Bait |
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Nightcrawlers |
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Magic 3690 Chicken Livers |
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Berkley Gulp! Catfish Dough, Dough |
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Crawfish |
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Catfish Charlie’s Dip Bait |
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Bowker’s Catfish Bait |
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Doc’s Catfish Bait |
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Hog Wild Catfish Dip Bait |
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Product FAQ
1. What Is Catfish Bait?
Catfish bait is a fishing bait designed to attract catfish for catching them. It includes things such as live bait worms, fish, and crawfish and commercially made catfish baits such as dip bait.
2. What Does Catfish Bait Do?
Catfish bait sits on the hook or on a bait worm, sponge or tube and sends out smells to attract catfish to the hook.
3. How Does Catfish Bait Work?
It works because it stinks. Catfish bait works primarily by smelling strong. Catfish hunt by smell mostly as opposed to other fish that are attracted to sights or movement. So catfish bait almost always smells very strong to us humans.
4. Where Can You Buy Catfish Bait?
Fresh bait such as shad, crawfish, and worms can be caught or dug yourself or you can purchase it anywhere fishing tackle is sold. This includes bait shops and places like Walmart. Some fresh bait, such as worms, can be bought on Amazon. Preserved baits and bait dips, and the holders they require can be purchased on Amazon.
5. What Is the Best Catfish Bait?
That depends on a lot of factors. If you are fishing in slow moving or still water, any dip baits may work well. Fast water will require baits that stay put a little better, so firmer dip baits or live baits are a better option. The type of catfish matters as well when choosing the best catfish bait. Some types of catfish, such as channels and blue, prefer dip baits. Others, such as whites, prefer larger live catfish bait. They all like worms. You will also want to consider whether you can reliably get to a store for fresh bait before fishing; if not, a bait dip may be a good solution.
How We Reviewed
The following products were reviewed based on the following parameters features, effectiveness for attracting catfish, pros and cons, price, and where to buy. We have tried to offer you a variety of the best catfish baits to consider.
Overall Price Range of the Best Catfish Bait
There is not a great way to offer you an overall price range for catfish bait. The best catfish bait is or should be very inexpensive or free. Fresh baits can be gathered, dug or caught yourself. Purchased baits, whether live or preserved should cost pennies per use.
The most expensive part of catfish bait is the need to have a bait worm or sponge to hold the catfish bait if it is the dip type, which can get especially expensive if your bait worm is not well rigged and the fish steals it. These bait worms can cost between 50 cents and dozens of dollars each.
The products we reviewed, which included fresh baits, preserved baits, and the best catfish bait dips ranged in price from $3 to $30 for various amounts of bait and roughly works out to about 15 cents to 55 cents per application. Actual cost will vary according to fishing style, skill with rigging and how many fish nibbles at the bait and how fast they bite.
What We Reviewed
- Wild Cat Shad Catfish Dip Bait
- Nightcrawlers
- Magic 3690 Chicken Livers
- Berkley Gulp! Catfish Dough, Dough
- Crawfish
- Catfish Charlie’s Dip Bait
- Bowker’s Catfish Bait
- Doc’s Catfish Bait
- Hog Wild Catfish Dip Bait
Wild Cat Shad Catfish Dip Bait
Features
Wild Cat Shad Catfish Dip Bait is a stink bait with a consistency like a peanut butter. This bait is designed to be used in a holder such as a tube, worm, fiber or sponge. Fair warning, it is called stink bait for a reason, but since catfish find food with a smell that is not such a bad thing. This is one of the more pungent dip baits.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $10 USD for a 12oz jar. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.42 USD per use.
Moderately effective
| PROS | CONS |
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Nightcrawlers
Features
Nightcrawlers are a type of worm known to fish and fisher people alike. This review is for Uncle Jim’s brand which can be ordered online. They are guaranteed to come live and free of other pests. Hook them two to three time around your hook to keep them from wiggling off. If using small or medium sized worms, use two or three. Nightcrawlers will attract catfish of all sizes and can be used with a float or along the bottom.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $15 USD plus shipping for 250 worms. That works out to about $0.06 per worm and you will need about three of this size per application, so that works out to about $0.18 per application.
Very effective
| PROS | CONS |
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Chicken Livers
Features
Chicken liver is perhaps the quintessential best catfish baits. They are very productive at catching lots of catfish consistently and reliably. Chicken liver is easy to find at the local grocers or butcher and can also be purchased preserved, such as with the Magic 3690 Chicken Liver bait.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $7 USD for 4 oz. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.88 USD per use.
Very effective
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Berkley Gulp! Catfish Dough, Dough
Features
According to the makers, this bait is made to help the fisher person catch more fish. It contains natural bait scent and flavor and is formed into sized that are easy to rig on most catfish hooks. These come in bloody shad color and weigh 5 ounces.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $5 USD for 5 ounces. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.50 USD per use.
Effective with channel fish
| PROS | CONS |
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Crawfish
Features
For catfish weighing in at 20 pounds or less, crawfish is a win. It is a food naturally consumed by most catfish and therefore appealing to most. Creeks and small rivers do well with this kind of bait as they stay on the hook and bounce around well, even if not alive. Crawfish also work well in larger bodies of water. Dead or alive, they will attract catfish. They will also attract all other swimming things so be prepared.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $6 USD for a plastic crawfish. Fresh crawfish prices will vary considerably by location, check your local bait shop.
Moderately effective, depends on the catfish
| PROS | CONS |
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Catfish Charlie Dip Bait
Features
Catfish Charlie is a name well known for dip baits and they were the first dip bait on the American market. Their tubs of dip bait come in shad, blood or cheese. Use them with a tube, worm, fiber or sponge.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $12 USD for 12 ounces. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.50 USD per use.
Not as effective as live bait
| PROS | CONS |
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Bowker’s Catfish Bait
Features
Bowker’s is another dip bait designed to be used with a plastic worm, sponge or other holders. It works primarily as a smell attractant. This brand preserves well, has the consistency of peanut butter, and will work well enough when combined with another bait. It is a little harder to find than other dip baits.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found at Maurice Sporting Goods for around $8 USD for 10 ounces. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.40 USD per use.
About as effective as other dip baits
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Doc’s Catfish Bait
Features
This company has been around since the 1920s and a hundred years of customer loyalty follows. Designed to be used with Doc’s bait worms, this is one of the best catfish baits and is a reliable way to attract more fish to the line. We especially like the soft blood bait for going after catfish of all sizes.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found on Amazon for around $13 USD for 12 ounces. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.54 USD per use.
Very effective with a bait worm
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Doc’s Catfish Bait
Features
This dip bait is available in several flavors including original and blood. Designed to be “ideal” for catfish, this dip bait must be used with a tube, sponge or the like due to its thin texture.
- PRICE
- EFFECTIVENESS
This product can be found at Walmart for around $3 USD for 10 ounces. You will need about ½ out per application, so that works out to about $0.15 USD per use.
As effective as other dip baits
| PROS | CONS |
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The Verdict on the Best Catfish Baits
Catfish bait cannot be ranked according to which is the best by anyone except the individual fishing, and only then for that one body of water or one day. The best approach to having the best catfish bait is to have a variety of bait options on hand. Advanced catfish bait perusers will eventually find their favorites among fresh bait and catfish bait dips alike. We really like using night crawlers fresh and Doc’s catfish bait for a preserved option, but that really comes down to personal preference.
Experiment with what catfish baits work best for your fishing lifestyle, your fishing location and the fish you are going after. Experience level matters as well. Beginners and children do especially well with worms. If you are able to dig up or buy large, fat night crawlers and hook enough on the hook to stay put and hide the metal, you will be nearly guaranteed to catch a catfish. Beginners may struggle more with dip baits as they require more careful handling casting and application.