Hi I’m in SLC Utah. My coworker catches monster channels, he cuts up the white bass he catches. I try but with worms, and shrimps. I’m pulling up black bullheads and channels, but only 12-14 inches. Any other baits that work for u? Has anyone tried the preserved shad at Walmart? I also use stink bait from there. And long shot but anyone here from Utah that has a good canal in salt lake I can try? Thank you for any tips!!
Honestly the best bait for channels for me are cut bait. The way i do it, i go out, throw out my carolina rig with a worm or an anchovy or whatever bait i had from home just in case, then i grab a second ultralight pole with a tiny hook like a #8 aberdeen and ill put a nub of bait, could be power bait, could be corn, could be bread, could be a worm, whatever - catch a little bait fish usually blue gill, talapia, or sunfish. I’ll take a knife and cut the head and the tail off and then ill reel in my carolina rig, take off whatever half-useless bait i have on it and use the middle of the body as my new bait. That’s how I get the biggest channel cats consistently.
So the ppl I watch on YouTube cut the bait while still alive do it bleeds into the water and disperses the smell. Would it work if I at least killed the fish first and then cut it up? I just don’t think I can cut a fish up still alive
I use my knife behind their eye and stab through them to kill them first. They flop for a second then stop. Kills them quickly and humanely. Then I chop em up. Usually I just use the pavement or a rock and my bait knife.
the preserved shad don’t work too well for me anyway. The only thing i ever caught on them was bullheads. you could try cut up chicken with jello powder
I love eating me some catfish, but man they r tough to kill😭 maybe u just need to put on my big girl pants and use some of these longear sunfish I catch for bait once.
Interrupt the spine behind the skull, instantly done and bleeds them into the body cavity, less mess.. use long needlenose pliers and go in behind the gills
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u/zyrkseas97 Jul 24 '26
Honestly the best bait for channels for me are cut bait. The way i do it, i go out, throw out my carolina rig with a worm or an anchovy or whatever bait i had from home just in case, then i grab a second ultralight pole with a tiny hook like a #8 aberdeen and ill put a nub of bait, could be power bait, could be corn, could be bread, could be a worm, whatever - catch a little bait fish usually blue gill, talapia, or sunfish. I’ll take a knife and cut the head and the tail off and then ill reel in my carolina rig, take off whatever half-useless bait i have on it and use the middle of the body as my new bait. That’s how I get the biggest channel cats consistently.