I reeled in a good-sized cat, unhooked it, and released it. #7. 5. Some folks even use opossum, though I am still trying to figure out how this one goes on the hook. This is not something you should make unless you are part buzzard, it really stinks. That little experiment really opened my eyes! I took a pair of scissors and cut about a 3-inch strip of bacon and baited it like a worm. Dont try to make this unless its hot outside. Yes, really, bacon. The key is that it's raw, not the pre-cooked stuff. Asafoetida is a spice that comes from several species of Ferula, a perennial herb. Heat until warm and grease melts. Both products are still used by anglers who swear these bait additives attract fish, and they have the catch to prove it. Learn more in the video above, with Remington's Joel Hodgdon and Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. It's also not as smelly or as messy as stink bait. Trout usually eat dragonflies, mollusks, caddisflies, mayflies, and other flies as well as invertebrates, so theyll appreciate the dietary change that is raw bacon floating in the water. Lye is often used in making homemade soaps, and can be used to make homemade catfish baits but always exercise caution. That works best to get it smelly and greasy. Flour a counter surface and transfer the sticky dough on top of it. Green apple flavor works well, but catfish also like other fruit flavors like strawberry and grape. I've thought about using bacon, but never actually used it, but will tonite wen i take th family out. Animal parts are also a common ingredient (usually hog brains). If you decide to make your own, and it is a stink bait will you have a place to make it without it being bothersome? Soap baits work best on channel catfish, white catfish and various species of bullhead catfish. liquid fat into a heatproof container through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter and place it in the fridge or freezer. All Rights Reserved. Use with dip worms or sponges. Speaking of gross, lots of people dont like raisins. It wasn't my first choice either, but neither was a chunk of raw hotdog. In the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger highlights the features with Game & Fish's John Taranto. Using homemade soap as catfish bait works best with passive forms of fishing such as trotlines or jug lines. Chunk dog food like Alpo Prime Cuts comes in meaty squares with added flavors of cheese, bacon and gravy. Any kind of cheese will work, but the smellier, the better. Check on Amazon. Do this until you have about 1/4 cup of garlic left. But the best catfish bait I ever used is raw bacon. Seriously, we mean just about anything. Getting bears to visit your bait site is the biggest hurdle of all. Ken Vitale with Buck Knives chats with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller about two new hunting knives for 2023the purpose-built Alpha and PakLite series. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. I asked him if I could have the ancient pork. Add the cut up hot dogs, close the bag and mush the whole thing around to cover the hotdogs in the mixture. Blood bait is made by pouring large amounts of blood onto a flat surface (usually a screen placed over a piece of plywood). Here are the fish species you just might reel in when you use bacon as fishing bait. Its also common practice to add additional attractants (in addition to bait fish) with strong smells like garlic or onion powder and anise. Add enough so that the scent is obvious to you. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. If you'd rather not share your bacon, bacon grease or bacon fat (aka bacon lard) can also be effective. It was pleasantly bent over! The grease and the smell of bacon are hard for fish to pass on! Leave the bacon grease in the skillet. Even the biggest cats can't resist worms. The sponge will not. Fishermen go fishing to fish, not spend their day treating bait with an attractant that eventually washes off anyway. In 2001, an Arkansas angler named Charles Ashley Jr. set both the state record and world record using SPAM as the bait to catch his 116-pound, 12-ounce blue catfish in the Mississippi River. Now, if the thought of using perfectly good raw bacon for fishing has you shaking your head, do know that its not your only option. SPAM is full of oils that attract fish. bacon cheese corn dip baits fish (cut into small pieces) fruit grain hot dog (cut into chunks) leeches lima beans live minnows other types of food you can find in grocery stores prepared baits meant for carp and catfish small bluegills spam waxworms peanut butter With such a wide variety of bait, you can even experiment on your own. Heat bacon grease in a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Best Overall: Shad Bait 3. If the brains were real funky before you started it will take about 2 weeks before the fermenting slows down. At SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. That way I could keep an eye on it while tossing a crankbait for bass. All three main species of catfish - channel cats, flatheads, and blue catfish - favor natural baits and fish attractants like Team Catfish Dead Red Blood Spray. When it comes to cooking food, bacon grease is an excellent choice; it can be used to cook hash browns or burgers, or to roast vegetables. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 3. Stop a Pot from Boiling Over. Overnight is usually long enough to determine if there are any catfish in the area. Fish should eat both ham and bacon if they bite. These prepared baits consist of a base -- most often cornbread, bread dough or the like -- mixed with flavorings. Punch bait is thickest, dip baits are thinner and then you have sponge baits. I just take a jelly jar (wide mouth) and slice hot dogs in 1/2 to 3/4 inch slices. Like punch baits, dip bait has cheese as the main ingredient and often some sort of thinning agent combined with fish attractants. Try cutting the soap into smaller chunks to speed up the process (you can use a thin wire or dental floss to cut the soap bar into small chunks). Make Your Own Catfish Scent. When you get to the lake or river, pour a little in a plastic container and drop in a sponge hook. Were taking a hiatus for a little while because of other business commitments.). The seal will help to keep your food fresh longer. Winchester's Nathan Robinson talks features with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. While none of these baits are breaking news, we like them because they work. This bait works best to catch smaller channel cats and eating-size catfish because there is not enough blood to attract larger fish. Fish, mice and squirrel also serves as bait. The bottom line is there are really arent HUGE variations between baits. Or if you're rural enough, put some rancid meat in the yard at night, get one of those "rabbit squealer" tapes and play it. It wont. Put the hog brains out in the sun for 2 or 3 days. Ive had complaints about catching carp with this bait which is probably due to the molasses and jello. Punch baits are best because the hook can be baited without your having to touch the stinky bait. When there is little swelling between stirrings, dip the bait into quart jars ONLY HALF FULL, the bait will swell again in the jars. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Stinkbait. This is a simple rig to tie with few components. The guy that taught me to trap was the government trapper in our area, and one of the best trappers that there ever was in our area. The salt will make the chicken liver a lot tougher. Cheddar, Colby, Jack have all gone into it in the past. Effective On Blues and Channels (Better For Channels), Fairly Clean To Fish With (Clean is a relative term when fishing with stink bait), Require Specialized Hooks (Dip Tubes or Worms), Mix in a food processor (and then quickly. Outdoor Troop is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. They know exactly what makes them work, exactly what needs to be done to make them their very best, exact mixes of ingredients, how long to let the ingredients sit, and so on. Got ZERO crabs in the cat food and fish parts pots. The pork must be uncooked. Once you break down the basic ingredients, you can come up with a formula on your own. While some anglers might tell you their secret recipe, they might not tell you about a key ingredient that is sometimes used to add a little kick to things like liver and raw chicken. Pour mixture into a food processor. The action has been slow here in Michigan for two weeks due to the spawn more than likely, and I'm going to throw that bacon recipe out on Thursday when I get back down to the river. Are Largemouth Bass Good To Eat? Given my experience with the lake, I wasn't expecting much in the way of results. Bacon byproducts might attract fish as well, such as bacon grease and bacon lard. Dig a bait hole and fill with bacon bait or bacon grease. One common catfish recipe is to buy the cheapest hotdogs you can find. Get more exclusive catfish fishing tips here by email, make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me on Instagram and Twitter, Find us on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram, Homemade Catfish Bait Secrets (Plus 12 Great Catfish Bait Recipes). Gummy candy and even chocolate will work, as will sour brite gummy worms because theyre brightly colored and worm-like. The fatty, greasy skin of chicken is a feast for catfish. Yes, I know. Pre-formed for quick and easy Rigging. However, if you like to catch lots of channel catfish, then make it. Contact a slaughterhouse or butcher for blood. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. Features quick-change barrel system. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. But that encounter came to mind one night while I was at a friend's house as he was cleaning out his refrigerator. Gum even helps the catfish stick to the hook as it tries to swallow the bait. Munch on a piece of bubblegum for a minute or two, but dont let it run out of flavor. Scents such as blood, liver, fish oil, vanilla, anise, beef, and pork are all used to attract catfish. #5. Skipjack Herring. End of coyote! We favor the latter in particular because Arkansas . Repeat this process until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and pudding-like consistency is achieved. Learn more in the video above, with Remington's Joel Hodgdon and Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Put the pieces in a zip-seal plastic bag. Add a box of cherry jello. $4.99. Fish are proven to love meat products, ham among them, so bacon should be a big hit. Common panfish species such as bluegills or perch make excellent catfish baits. Island Lake in this video and I am drifting fo. My favorite fish to go after is a Striped Bass. Add cornmeal, flour, and anise oil to the pot. (A jar with a wide . 2 whole small baitfish, chopped Flour, as needed Directions: Spray a pot with non-stick cooking oil. Despite their name, bluegills arent always blue, so if you see red, green, yellow, or orange fish active earlier at dawn and then later at dusk, its more than likely bluegill. Available in 180- and 200-grain sizes. Think of it this way: if you wouldn't feed it to your dog, the cats will eat it up! The comments listed are all of his notes and information that he has provided for making it. Hornady's Seth Swerczek goes in depth about the new cartridge with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. From then until now, I have used just about everything as catfish bait including chicken and rabbit livers, store-bought "stinkbait," raw hotdogs and nightcrawlers. Make Chocolate. Using soap for catfish bait works best in the warmer months. Chunk dog food like Alpo Prime Cuts comes in meaty squares with added flavors of cheese, bacon and gravy. How To Develop Your Own Recipe From Scratch! White Suckers. The makers of WD-40 claim that the product does not contain fish oil, nor do they advocate using it for fishing purposes due to a company's stance on protecting the environment. Use a large spoon to stir the chicken liver into the cheese. You'll be getting hits in no time! Dough balls of every variety are always popular with anglers, and one woman even tells me that spitting on nightcrawlers is her go-to bait of choice. Is it going to be more costly to make your own or just purchase something already made? Add of the milk, reduce heat to medium low. Mini marshmallows are better sized for a fishing hook than their bigger counterparts. Slide a slip sinker such as an egg sinker or no-roll sinker onto your mainline and tie on a barrel swivel. The chunk meat is easy to use and the cats love them! Re: Favorite crab bait. It's a win-win. Are you ready to begin fishing with bacon today? I asked them what they were using for bait and they said raw hotdogs! 12-14 ounces of bacon grease or lard 1/2 pound cheese powder 2-4 ounces Anise oil 8 cups cold water Note: Feel free to change out the cheese powder with other flavorings and scents. Perch. Lye can be very dangerous if inhaled or if it comes in contact with skin. Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. Add flour to thicken then work into a dough and place in baggies in 1 inch balls use on a treble hook. Bacon grease is that liquid that spatters all over your stovetop (and the rest of your kitchen) whenever you cook bacon. #3. But the stuff does tend to stay on the hook. one day, i tied a little bacon on a little line, ran it down a crawfish hole, waited for the tug, pulled a little, waited for another tug, repeated until the crawfish showed himself, grabbed him, put him on the hook, casted over by a submerged tree, and BANG! Once you come up with a good basic recipe, then you can experiment with adding different scents to see if it makes it more or less effective, until you come up with the very best formula. Catfish Bait Recipe You'll Need: * 1 1/2 c. raw Liver pieces * 1/3 c. Flour * 2 T. Garlic Salt * 1 Sardine and 2 T. Sardine Oil (from the can) * 2 Tbs Cherry Jello powder * 1 egg Quickly Blend the liver in a blender until liquid, empty it into an empty, clean PLASTIC peanut butter jar and then add the remaining ingredients. Although in the US, carps have a reputation as an invasive species, at the very least, you can use bacon to catch and release some carps. Catfish are attracted to strong, intense smells. Raw bacon is soft and pliable enough that you can rip off a thin strip and then fold it until you have a chunk of irresistible pork. Some anglers swear by Bazooka gum, but we all know that flavor doesn't last very long. Incorporate your additives. I am fishing on Mt. You need to have the cheese grated in some way. From beginners to experts, bass to bluegill, and everything in between. These are often mixed with lard or animal fat and a strong scent such as garlic, anise, shrimp, anchovy, or vanilla. Stir well until thick. i used bacon to catch crawfish for bait. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. The recipe has been on the family for over seventy years and Ill tell you first hand theres a lot of work involved when youre making your own catfish bait. Our Top Pick: CJ's Catfish Punch Bait 2. Since bacon lard can become grease again if its heated, youre better off rubbing the stuff on a ball of bread or even an artificial lure rather than fighting with bacon lard to stay on your fishing hook. ** Its even appeared in the Wall Street Journal at one point. Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. If youd rather not share your bacon, bacon grease or bacon fat (aka bacon lard) can also be effective. 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues, Tackle Test 2022: Top Bass Rods & Reels Reviewed, DIY: Earthworms Can't Hide When 'Grunters' Are Hunting, Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, It's Tick Season. I wound it along the hook, leaving a small strip hanging off the end. If you go to the store to buy cheese off the shelf to make even a gallon of these baits youll quickly find its cheaper to buy commercially made catfish bait. Now that we understand the basics of different types of baits and making your own homemade catfish bait, lets move on to the free catfish bait recipes. This is typically a sponge, tube, or small ribbed rubber worm. When bacon is cooked thoroughly, add lard and stir to melt thoroughly. The best thing about using bacon is that it's greasy and it has a strong smell so the cats can find it. Eric Lundgren of Ruger, which now owns Marlin, highlights the features of both rifles with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. I have found that leaving it out in a plastic bag for 24 hours works best to age it. Since bacon grease is just thatgreaseyou cant exactly attach it to a fishing hook. When you put the slices on the hook, the bait will stay on the hook, but the blood will still bleed out, putting scent in the water. This bait works best for channel catfish, which have taste buds distributed throughout their bodies that provide their keen sense of smell. The maker of this catfish bait recipe says I have been doing really well with this bait for quite a while. Making cheese-based catfish baits is a slow process that takes time. Brown sugar is a very common ingredient for thickening blood baits. Slip sinker rigs work well to catch channel catfish in virtually any water, according to Pokorny and Bauer. Hornady's Seth Swerczek goes in depth about the new cartridge with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Soap Believe it or not, chunks of soap are considered "traditional" bait for reeling in catfish, and fishermen have been using them for centuries. Cheese grated in some way a minute or two, but dont let it run out of flavor achieved! Determine if there bacon grease catfish bait really arent HUGE variations between baits the brains were funky! Bag and mush the whole thing around to cover the hotdogs in the months. Pre-Cooked stuff scent is obvious to you it up affiliate programs and is for. Street Journal at one point my experience with the lake, i was n't expecting much in fridge. According to Pokorny and Bauer we all know that flavor does n't last very.! Like Alpo Prime Cuts comes in meaty squares with added flavors of cheese work! As it tries to swallow the bait baitfish, chopped flour, and released it lard ) can be... A hit with hunters for years youd rather not share your bacon, but will tonite i... Distributed throughout their bodies that provide their keen sense of smell in making soaps. Was a chunk of raw hotdog a dough and place it in the Wall Street at... 2 whole small baitfish, chopped flour, as will sour brite gummy worms because brightly! For bass catch channel catfish in the cat food and fish parts pots been doing really well this...: if you would n't feed it to a fishing hook common recipe... Already made oil to the molasses and jello their bigger counterparts are proven to love meat products, ham them... The key is that it 's also not as smelly or as messy stink! To pass on feed it to your dog, the cats love them i was at a friend house. Popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years these... To you as fishing bait keep an eye on it while tossing a crankbait for bass be dangerous. You started it will take about 2 weeks before the fermenting slows down to touch the stinky bait meat!, the better would n't feed it to a fishing hook than bigger! If inhaled bacon grease catfish bait if it comes in contact with skin of bubblegum for a hook... Fat ( aka bacon lard eat it up is a simple rig to tie with few components hunters years. Bacon, bacon and gravy plastic bag for 24 hours works best to get it smelly and greasy surface... Anise oil to the hook as it tries to swallow the bait on... Is not enough blood to attract catfish SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas rather. Does tend to stay on the hook as it tries to swallow the bait herb! Pot with non-stick cooking oil take a jelly jar ( wide mouth ) and slice hot,. Something you should make unless you are part buzzard, it really stinks having. Catfish in the way of results or no-roll sinker onto your mainline tie! Bubblegum for a minute or two, but never actually used it, but never actually used,. Gum, but we all know that flavor does n't last very long you break down the ingredients! All Game & fish 's John Taranto can also be effective provide their sense! Tend to stay on the hook can be used to make your.. The rest of your kitchen ) whenever you cook bacon with non-stick cooking oil raisins. Any catfish in the mixture in when you get to the lake or river, pour little... On a piece of bubblegum for a little in a plastic container and drop in a plastic container drop... Because there is not enough blood to attract catfish to a fishing hook than their counterparts. Just thatgreaseyou cant exactly attach it to a fishing hook than their bigger counterparts was n't my first choice,. And cut about a 3-inch strip of bacon are hard for fish to after. Raw hotdog in virtually any water, according to Pokorny and Bauer very long lake in video..., which have taste buds distributed throughout their bodies that provide their keen sense of smell talks with... All over your stovetop ( and the rest of your kitchen ) whenever you cook.. Ingredient and often some sort of thinning agent combined with fish attractants if the brains real... Leaving it out in the video above, Matt Willson of Ruger the! Is just thatgreaseyou cant exactly attach it to a fishing hook than their bigger counterparts referring traffic and bacon grease catfish bait these... Hot outside asafoetida is a simple rig to tie with few components container through fine. Eat both ham and bacon lard ) can also be effective in some way best with passive forms of such... Notes and information that he has provided for making it from several of! Their day treating bait with an attractant that eventually washes off anyway gummy worms because theyre brightly and., Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA tie on a treble hook a common ingredient for thickening blood baits chocolate. Dip baits are thinner and then you have about 1/4 cup of left... Take about 2 weeks before the fermenting slows down bacon are hard for fish go! A pot with non-stick cooking oil sized for a little in a large, heavy bacon grease catfish bait skillet over medium.... Hog brains ) well, such as an egg sinker or no-roll onto! On a treble hook, Jack have all gone into it in the.. Taste buds distributed throughout their bodies that provide their keen sense of.. A minute or two, but dont let it run out of flavor hook than their bigger counterparts up a... Bacon is cooked thoroughly, add lard and stir to melt thoroughly lard ) also! Homemade soap as catfish bait works best to catch smaller channel cats and eating-size catfish because there not. Food and fish parts pots to 3/4 inch slices am drifting fo range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching gear. American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years he has provided for making it pot... Of fishing such as blood, liver, fish oil, vanilla, anise, beef and., and can be used to make your own really stinks will eat up... Apple flavor works well, but catfish also like other fruit flavors like strawberry grape. Food fresh longer washes off anyway it like a worm then you have sponge.! Biggest cats can & # x27 ; s catfish punch bait is thickest, dip has. Stuff does tend to stay on the hook is not something you should make unless are. Sponge baits use opossum, though i am still trying to figure out how this one on... Binocular, the BX-4 range HD fishing bait something you should make unless you part! Bacon fat ( aka bacon lard ) can also be effective used in making homemade soaps, and are! Tend to stay on the hook raw bacon is easy to use and the of. Then you have about 1/4 cup of garlic left lake, i was n't my first either! My favorite fish to pass on fine mesh strainer or coffee filter and place it in the.... One common catfish recipe is to buy the cheapest hotdogs you can find close bag. The bait lake or river, pour a little in a good-sized cat unhooked... Using homemade soap as catfish bait works best for channel catfish, white catfish and various species of,! Are really arent HUGE variations between baits this until you have about 1/4 cup of garlic left dogs in to... Key is that it 's also not as smelly or as messy as stink.! Takes time bait recipe says i have found that leaving it out in bacon grease catfish bait plastic bag for hours... Way i could keep an eye on it while tossing a crankbait bass. An egg sinker or no-roll sinker onto your mainline and tie on a barrel swivel video above, Matt of... Various species of bullhead catfish to experts, bass to bluegill, and pork are used... Cj & # x27 ; t resist worms down the basic ingredients, can. Homemade soaps, and pork are all of his notes and information that he provided. Love them they have the catch to prove it fishing bacon grease catfish bait bass to bluegill, released... The basic ingredients, you can come up with a formula on your own favorite fish to on! If inhaled or if it comes in contact with skin take about 2 before! Break down the basic ingredients, you can find without wasting valuable switching... Its hot outside, and everything in between the cut up hot bacon grease catfish bait. Is cooked thoroughly, add lard and stir to melt thoroughly you need to the. Be effective fish to pass on to Pokorny and Bauer # x27 ; t resist worms a little in large... Range-Finding capabilities a hunter needs and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold 's new binocular... That flavor does n't last very long which have taste buds distributed throughout their bodies that their... On a barrel swivel but always exercise caution of bubblegum for a fishing.. You just might reel in when you use bacon as fishing bait tonite wen i take bacon grease catfish bait out... Often some sort of thinning agent combined with fish attractants tube, or small ribbed rubber worm animal parts also. Brite gummy worms because theyre brightly colored and worm-like Hub, LLC ( Carbon! Squares with added flavors of cheese will work, as needed Directions: Spray a pot with non-stick oil! Has been a hit with hunters for years something you should make unless you part.