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While lures may work for a variety of species and fish, the best way to attract that prized catfish or carp is to utilize bait specifically targeted for the species. Both catfish and carp are bottom feeders, and generally speaking, both can be attracted with a variety of omnivorous bait offerings in well-placed locations.
Both freshwater fish, carp and catfish tend to feed off of anything from insects to algae and even carrion. Heightened olfactory systems give these fish a better sense of smell, making odorous baits the focal point for attracting these species. With both of these big catches feasting on generally the same items and becoming attracted to generally the same scents, it’s mostly a safe assumption that the bait you choose for catfish can be used similarly with carp and visa versa.
This guide aims to simplify the choice process based on a variety of factors including environmental, preferential, and target specifications. With over 20,000 fishing items in our inventory, Outdoor Shopping has the most extensive lineup of fishing equipment online today! Shop our extensive inventory of catfish and carp bait at Outdoor Shopping.
The Setup
Before we even get into the details of bait selection, let’s first discuss what type of fishing setup is ideal.
Rod Selection: Heavy action spinning or baitcasting rods are a must for these big catches.
Reel Selection: Whichever reel you choose should be capable of holding a 20lb test line at a minimum.
Rig: On the end of the line should be tied a standard bottom fishing rig. They can also be made with a couple of swivels and some heavy monofilament line.
Sinker: Because carp and catfish are bottom-feeders, you’ll need a sinker to get your bait in the right location. A pyramid sinker works best on most bottoms, but in rocky areas a bell sinker will not hang up as much. The size of the sinkers will depend on the flow of water where you are fishing. The idea is to use the smallest sinker possible but hold bottom. In fast water like during spring runoff, appropriate sinkers can weigh three to four to six ounces at times. In ponds or slow moving rivers, a half ounce or one ounce sinker will do the job.
Hook: Choose a snelled hook which can easily fit to the bottom of the rig. A larger hook of 1/0 bait holding can be used for catfish because they have a larger mouth, while the same style hook in No. 6 will work on carp. Some anglers prefer treble hooks for both species. In the case of catfish, they like the three tines because of the hooking capability. In the case of carp, they prefer treble hooks because the popular doughball baits will hold better with the three prongs.
Once you’ve got your setup perfected, then all that’s needed is the addition of the bait!
Catfish Bait
Catfish are known for feasting on just about anything a carp would choose - plus a little more (carrion, for instance). Thus, you’ll have a wider variety of time-tested winner baits to choose from with catfish:
Bait Type | Guidelines |
Worms | Nightcrawlers are excellent bait due to their size, but keep in mind that many fish will eventually feast on your bait including small catfish, bluegills and even minnows. |
Cut Bait | Shad, alewife, bluegills, herring, chubs, suckers, carp, and minnows are all classic catfish bait. As a bonus, hardly any bait stealers will attempt to chow down on your cut bait. Some anglers fishing for big catfish will put whole bluegill or crappie, about three to four inches long, on their hooks. |
Chicken Livers | These tend to fall off when casting but are good at attracting smaller catfish. Chicken entrails, for those who don't mind the mess, are excellent. |
Corn | Deer corn and feed corn can be boiled and used as a killer catfish bait. Sweet corn can be used as well, although you’ll have more bait stealers encroaching on your fishing. |
Dip Bait and Punch Bait | These gooey, stinky baits are utilized simply by dipping your hook in the bait after each fish or every 15-20 minutes to recharge its attractive power. Additionally, dip baits don’t obstruct the point of the hook. Because the bait is just a liquid or cream when the fish chomps down they are getting direct contact with the hook resulting in fewer fish getting away when the fish are biting aggressively. |
Boilies/Chunks/Pellets/Nuggets | These are available in a wide variety of flavors and sizes. They’re basically rolled up balls of scented dough to attract catfish, and they’re easy to use because they don’t fall off when doing long casts. Dip these in other baits to add more to the scent attractiveness. |
You can also choose your bait based on the type of catfish you’re targeting:
Catfish Type | Guidelines | Best Bait: |
Channel Catfish | Found in a large portion of the US, channel catfish are one of the most well-known to the masses and is the most common sought after catfish by catfish anglers. |
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Blue Catfish | The blue catfish looks a lot like the channel catfish except they have a long anal fin and do not have any spots. They also grow much larger than channel catfish. |
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Flathead Catfish | Flatheads seek out structure in the deeper pools, lakes, and rivers both large and small. The flathead catfish has a wide flat-looking head, very small eyes, and brownish color. They have more of a square tail and their bottom jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw. |
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Carp Bait
Carp are much more selective in their diet habits. Being mostly plant eaters, the most popular bait is doughballs. You can find a variety of carp baits that boast different qualities
Bait Type | Guidelines |
Natural Baits | During warm summer months, carp change their bottom feeding habits to eat insects and bugs that float on the surface. Worms, maggots, casters and most insects are all on the menu but cockles on a hook or hair rig can bring lots of action. Other sea foods like prawns, shrimp and mussels are also effective when they're used where carp may naturally find them. Nightcrawlers are also a good bait for carp because they are not complete vegetarians. |
Pellet Bait | There are tons of different flavors available for attracting carp including yellow corn, strawberry, and even vanilla. These sweet baits will lure in the big catches without losing their color, and they’re generally biodegradable. |
Whole kernel corn, several impaled on a hook, will also work. Ripe mulberries will work very well when fished under a mulberry tree with branches overhanging the water.
Keep in mind that carp are extremely skittish fish and will bolt at the sight of people or sounds of their voices or from boats. Even the sound of a bait splashing in the water will cause them to swim off. It is unlikely that you can move to within casting range without spooking them, but if you found an area where they have been feeding they will usually return if you remain quiet and still. Even your cast will spook them unless you are using ultra-light tackle and no more than a splitshot. If they spook, they will return after a wait that could be a half an hour or more.
Shop our extensive inventory of catfish and carp bait at Outdoor Shopping.
