only using 1 bait this summer

[godsglad8tor]

i always take anchovies and my net too cause i catch gills for flats....

the weird thing is that i went all season last year on the dip bait cause they wouldnt touch anything else......

i like using cut bait too but it doesnt catch the channels as well for some reason:confused2:

if you can get your hands on a saltier fish, say whole anchovies or mackrel, work well for me

[buckeyecat]

wow I tried commercial baits alot and never EVER even caught 1 fish. I seriously started thinking they were just making stuff and selling it to idiots like me. I live by lake erie but bareley ever fish there cause I target cats in reservoirs, but one thing I know is I'm so surprised when I hear anyone say they caught fish on commercial bait. Cut shad works well and everyone will be against me on this but my go to bait is shrimp. Last year I caught a 12lb 8 oz channel on it and caught 1 more over 10 lbs. I split between shad and shrimp and the biggest cat I caught on shad last year was 7 and a half lbs and I caught 5 fish bigger than that on shrimp. And I probably caught 2 out of every 3 channels I caught on shrimp. But I keep using shad cause I've caught alot of channels with it and all the best fisherman i know use shad.

I agree with Ranman92....Shrimp works for me. Caught a 12 lb shovel last weekend.
Chicken Liver works for the channels, but I think I'm starting to out grow them.

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[Ghosth]

I prefer to have at least 3 or 4 options to play with.

Nightcrawlers are my old standby, especially if I'm looking for eating sized cats. Plus i'll get a lot of action from other fish. Carp, Goldeye, drum, Sucker. Helps keep things from getting slow.

For larger cats I have a hard time beating a chunk of cut bait. Although I have been experimenting with a small dip tube above the hook, and a chunk of cut bait on the hook. Using the scent to draw them, then let them find that nice chunk of food.

Hotdogs and Koolaid worked gangbusters one trip, but since then have been slow.

I've caught several cats now on my Carp doughballs. I really should buy a can of sardines or tuna in oil and make up some good catfish doughballs someday.

I prefer to fish with 2 rods, and have a different bait on each. Gives me a better idea of what they are hungry for.