Cut Bait
Also called: chunk bait
Chunks of oily fish, such as shad, used on the bottom for catfish, which find it by scent.
- Type
- Live & Natural Bait
- Target fish
- Catfish
- Skill
- Beginner-friendly
- Depth
- Bottom
- Best seasons
- Spring through fall
Note: Use caution with knives when cutting bait, and keep bait cold. Rules on using game fish as bait vary by state and water body, so check your state's rules.
When it works best
- For channel, blue, and flathead catfish.
- In rivers, reservoirs, and deep holes.
- When fish are feeding by scent and the water is murky.
How to fish it
- Cut a fresh, oily fish into chunks about the size of a golf ball.
- Hook a chunk through the skin so it holds on.
- Fish it on a bottom rig and cast to a deep hole or channel edge.
- Let the fish take the bait and start reeling steadily.
Tips
- Fresh bait is better than old bait.
- Keep the bait cold in a cooler.
- Use enough weight to hold in the current.
Common mistakes
- Using old, soft bait that falls off the hook.
- Jerking the rod when a circle hook is used.
- Fishing in water with no current or structure.
Gear
A medium-heavy rod and 15- to 20-pound line suit most catfish.
Often confused with
- Minnows: live baitfish used for several species.
Fish it catches
Field notes
Catfish follow their noses. A fresh, oily piece of fish on the bottom is hard for them to resist.
Related guides
What works varies by water, season, and the fish that day, so use this as a starting point. Regulations on live bait, hook type and number, lead tackle, and baitfish transport differ by state and water body. Check your state's current fishing rules; our state resources directory links to each state's official regulations and license portal.