Top Homemade Catfish Bait - 12 Best Homemade Catfish Bait Recipes
I will be the first to freely admit that my fish bait knowledge starts and stops with the worms I buy at the local bait store. So when I decided that I wanted to learn more about fishing for catfish I thought I better do some research on the best homemade catfish bait recipes.
When it pertains to catfish fishing, numerous anglers have some very extreme opinions about bait. More than any other kind of fishing, catfish fishing will bring out arguments from everyone. Arguments about what's best for capturing the most or the most significant catfish. While many sort of baits work, some anglers swear by homemade bait. There are a great deal of benefits that premade bait or live bait can't match. You have complete control over components. You can also customize your bait to the spot you're fishing. Plus you can fine-tune the formula till you nail it.
The web is full of homemade catfish bait dishes. They use diverse ingredients from cheese to chicken livers. They may also consist of fragrances and flavorings. If you want to take greater control of your catfishing, try making your own bait. It's a trial and error process, but these dishes are some of the very best. Simply bear in mind that these can be time-consuming. They might likewise end up being costly. But if you want to be 100% sure of what it's made from, this is the best alternative.
Fishing The Internet For The Best Homemade Catfish Bait Recipes
So searching the interwebs far and wide for homemade catfish bait and I found these 12 that seem to be the "best" out there. My requirements were simple when choosing the best homemade catfish bait.
- First, are catfish baits easy to make?
- Second, does the author provide proof it works?
- Third, can I get the bait ingredients pretty much anywhere?
- Fourth, are catfish baits ACTUALLY easy to make?
The first thing I wanted to know was, what kind of bait do I need or should use to have the best chance of success.
Best homemade baits that actually work
Here is a short list of common ingredients used to make fish bait:
- chicken liver
- minnows
- grasshoppers
- night crawlers
- worms
- live perch
- shad
- crawfish
- stinky baits
- marshmallows
- small frogs
- cheese
- hot dogs
- peanut butter
So armed with that I began my search and here are the 12 best homemade catfish bait recipes that I was able to dig up.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #1: Father's Recipe
Here are some of the things you’ll need in regards to how to make your own catfish bait or at least the best homemade catfish bait:
- 1 1/2 c. Livers (Chicken, Deer, Cow, whatever you have)
- 1/4 c. Flour
- 2-3 T. Garlic Salt
- 1 Sardine & 2 T. Sardine Oil (from the can)
- 2 tsp Strawberry Jello
- 1 egg
You should blend the liver until it becomes a liquid, then empty it into a clean PLASTIC peanut butter jar and add the remaining ingredients. Stir well until thick. Cover.
Do NOT open indoors. You should allow the bait to sit for at least forty-eight hours. Remember, the rawer, the better.
I love the above recipe for its simplicity, and the author says that it definitely does its job of catching plenty of catfish.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #2: Catfish Melange
This catfish bait recipe doesn't look half bad actually..
DIY Bait Step 1: Melt 1 pound of cheese (I like to use Velveeta).
DIY Bait Step 2: Chop up 6 or 8 ounces of chicken liver and add it to the melted cheese.
DIY Bait Step 3: Add a spoonful of garlic powder, and mix in 1 can of wet dog food... plus about 12 minnows and some flour.
DIY Bait Step 4: Mix it up in a blender or food processor, put a bit on the end of your hook, and hold on!
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #3: Catfish Stink Bait Recipe
While it isn’t the best smelling homemade catfish bait out there, it is the most effective.
- 2 Cans Tuna in Oil
- 2 Cans Sardines in Mustard
- ½ lb. Chicken Livers
- 2 Boxes Stuffing Mix
- 1 Bag Stuffing Bread
Mix tuna, sardines and chicken livers in a sealable container. Seal and set outside for a week. Remember to place in a secure, raccoon proof location. A week later, outside, mix in stuffing mix and stuffing bread until a thick dough-like consistency is reached. Be sure to use a utensil you will not need in the future or stick to stir the mixture.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #4: Cajun Catfish Bait
DIY Bait Step 1: Mix 1 pound of rotten minnows, ½ cup water, ½ cup parmesan cheese, 1 box of jello (cherry is good), 1/4 cup molasses, 3 tablespoons of onion salt, 3 tablespoons of garlic salt, 1 cup of bread crumbs, and 3 tablespoons of soy sauce... all in a blender!
DIY Bait Step 2: Once it's mixed, put it in a big bowl.
DIY Bait Step 3: Add flour to it, and work it into a big stinky batch of dough.
DIY Bait Step 4: Grab a small chunk of the stuff, put it on a #4 treble hook, and drop it down for instant catfish strikes.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #5: Lye Soap Catfish Bait Recipe
- 2 lb. Lard
- 4.4 oz. Lye (handle with care)
- 7 oz. Water
While outside or in a well-ventilated area, put the water in a glass bowl and slowly pour in the lye, letting it dissolve. The mixture will heat up as the lye reacts to the water. Let cool till the temperature reaches around 85 degrees. Melt lard and bring the temperature to 90 degrees. Slowly pour the dissolved lye into the lard as you continue to stir. Stir the mixture until it reaches the consistency of thick gravy. Pour into ice cube trays and let set for three days. Cubes should set and able to slide a hook through.
You might have reservations about using lye in your homemade catfish bait, however, the author claims that it is very effective.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #6: Old Man Liver
DIY Bait Step 1: Blend up about a pound of chicken liver, a half box of corn flakes, a half cup of garlic powder, one-third a cup of parmesan cheese, molasses, and sugar.
DIY Bait Step 2: When it's mixed, put it in some small dishes...then put whatever you're not going to use in a freezer. Of course, it works better if "served" to the catfish fresh.
DIY Bait Step 3: Add some flour to thicken enough so it will stay on a hook.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #7: Wheaties Catfish Bait Recipe
- 4 Cups Wheaties Cereal
- 1 lb. Hamburger
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic
- ¼ Cup Cooking Oil (used works better)
- Water
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl then slowly add water until you reach a doughy consistency.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #8: Chicken 'n' Beer Baiter
- 3 cups of cornmeal
- 3 cups of flour
- 2 cups of oatmeal
- 1 full can of beer (the older, the better!)
- 12 "ripe" minnows, shad, or small tuna (the more oily the better!)
- 10 ounces of corn syrup
- A bunch of chicken livers, shrimp. cat food, etc... (whatever else you want to add to "spice" things up!)
- 1 big container to hold everything
DIY Bait Step 1: Mix it all together to a consistency like peanut butter. (Add milk or beer to get it to the right consistency.)
DIY Bait Step 2: Seal the container and let it sit for 2-3 weeks outside...the bait is going to rot... BAD. If it thickens up too much, spray with WD-40 and mix it again.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #9: Liver Loaf Catfish Bait Recipe
- 2 Cups Chicken Livers
- 1 Loaf of Bread
- ¼ Cup Dark Molasses
Cut the chicken livers into small pieces. Combine molasses and chicken livers into large bowl, adding bread after. Smush together with hands until all ingredients are combined and a formable consistency.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #10: "Clean" Catfish Bait
- A few bars of ivory soap
- a half cup of sugar
- a half cup of water
- 2 or 3 plastic ice trays
Now the fun part of making bait.. Mixing the ingredients to get your delicious homemade catfish bait.
DIY Bait Step 1: Mix the water and sugar in a small pot and dissolve it.
DIY Bait Step 2: Use a grater to shave some soap into the mixture and heat it all over a low fire. Stir until all the soap is melted.
DIY Bait Step 3: Use a spoon and fill the ice trays with the soapy/sweet mixture.
DIY Bait Step 4: Let the soapy mixture in the ice trays cool for just a few minutes, just until it starts to solidify again. Do NOT let it get too solid, or it will break.
DIY Bait Step 5: Remove the cubes, cut then into smaller bait-size chunks. (remember, don't let it harden all the way or this will be impossible!)
DIY Bait Step 6: Place the cubes into an air tight container... when ready, put them on single or trable hooks and fish!
DIY Bait Step 7: Now...if you want to keep things simple just use chunks of Velveeta cheese... or some sort of meaty dog food. Another way is to use chunks of hot dog, put 'em in a jar and cover them with fish oil and minced garlic. Voila, your new bait is finished!
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #11: Meat and Cheese Catfish Bait Recipe
- 1 lb. Uncooked Ground Meat (beef, turkey, deer, etc.)
- 1 Cup Velveta Cheese or American Cheese Slices
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic (preferably minced)
- Flour
Melt cheese until soft. Combine with meat and garlic and mix until cheese is evenly distributed. Slowly add flour to mixture until you reach a play-dough like consistency. Form into balls. Keeps well in a plastic bag in the freezer.
Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe #12: Cream Corn Homemade Catfish Bait Recipe
- 1 Can Cream Corn
- ¼ Cup Leftover Grease (bacon drippings, hamburger grease, etc.)
- 2 Cups Corn Meal
- 1 Cup Oats
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
Mix cream corn and grease. Heat until warm and grease melts. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Pour corn and grease mixture into dry ingredients. Mix together well and form balls to your desired size. Go and catch some catfish with your new catfish bait. Remember, making homemade catfish bait is all about trial and error. Don't be afraid to experiment with different recipes and ingredients until you find what works best for you and the catfish in your local waters. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the thrill of reeling in a big catfish with your own homemade bait!
Where I found these homemade bait recipes:
LakeFishingTechniques.com
SkilledSurvival.com
TheOkieAngler.com
OldSchoolFishingSecrets.com
Tell me what you think, do you have your own favorite homemade catfish bait you want to share?
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