Shrimp for Catfish Bait
Shrimps remain one of the most common things used for catfish bait. It is easy for people to catch their own bait if they would like to use a cast net, shrimp is readily available, and it works well for various species of this popular fish. There are a few things that every fisherman should keep in mind when using shrimp for catfish bait.
Get it From the Grocery Store
The shrimp that is purchased at the grocery store is perfect for catfish bait. Often, bait shops will pick up any shrimp, and it could be low quality. It might also be significantly overpriced when compared to another shrimp. Cocktail shrimp might be expensive, but the standard frozen shrimp are sold in bags of fifty. That’s a nice amount of bait for a catfishing trip.
Don’t Put It on The Line Frozen
Most people have heard of using frozen shrimp for bait, but it is important that the frozen shrimp is thawed before it is used for bait. Grabbing some shrimp out of the freezer and putting it on the hook will simply not work. Catfish will not eat frozen food.
Sun-soaking for Smell
Sun-soaking shrimp to make them smell more is a popular tactic that is used by hundreds of fishermen. Catfish are known for finding food based on the smell of it. Because of this, the bait should have a pungent odor in order to attract more catfish. Shrimp that is freshly thawed will not have the smell that is required for it to be successfully used as bait. This is why most people sit the shrimp out in the sun for hours. This will give it a smell that catfish will find hard to refuse.
Perfect for Channel Cats
Every person has their preferred catfish to fish for, and their preferred bait. Shrimp remains one of the most popular baits of choice for channel cats. The fish will take one whiff of them and be at the end of the hook in no time, and there are not a lot of fishermen that will disagree with that.
Hook It Right for A Natural Look
While catfish are prone to choose their food based on the smell, they do use their eyes as well. This is why it is vital for fishermen that want to use shrimp as bait to properly bait their hook. Slide the hook through the head and the body of the shrimp so that most of the hook is inside the body. This will help prevent bait stealers from making off with the shrimp, and it will increase the chances of catching more fish.
Great for Catching Bigger Fish
When a person uses smaller bait, like nightcrawlers, they often get smaller fish on the end of their hook. Those same small fish will not attempt to eat something that is too large for them, though. This is why shrimp tends to attract larger fish. When you use large shrimp for bait, it will be the perfect size for some channel cats that are at least a few pounds.
Shrimp remains the most popular choice for bait among fishermen that are on the hunt for nice sized catfish. Remember these tips to make sure that your bait works for you during your next fishing expedition.
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