If you want to start fishing for catfish, you’ll need to know what the most successful baits are!
From worms to pellets, cheese and shrimp – we discuss the best tactics for catching a hungry catfish!
Before we talk about the best catfish baits, what is a catfish?
A catfish is a freshwater fish that has a long body and whiskers around its mouth.
Catfish are often caught with live bait, such as worms or minnows.
Some catfish species can grow to be very large, such as the Mekong giant catfish which can weigh up to 660 pounds!
However, here in the UK, the average weight of a catfish is around 18 pounds.
When To Go Fishing For Catfish?
The best time to go fishing for catfish is in the spring and summer when the water temperature is around 20 degrees.
Catfish are cold-blooded creatures, so they become more active in warmer water.
They also tend to feed more during these months as they prepare for winter.
Catfish Habits
Catfish are nocturnal creatures, so they are most active at night.
They use their whiskers to help them find food in the dark and will often bottom-feed on smaller fish, insects, and crustaceans.
During the day, catfish will hide in caves or under logs to avoid predators.
Best Catfish Baits
If you’re looking to go fishing for catfish, then you’ll need to use the right bait to increase your chances of success.
Here are some of the best baits for catfish:
Worms
Worms are a classic bait choice for catfish and for good reason. Catfish love eating worms and they’re relatively easy to come by.
You can often find them in your garden after it rains or you can buy them your local tackle shop.
If you’re using live worms, be sure to keep them fresh by storing them in a cool, damp place.
One of the best catfish baits? They’re certainly the cheapest!
Minnow
Minnows are another excellent bait choice for catfish. Like worms, minnows are easy for catfish to eat and they’re also readily available.
You can often find minnows swimming in ponds and lakes or you can purchase them from your local tackle shop.
If you’re using live minnows, like worms, be sure to keep them fresh by storing them in a cool, damp place.
Using a live bait is one of the best catfish baits, the movement and ‘fish in distress’ signals the predatory instincts of catfish.
Liver
Liver is another popular bait choice for catfish. Catfish love the taste of liver and it’s relatively easy to come by.
You can often find liver at your local butcher shop or grocery store. If you’re using fresh liver, be sure to keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to use it.
Large Pellets
Large pellets are a great bait choice if you’re fishing for larger catfish. Catfish love pellets because they’re easy to eat and they’re packed with nutrients.
Pellets are also readily available and can be found at your local tackle shop.
In our view, flavoured pellets are one of the best catfish baits around!
Recommended Catfish Pellets
Bread
Bread is a common household item that can also be used as bait for catfish. Catfish love the taste of bread and it’s easy to mold into different shapes.
To use bread as bait, simply mold it into small balls or pieces and then cast your rod!
Breda is one of the best catfish baits for tempting them near the surface.
Cheese
Cheese is another common household item that can be used as bait for catfish. Catfish love the taste of cheese and it’s easy to mold into different shapes.
As a paste – it can be devastating!
Like bread, cheese is also a good bait choice that catfish just cannot resist.
Shrimp
Shrimp is a seafood that catfish just love. Shrimp are relatively easy to come by and they’re also easy to keep fresh.
If you’re using live shrimp, be sure to store them in a cool, damp place. You can often find shrimp at your local grocery store or fish market.
Attaching Bait To Your Line
Now that you know some of the best baits for catfish, it’s time to learn how to attach them to your line.
The most important thing to remember when attaching bait is to make sure that the bait is securely attached.
You don’t want your bait coming off your line mid-cast and losing your chance at a big catch!
There are a few different ways that you can attach bait to your fishing line.
One popular method is to use a baiting needle. A baiting needle is a long, thin needle that is used to thread bait onto fishing line.
To use a baiting needle, simply thread the needle through the bait and then tie the bait onto the line using a baiting knot.
Another popular method for attaching bait is to use a baiting rig. A baiting rig is a pre-made rig that is used to attach bait to your fishing line.
Baiting rigs are available for purchase at most tackle shops.
Recommended Catfish Line
How To Catch Catfish
Now that you know how to bait your line, it’s time to learn how to catch catfish!
Catfish are most active at night, so the best time to go fishing for catfish is after sunset.
Catfish will use their whiskers to help them find food in the dark, so be sure to use bait that is easily detectable by a catfish’s whiskers.
Here are our tips to catching catfish:
Use A Strong Abrasion-resistant Monofilament
Catfish have sharp teeth that can easily cut through weak fishing lines. For this reason, it’s important to use a strong, abrasion-resistant monofilament line when fishing for catfish.
Monofilament lines are available for purchase at most tackle shops.
Use A Large Hook
Catfish have large mouths, so it’s important to use a large hook when fishing for them. The larger the hook, the better your chances of catching a catfish.
Again, hooks are available for purchase at most tackle shops.
Set The Hook Quickly And Firmly
Once you feel a catfish bite, it’s important to set the hook quickly and firmly.
Catfish are known for being able to spit out hooks, so setting the hook quickly and firmly will help to ensure that your catfish stays on your line.
Play The Fish Slowly
Once you have a catfish on your line, it’s important to play the fish slowly. Catfish are powerful fish and they will put up a fight!
Reeling in a catfish too quickly can cause the fish to break your line.
It’s best to reel in a catfish slowly and steadily.
Recommended Catfish Rods
Ledgering Deadbait
Ledgering is a popular fishing technique that can be used to catch catfish.
Ledgering is a method of fishing in which the bait is placed on the bottom of the body of water.
This technique is often used when fishing for catfish because it allows the bait to stay in one place, making it easier for catfish to find.
Here’s how to ledger deadbait:
Step 1: Attach a large lead weight to your line. The lead weight will help to keep your bait in one place.
Step 2: Thread your line through a baiting rig and then thread the baiting rig through the dead bait.
Step 3: Tie the dead bait onto your line using a baiting knot.
Step 4: Cast your line into the water and wait for a bite!
Best Catfish Baits: Final Thoughts
There we have it, some of the best catfish baits for luring catfish!
Our favourites have to be large pellets and of course – deadbaits!
So, if you’re looking for an edge the next time you go fishing for catfish, make sure to give some of these a try.
And who knows, maybe you’ll be the one catching the big one!
Like this content?
We would really appreciate it if you could please share it on social media, or Whatsapp it to a friend, or even email a colleague who may be interested.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a modest commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running.
Last update on 2025-08-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
