The Best Bait for Catfish at a Farm Pond

Catfish are a bottom living fish that thrive in the murky waters of rivers and farm ponds throughout the Unites States -- especially ones with muddy bottoms. They provide a fun catch for all ages and, with mild flaky white meat, are good table fare. Farm pond anglers have a variety of bait choices to catch catfish depending on the season and time of day.

  1. Raw Meat

    • Ideal bait for catfish in farm ponds is any leftover meat or trimmings that you have or can obtain from a butcher. Common bait items include pieces of beef or chicken, including livers and gizzards, that have a strong flavor. It is best to leave the meat out in the sun for a period of time to let the meat start to rot and concentrate the smell and flavor. You should cut the pieces in 1 inch cubes and place on a medium to large hook for best results.

    Stink Bait

    • Stink bait is a commercially available product produced by local and national fishing tackle companies. Recipes among brands typically include ingredients such as animal blood, chicken livers, bread dough, cheese and various other smelly food items. This bait works well with catfish due to the fish using its sense of smell and taste to feed during low-light hours. Stink bait has a paste- or dough-like consistency that the angler can mold into a ball and place on a hook.

    Live Bait

    • Live bait commonly used to target bass and pan fish is effective for catfish in farm ponds if used correctly. Anglers should use bait including night crawlers, crawfish, crickets, grasshoppers and grubs in the deepest areas of the pond during daylight hours. This is done by tight lining the bait with a weight to keep it on the bottom or using a slip bobber setup to place the bait on or slightly above the bottom where catfish frequently stage during daylight hours.

    Gear

    • Anglers can choose from a variety of gear options suitable for catching catfish out of farm ponds. A hand line is a simple method of using a length of heavy monofilament or braided line which the anger throws and pulls in by hand. Traditional spinning gear allows an angler to target fish farther out in the middle of the pond as well as use a slip bobber setup.