I'm a huge catfishermen and have tried them all...BUT the best bait for BIG catfish hands down is ALWAYS Fresh cut bait like shade, carp, blue gill or bonker. The only other bait I use is a mixture I make up with pieces of fresh cut baits I already noted and I put them in a container add some water and 4 to 5 mac N cheese, powered cheese packets, table spoon of garlic and cut up pieces of pike mackerel for their fishy oil... Mix all up and place in the fridge over night and it's ready to go... I have caught 100's of catfish on this with my biggest channel cat being 37 pounds here in Colorado where catfishing isn't even that good becuz of our cold waters..