Caught a couple of channels in Georgia last week on nightcrawlers. Have also used pizza dough from the local pie house. They will usually give the scraps from the floor for free. Have used that for bullheads, carp, and channels. You can customize the dough as well. I've put cut fish in it, commercial stink bait, corn, crawlers, you get the idea. I usually cast a line out with a hook and few split shots and let it sink to the bottom, and just wait. I usually fish for something else and just keep an eye on the other rod.