It's taiken me a week, but finally I've gotten them. At first I used sausage, but that was stripped by the bluegills for 2 days. On day 3 I used a dead toad that was floating in the pond. I cut it up so the blood waould drain out and threw it in the water. I used it for 2 days. On day 4, a snapping turtle, and this isn't your average snapper, it's a bigger-than-a-toilet-seat snapper, I'm not exagerating. Keep in mind that for those 4 days I left the bait to sit in the pond over night. The snapper completely shredded the rapala, so now I started to use a regular hook. I started to cut bluegill that were 1half-2 inches long and put them on the hook, i caught green sunfish, and other things for a day, then, I was watchin my lines at around 7:30, and a bullhead jumps out of the water, I run over to grab it with my hands, then remember it's horns, this is a over-footlong bullhead. I completely forgot the long handled net right next to me for catching bait fish. But I finally got one. It's about a foot. It's in my cichlid pond hiding in some rocks. If you want to catch a catfish quick, tie a line to a stum or stick a stick in the ground, use a normal, by normal I mean circle, or anything with one hook, or treble hook. Use a few pieces of freshly cut or killed bluegill as bait
My long process of catching catfish
- Thread starter troppond
- Start date
Congrats! 
... I had gone catfishing about a month ago and only caught a snapping turtle that was easily around 60 pounds
... I had gone catfishing about a month ago and only caught a snapping turtle that was easily around 60 poundsI know, they can get huge, and plus unless want to keep those monsters, they are justa waste of your bait
This is true lol I was using left over bunker from my last fishing trip and it had no problem eating it all up, surprisingly I still caught it since I was only using 17lb test.
Well I have caught two snapping turtles and they both didnt fight, so I geuss not. I was surprised when I saw such a monster on a medium action rod 
I use rotten chicken liver for catfish bait..I let the liver sit out in the sun for a couple of days and put chunks in panty hose. Hook it to a treble hook and your in business!!! Of course you still hook the occasional turtle..lol...
gl,
Chris
gl,
Chris
If you want a overnight method I've used empty detergent bottles with the cap on spray them with some bright spray paint, tie on about 15-20 yards of line I prefer 30lb test and add a circle hook of appropriate size so the fish won't gut it. Then leave it in around 5-10 feet of water and go hunting for it in the morning. I've caught some of the biggest catfish I've ever seen this way.
I have caught nice sized cats on nightcrawlers.I have gone catfishing a couple times in the retention pond behind my house. Caught a snapping turtle twice and a huge catfish snapped my 20lb line three other times. I got tired of waiting and losing, now I just fish for bass.