Livebaits, Cutbaits, Worms And More

Anadromous Baits

On Atlantic and Pacific coast rivers, each spring brings a fresh influx of prey from the sea. Anadromous species live their adult lives in saltwater, returning to freshwater to spawn. When their eggs hatch, fry and fingerlings may spend from a few months to a couple of years in the river or estuary before entering the ocean.

American shad ascend rivers from Nova Scotia to Florida in spring when water temperatures rise into the mid-50°F range. A similar migration occurs in the Columbia River on the West Coast. Adult shad, which run from 3 to over 6 pounds, may run many miles upstream, or spawn where obstructions block the migration.

In the Cape Fear in North Carolina and other rivers, giant flatheads and blue cats eat adult American shad, while spawning mortalities provide forage for smaller blues, channels, and white cats. Cut shad is a prime bait in coastal rivers through spring and summer, and young-of-the-year shad, which migrate to the sea in fall, are fine though delicate baits.

Blueback herring and alewives, which follow a similar pattern, also are prime baits. Skipjack herring aren’t truly anadromous since adults don’t move into saltwater, yet their spring upstream migration is a focus of catfish feeding. Large 10- to 15-inch herring attract the big guys, while chunks call in cats of all sizes.

Eels follow a reverse migration, called catadromous, as adults live in freshwater and migrate to the sea to spawn and die. Our contacts on coastal rivers assure us that catfish love eels, either young (10- to 18-inchers) that striped bass cherish too, or chunks of large eels.

When cut, the eel’s nervous system continues to produce movement, a turn-on for flatheads that like live prey. Eel skin also exhibits excellent motion in current, so leave an extra flap on the chunk. For big fish, try chunks 3 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches in diameter.

Certain marine fish also have a strong appeal. Atlantic mackerel roam nearshore waters, and cuts of these bloody, oily fish make prime baits for cats of all kinds. Mullet also make fine baits in southern rivers, where they occasionally stray from the ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.

Stream Smorgasbord

North American rivers contain hundreds of native and introduced fish, ranging in size from tiny shiners to buffalo, carp, and the big cats themselves. Nearly all are fair game for catfish, depending on the habitat they occupy. But catfish seem to savor some over others. Young carp, for example, are gourmet fare for big flatheads, who may follow them onto flooded pastures at night.

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