I want to start jug fishing for catfish…what’s the best bait to use on the jugs?

The best bait for jugging is the bait that will attract their acute sense of smell. It is always best to go with live bait, and if you can use pieces of the cat’s favorite delicacies (other fish), you’ll be doing well. In particular, I recommend chunks of shiners, suckers, brim, carp and shad. Basically, you are looking for any pieces of dead fish that a catfish would find tasty. Another bait that works really well for juglining is shrimp, and the fresher the better. You can also use nightcrawlers and worms for juglining bait. Some other things you can try include doughballs and chicken livers. These are easy to keep on a juglining hook, and catfish really go for them. With a doughball, you can make your own mixture of household foods like cheese, meat, liver, tuna and whatever else in the blender and pack them in there. The doughball helps keep your mixture on the line. Depending on where you live, live crawfish might be a good option. These work especially well down south where they’re easy to catch. When you’re jugging, try out a couple of different things and see first of all what stays on the hook well. Then, you should be watching for what the cats in your particular stream seem to like. Stick to what works, and don’t forget to mix it up a little from time to time. Trial and error is the best way to find the perfect bait.