I prefer to have my bait scaled unless I am using the head. It's fish and natural to them so I would think they would prefer it over chicken breast. However, some good feedback in this thread on chicken breast so it might be worth trying both and see which gets bit more consistently.

Got myself some proper cat fishing equipment today including this cast net which I am at present learning how to throw!





I also got some frozen mackerel from the H Mart. I'm using that as bait and bank fishing so far no luck catching bait or fish LOL.

Also, if you are fishing for good size Blues, or any size, use my Catfish Calendar to max your potential. See the thread titled "Lynn's Catfish Calendar (LCC) 2016". I use fair size perch. Dave uses fresh chicken breast soaked in Dead Red spray. See his thread in "Meat Haul" for pics. A lot of bass fishermen are now using my Calendar for big Yellas on Rod-n-Reel.

Oh the Sweet the smell of success!

These are not the monsters I am looking for but not bad for a first try! Weather being what it is, I was bank fishing. Tiny boat has to wait.

I was able to get these two nice-sized eaters. It turns out they do like mackerel!

I even caught a small bluegill in my new throw net!! First try throwing the cast net so I was pretty excited about that. Spent about an hour working on my throwing I think I started to figure it toward the end.

Used the gill for bait too but they wanted the mackerel.

Had 4 bites but only got two. the other bites the fish doubled the rod down, when i picked it up there was nothing there at all. I've got the technique down of just reeling and not setting the hook with the circle hooks so that wasn't the problem they just dropped the bait I guess.

Gar or a fish swam into the line.........

Ahhh. Gar. You're right. I've had fish swim into the line when bass fishing and dead sticking plastics. They clear the line quick. These two bites the suckers popped the rods of my bucket and drug em 15 feet.

Gar do that then drop a bait. Seen it on YouTube haha

pvc, 1/2" rebar and lots of duct tape.........

Time for some team catfish DA hooks...

Those rod holders look legit!

I'm gonna stick with my Home Depot Bucket for now. Plan is long run to fish the blues from the Bass Hunter. Just need my schedule and weather to match.

Gonna go back to the same spot in the AM and try again.

This time bigger hooks, bigger baits, and maybe try the Lowe's bucket over the home depot one...in case big blues are more into blue buckets. Never know.

No luck this time. Caught a turtle and a bass on my mackerel.

Wonder why it is that 12 hours ago same spot same bait I had 4 bites in an hour, and now no bites in 5 hours...

Next time hopefully I'll be on the bass hunter and can try more spots.

You could get Carey to show you where to catch shad.

Forget the BassMan and make 4 rod holders and downloaded ad Navionics phone App and look for areas near dropoffs, creek channels and points you can bank fish. Good Blue catfish weather is cold wet and windy -your BassMan ain't going to help you. Save it for Spring time channel cat fishing.

I respect that input Big poppa. Furthermore I see you're a skilled cat fisherman, as such I take your input seriously.

That said my mission, my goal, is big blue from tiny boat. I'm going to accomplish that mission.

I want a big blue (and some eaters along the way) coming over the rail of the 9 foot Bass Hunter boat!

No thanks.