What hooks are you using? Disregard my signature.

You don't need a throw line or a trot line to catch. Find some flooded green grass with some wind blowing on it after this rain and you should get bit. All the info you need on rigging and bait is here on the forum. Chummin your hole with some sour milo will increase your chances. Might post the body of water you are fishing and someone on here can probably point you to a more productive area.

You need a bait
You need a hook
You need enough weight to hold line,hook and bait under water
Knots do not matter
Next question . . . . .

Channel cat are nastier then a chicken,theyll eat anything
Blues are abit more picky and prefer fresher prey
Big* Flatheads aint stupid and they prefer fresh live prey
They will hit good cut bait but never rancid(yes there are exceptions <~~ for the net cops)
Its not the golden rule,but its my rule**
When flathead bait plays out(1hr) said bait goes into another bucket for blues that is generally cut unless its still alive(perch)
Most often it is because of how I rig it,I dont rig it to kill it
I use 6/0(for eaters),8/0 and 10/0 hooks exclusively for the target fish,double hook for live carp up to 1lb.
We find plenty to make the feed every season,I dont hurt for fish because I put in the SIMPLE effort supported by decades of water time.Its not a sport to me,its tradition.