So I gave in and bought a bucket of Secret 7 and some #4 treble hooks. I punch the hook in and pull it out at a 45 degree angle. The hook comes out clean with nothing on it. The bait is like peanut butter with nothing for the hook to grab onto.

I'm looking for suggestions. I've thought of sliding a cotton ball down on the hook shaft prior to tying the hook on. I don't really want to pay $4 for a couple of "specialty" treble hooks. If anyone else who uses Secret 7 has any ideas, I'm all ears.

Thanks in advance,

its made to use with tubes or their furry thangs. get you some #6 treble hooks, rip up some cotton balls and mix them in. it works pretty well then. sounds like you should have bought their new punch bait. it already has fibers in it.

As Tom said, Secret 7 is a dip bait. You'll need a dip tube to hold the bait on the hook. I like to take the Team Catfish tubes and cut them in half in combination with a #6 treble hook. Put that on a carolina rig and you're set.

Just the like the others said, I use dip bait holder tubes. I use the big ones (a couple of inches long) with the sponges at the treble end. These have always worked well for me. I tried to use the Team Catfish furry thangs but they weren't to my personal taste. I also left them in my tackle box and in the heat, the glue that kept the furry thangs together softened/melted and the "tubes" which the velcro like loops attached to fell apart.

like bobby said and the others i use them with the tubes and all you can also add the cottonballs to because of the texas heat it will then up with the oil.....

Long time ago when using dip bait we always used cattails in the dip bait to make them stay on the hook

You might also want to try storing it in the freezer when your not using it and take it out the day before you go. Heres some reading for you http://www.learntocatchcatfish.com/catfish-punch-bait-101/ and http://www.learntocatchcatfish.com/punch-baits-cool/

Thank for answering the questions fellas!

Secret 7 is a dip bait used with dip tubes.
Sudden Impact is a fiber enriched bait used with bare treble hooks.

Yep, it seems as though I grabbed the wrong bucket. Thanks for the suggestions and information!

I like the tubes with the sponges, I cut the tube in half and the sponge floats the bait up off the bottom. Use a split shot about 18 inches in front of the bait.

I use cattails in mine, works great. It makes it a totaly different bait. Im sure Jeff would do it this way, if it werent for the problems getting cattails. I gathered a 5gal bucket of cattails this winter, so I am set for a few years.

By the way sudden impact is great. Catches the kittys and produces just the right amount of bait on every punch and you dont have to monkey with it like most other baits. So i dont come home wearing all my bait on my hands and cloths. good job guys.