Which would ya'll prefer for catching channels? I'm shore-bound so castnetting fresh shad isn't an option. I'd try punchbait too, but I'm not too big on treble hooks (too snaggy).

MilkJug,
Try Beef heart, lots easier to use and readily available, cube it at home and carry baggies.
Actually, this too just aint gonne beat Sure Shot, But!!!!!!!

Milkjug, if you think the trebles are too snaggy.....Try a casting bobby with a bobber stop for adjusting depth. Of course if you are fishing brush this doesn't help much.

However, I have been fishing brush with trebles for years. This is why I recommend the cheap Eagle claw #6 trebles. They are typically easy enough to snap a barb off if you get hung in some brush. I buy them by the case and won't hesitate to just snap a barb and replace a hook if I get snagged.

Hooker does the beef heart work as well as liver. I thought of using it for it's toughness but didn't know if they'd hit it.

I would use the liver over frozen shad. But I am useing Bar S franks now. seem to be working well.

Frank,
My preferance, beef heart or beef kidneys, over liver, I'm lazy and dont like to work...... NEVER found a good way to fish livers, and believe me when I say I've tried every way.

Thanks for the suggestions ya'll. The reason I ask is I've been hearing about netting alot of shad from creeks, and I'd like to freeze some and try it. Will post results on what works best.

Mike, slip floats are my choice as they are basically the only castable float when you are fishing deeper than 4ft. I fish alot of rip-rap so any bottom rig won't work, but I still want the bait as close to the bottom as possible. With trebles, I can't let the bait "bump" the bottom as I like to. Another thing with the slip floats is they tend to come off when you break off the line. OK unless your shore-bound with the wind at your back. I've had to strip down in a hurry a few times to get those damn $5 lighted floats back.

try this with your liver guys have done it and it works.take your liver lay it on a board in the sun and sprinkle brown sugar all over it enough to cover pieces.let set for about two hours then flip it over and put more brown sugar on the other side.let set another two hours.keep chilled when done.do not freeze when you thaw it out will melt.just keep cool till you use it.works on beef blood also.hope this helps good fishing.oh by the way if anyone knows someone orhas a river boat am looking.16foot flat bottom with at least motor from 25-50 hourse motor.thanks.

Milkjug....You can buy those tiny little chemical lights if you are wanting to fish a bobber after dark....They aren't too expensive if you buy them by the gross. I used some one night and they are much brighter than those lighted bobbers. And, you don't mind loosing them nearly as bad.

Just tape it onto a regular casting bobber using some of that clear duct tape they have out now.

To keep from losing your entire rig to the rip rap switch to 50lb power pro or other braided line. Then use a short mono leader to the treble hook. You'll either straighten out the hook or just break the mono every time. You dang sure won't break the braided line. Here's my rig for fishing rip rap: #4 treble loaded with Sure Shot, 12"-17lb mono leader, barrel swivel, 1/8" oz weight, slip float, bead, bobber stop.
Hope this helps.

-Strat 256