trot line bait

[deerhunter1]

Hey guys what is the best bait to put on a trot line ? I have some cut bream, froze shad,and rooster liver. I was just wondering what everyone has had the best luck with.

[Shane]

I fished in TX years ago with an old fella who used live gold fish and frozen shrimp (large bait type). Hook the goldfish through the top of the back to keep them alive. Alternate the bait types down the main-line. We caught fish morning and night - gar and catfish with a few large water snakes. We'd set them on shallow mud benches in the flooded woods areas.

~ Best

[Mailman Bill]

We use 2 to 5 inch perch or bluegill live. Hook them just below and behind the dorsal fin (top). They stay alive sometimes for days. You catch flathead cats, channel cats, gar and an occasional bass or walleye. I did catch a Great Blue Herron once. After a bunch of flapping and squawking he flew away just with a sore beak. I came out on the short end of the battle with a few slaps to the face and kicks to the body. Mailman Bill http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley_gettin_mail.gif

[verotik]

I catfish just about every weekend from spring till fall. Bait depends on what naturally occurs in the water. If you are fishing a lake, about the best bait you can use is shad or bream. I prefer bream because they are easy to catch and if you use them live like Shane said to use goldfish, you can catch some real nice fish. I hook them live between the back of the fin and the tail. If your fishing a river, the best bait i have found is Skipjack Herring. I&#39;ve never seen catfish hit like they do when im using skipjack.

[Shiloh]

Gold fish, perch, or crawfish.

[j3storch]

Dead lawyers!

[deerhunter1]

Why wait till they are dead? Just thread em on a big hook and let em out. Maybe all of the splashing they will be doing I will catch a big gator.

[Roaddog]

Ivory Soap!

[Galimbhanger]

what size hooks do you use?