I'm very new here and just learned something very cool about chicken livers (my favorite catfish bait). I'm not clueless about catfishing but I KNOW you all have way more experience than I do BUT...I tried this and it worked perfectly. Buy some elastic thread, I got mine in the crafts department at Walmart (the kind you make bead bracelets with). Wrap that several times around the liver&hook, it won't come unraveled and the liver stayed on. When I got ready to go, I couldn't even get it off with my fingers. Sorry if I'm telling something you all know!!!

Hi Janis,

thanks for sharing the tip. That's a great idea and very helpful.
Sometimes they also sell the elastic bait band at fishing stores, but it's probably a bunch cheaper to buy it at Walmart.

Also good when fishing with other baits, like frozen sardines or anything that falls off the hook easily.

happy fishing!

Hi Janis,

I am just coming up to 48 years fishing experience. Apart from catching some catfish last year when I was in Queensland, I know nothing about it. I was actually fishing for silver perch and yellow belly. Yellow belly is also known as golden perch. I landed quite a few silvers and even got a few keepers for the BBQ...but alas not even one yellow....Heaps of catfish thou!!

There is no such thing as a silly question...and there is no such thing as bad advice...You might be surprised at the number of people reading this. It is counted in the 10's of thousands. And I bet not even 10% would have known or heard of tying bait to the hook !!

There is a way to save your elastic. You can make a loop in the main line and pass that loop over the bait. Then repeat with a second or even third loop. When the bait is taken the loops slide free leaving the hook set and the main line straight.

Thanks for your tips. I am sure many people will find it helpful...I know I have...Next time I am in Queensland them catfish are history I will teach them for thieving my worms. I wish I had of thought of looping the worms on last year

Thanks for the very helpful trick!

you're welcome! try it some time. I guess it would work with nightcrawlers too but I have a new kayak and I really don't want worm guts and dirt in it. Ewww.

yes, I assume it would also work for nightcrawlers but I don't like using those...my kayak is brand new and I don't want worm juice in it.

In the last 2 weeks (since I got my kayak). I have been reading SO much about catfishing and I'm dying to try a lot of things. About the kayak, I love it and I love paddling but dealing with rods (I have 3), water bottle, paddle, tackle box, bait, etc., there's a lot of moving parts and confusing at times although, I just realized there is a bungie just for the paddle. So much to learn and experiment!

I just read about the largest catfish ever caught in South Carolina was 116 lbs and was caught with a hunk of Spam. Those crazy cats will hit anything! (Leave chunks in the sun for a couple of hours so it gets hard).

will be good fun to catch those big ones from a kayak.
What kind of kayak have you got?

It's a SunDolphin Bali SS 12'. It's my first one so I don't know if it's a good one or not but I really like it. Has 2 pole holders. Only weighs 48 lbs, pretty easy to manage.

We use pieces of panty hose to hold the bait on the hook. Works great for liver and home made baits. We sometimes pre make small panty hose pouches, about thumb size, with home made baits. Secure them with those things rubber bands. We soak them in tub of chicken livers over night. The catfish around here LOVE it!