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I don't think that I have ever caught a small drum, but I was told that small drum make great flathead bait. Anyone ever use drum as bait? While I am asking, what is your favorite flathead bait for the Ohio River?
Drum for bait?
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I have used drum both live and cut for flatheads with very poor results...Shad and suckers are they way to go.
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I have tried them cut and they just don't work.
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goldfish work good too but are expensive,i use mostly large chubs with very good results
My choices
I like live skipjacks and shad, next would come fresh cut skips & shad ( fresh- never frozen). Then I'd use frozen skips. That's my order of priority. This fall, it seemed like sometimes shad out produced skips. If the shad are small, we put 3 on a hook. Dave & I both caught some big fish on that, but I seemed to get most of my larger fish on whole skipjacks. I like them fresh-caught the same day, and then I'd fillet off one side of them too.
Of course you can't always get fresh bait. That's why it's good to keep a supply of frozen bait at all times. Even during the season, you can't find the live, so you can bait up with the frozen. I did get my largest fish on frozen cut skipjack.
Goldfish make an excellant bait. They are easy to keep alive & you can get some nices ones in Northside for 50 cents each. I caught my "prize" money fish in the Sept T on a goldfish within 5 minutes of the start ( a 14# flathead).
I was reading where therse guys are experimenting with freezing baits. They are cutting it & using the vacuum seal, but are sealing it in jars vs. bags. They are adding scents, and grinding up the gut sack, heads, gills and adding garlic, etc then freezing it all together. That way all the pieces are soaked. The day you are going fishing, you pull out a jar & let it defrost. You can also use it as a dip bait after you've baited the hooks. They claim it outperforms even fresh bait- tested on channel cats. One advantage the vacuum has is it removes the air & will also force the mixture to penetrate the bait from the pressure. There's one pump that produces 28" of vacuum & comes with the jar attachment. Channels are scavengers, haven't heard much about larger fish caught on it yet. As with any bait, the season & availibility of bait will determine what's best.
I like live skipjacks and shad, next would come fresh cut skips & shad ( fresh- never frozen). Then I'd use frozen skips. That's my order of priority. This fall, it seemed like sometimes shad out produced skips. If the shad are small, we put 3 on a hook. Dave & I both caught some big fish on that, but I seemed to get most of my larger fish on whole skipjacks. I like them fresh-caught the same day, and then I'd fillet off one side of them too.
Of course you can't always get fresh bait. That's why it's good to keep a supply of frozen bait at all times. Even during the season, you can't find the live, so you can bait up with the frozen. I did get my largest fish on frozen cut skipjack.
Goldfish make an excellant bait. They are easy to keep alive & you can get some nices ones in Northside for 50 cents each. I caught my "prize" money fish in the Sept T on a goldfish within 5 minutes of the start ( a 14# flathead).
I was reading where therse guys are experimenting with freezing baits. They are cutting it & using the vacuum seal, but are sealing it in jars vs. bags. They are adding scents, and grinding up the gut sack, heads, gills and adding garlic, etc then freezing it all together. That way all the pieces are soaked. The day you are going fishing, you pull out a jar & let it defrost. You can also use it as a dip bait after you've baited the hooks. They claim it outperforms even fresh bait- tested on channel cats. One advantage the vacuum has is it removes the air & will also force the mixture to penetrate the bait from the pressure. There's one pump that produces 28" of vacuum & comes with the jar attachment. Channels are scavengers, haven't heard much about larger fish caught on it yet. As with any bait, the season & availibility of bait will determine what's best.
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Hi Rooster
I have used fresh cut drum and even live drum(4-7") to catch flatheads and channel cats from the rivers.
I like to have on hand(if possible) a wide varity of baits for cats, specially if im out to catch both flats & channels(like the Ohio r.).
I have had some great success with many kinds of cut baits in one time or another...sure fresh cut shad and skipjack are the best in waters were they are available..but in waters where there is no skipjacks or not very many shad..other cut fish works great..like drum, carp, many types of suckers, shiners, chubs and of course panfish.
I say keep all options open..and try many types of fresh cut baits when you can..some will out shine others..but all in one time or another will catch cats.
Good luck on your cat quests in 2003, you'll have fun for sure,
Scott
I have used fresh cut drum and even live drum(4-7") to catch flatheads and channel cats from the rivers.
I like to have on hand(if possible) a wide varity of baits for cats, specially if im out to catch both flats & channels(like the Ohio r.).
I have had some great success with many kinds of cut baits in one time or another...sure fresh cut shad and skipjack are the best in waters were they are available..but in waters where there is no skipjacks or not very many shad..other cut fish works great..like drum, carp, many types of suckers, shiners, chubs and of course panfish.
I say keep all options open..and try many types of fresh cut baits when you can..some will out shine others..but all in one time or another will catch cats.
Good luck on your cat quests in 2003, you'll have fun for sure,
Scott
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