Thread: Shad guts alternative bait?

Need lots of scent in a small easy to eat bite. Liver cut down to small pieces work well. But my go to if i cannot get shad for guts is to use store minnows. Use scissors to cut them in half and put 2-3 on a hook. Ask the shop if they have any dead ones too, they usually scoop their daily dead ones into a bag in a freezer. Ive gotten lots of free ones that way, they dont hold up as well on the hook but work the same.

Just thinking out loud here .... but, what about Bluegill guts/heads or even Crappie heads (maybe even soaked or sprayed down in Shad scent) ??

Around here, chicken livers/gizzards are a mainstay bait for Catfish ... and chicken breast soaked overnight in strawberry jello has also been a good alternative bait. I've even used Beef Melt (beef spleen), back in the day

My wife catches a lot of catfish with cheap sausage soaked in strawberry jello.

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Just thinking out loud here .... but, what about Bluegill guts/heads or even Crappie heads (maybe even soaked or sprayed down in Shad scent) ??

Around here, chicken livers/gizzards are a mainstay bait for Catfish ... and chicken breast soaked overnight in strawberry jello has also been a good alternative bait. I've even used Beef Melt (beef spleen), back in the day

Copied from KDFWR Fishing and Boating Guide: Regardless of size or how obtained, it is illegal to use sport fish for bait

Originally Posted by speckfinder

Copied from KDFWR Fishing and Boating Guide: Regardless of size or how obtained, it is illegal to use sport fish for bait

Yes, you are correct, for KY. Moose07 is in Iowa, where the law says :
Using the head or parts of a legally caught sport fish for bait is not illegal in Iowa, provided the fish was legally harvested (proper size/possession limits) and is used in the same body of water, or in accordance with general bait regulations. You must have a valid fishing license.

Try chicken livers, cut fish carcasses, or whatever that you can find soaked in Kool-Aid. Catfish love scent, and the more the stuff is left out to rot, the better.

Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Yes, you are correct, for KY. Moose07 is in Iowa, where the law says :
Using the head or parts of a legally caught sport fish for bait is not illegal in Iowa, provided the fish was legally harvested (proper size/possession limits) and is used in the same body of water, or in accordance with general bait regulations. You must have a valid fishing license.

We can use anything legally obtained for bait in Iowa. If it has a length limit, you have to keep intact carcass. But as a game warden once told me, you can fillet and use chunks of musky if you want.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I will be doing some experiments!