Blue cats love the cold round here!

It's no channel but it was caught on the gut pocket section of a gizzard shad in 38 digree water temps.
As for casting the guts as far as you say I have never tryed just throwing the guts. Channel cats like to eat all kinds of stuff including prepared baits, hot dogs, and ivory soap. I am sure you can find something they will feed on besides shad guts that you can cast as far as you want!