I've never known a catfish to take an artificial lure. Chicken guts, livers, stink bait, you bet. But a spinning lure...???
Actually I have caught catfish on an artificial lure. Many years ago I was fishing in front of the cooling water intake of a power plant lake. Fish love to congregate there as the food comes to them due to the suction of the pumps. I believe it was plastic worms, and yes, the hooks were in the catfishes mouth. No snagging.
Might as well try a Mepps spinner. Cats just ignore that stuff.
I’ve used fermented shad sides so rank that I had to wear rubber gloves and hold my breath to put it on treble hooks. Hot summer day, flies like a cloud—now that’s still fishing.
But Mr. Whiskers loves that happy crappy! Goldfish, hotdogs, dough bait work too.
Yup, Flatheads, also called opeluses, primarily will only bite on live bait. They are truly very good eating. Notice it does not have a split tail, it is an ancient breed.Check out my profile page, I know a thing or two about catfish and have read some mighty ignorant remarks on this thread.
Channel cats will hit the same lures trout and walleyes do.