Whether you're targeting eating-sized channel catfish or 100-pound blues you need the right catfish baits and gear. (Shutterstock photo)
July 30, 2025
By Alan Clemons
Even with the best catfishing gear in the boat or on the bank, anglers sometimes tussle with a whiskerfish that has a little extra dog in him. Catfish are aggressive and don’t quit. It doesn’t matter if they’re river monster blues or speckled channel cats in a smaller lake or farm pond. Stout tackle, sharp hooks and good line all matter when battling these bullies. Amid the thousands of products at the annual ICAST Show this summer, a few for catfishing caught our attention.
Catfish Pro ChumPODS Catfish Pro ChumPODS What a great idea for chum, especially for farm ponds where maybe just a little is all you need to get Mr. Whiskers riled up for the kids. ChumPODS have a fishmeal-based granular chum contained in a biodegradable package. They’re not harmful to the environment, work in cold and hot water, and will release oils, enzymes and attractants. You can attach a pod or two directly to your hook, or have a chum rod with a clip or pin to cast a pod to an area. Either way, the chum will disperse and get the fish interested in your other hooked baits. Combine the pods with cubes of Catfish Pro Catfish Bait, which are 100 percent natural. The cubes are available in chicken liver, shad, bloody shad, catalpa worm, shrimp, bloody skipjack, cheese, nightcrawler, garlic, blood, crawdad, blood worm, grasshopper, beef blood, pork blood, minnow, red worm and cricket. Learn More
Fishbites Catfish Bait Chunks Fishbites Catfish Bait Chunks You can’t smell these Fishbites Catfish Bait Chunks , but the fish know where they are and that’s a good thing. They’re infused with natural ingredients that create a scent cloud in the water. Catfish, as you know, are akin to a swimming tongue thanks to taste receptors on much of their body. They pick up scent and home in, eventually sussing the location to see if it’s edible. Fishbites are biodegradable but won’t melt in your hands. Available in shad, liver, shrimp and crayfish flavors, in chunks or strips (flavors of earthworm and lugworm). This Florida-based company has a selection of saltwater baits, too, in case you want different flavors, colors and shapes for your cat action. Learn More
WhiskerSeeker Baitrunner Spinning Reel WhiskerSeeker Baitrunner spinning reel Coming in four sizes and three vivid colors, the WhiskerSeeker Baitrunner spinning reel has a rigid graphite body and rotor designed for tough conditions. It has a lightweight but tough frame, aluminum spool to reduce weight and 5.5:1 gear ratio. The Baitrunner is designed for big water or small creeks, with a wool felt drag washer system and max drag of 25 pounds. It also has a bait clicker option for instant feedback whether you’re still-fishing or drifting. Learn More
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Eagle Claw Cat Claw Santee Rig Eagle Claw Cat Claw Santee Rig Built with Nylawire line, a Quicklink and a topwater float — in this case, a Spook topwater bait — the Cat Claw Santee rig from Eagle Claw keeps your bait drifting or floating in the strike zone longer. The rig comes with an 8/0 Eagle Claw octopus hook so you can take on big fish and also catch any smaller ones that want to flex their catty muscles. The body is available in firetiger, bone and clown colors – catfish are visual, so the combo of bait and a vivid lure sounds like a solid 1-2 punch. Learn More
Lazer Sharp Hooks Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Hooks The Lazer Sharp L4 brings the performance of the Trokar TK4 to an affordable inline circle hook. The L4’s ultra-sharp needle point offers easy penetration, and the inline design ensures a high bite-to-hookup ratio along with quick releases. It has a platinum black finish with a non-offset design, standard gap, needlepoint tip and strong, forged shank. The welded eye is a huge plus to protect knots during the fight. Hook sizes from 4/0 to 9/0. Learn More
Thill Sharp Shooter Float Thill Sharp Shooter Float Part of the Thill Gold Medal Series, the new Sharp Shooter Float casts like a dart thanks to key weighting and aerodynamic design. One end of the float has a “Sight Flight” fin design while the other has a brass grommet tip. Combined, the float balances well and is easily visible. Line flows freely through the brass grommet, too. The float is made with premium balsa and has high-visibility colors. The Sharp Shooter is available in 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 ounce. Learn More
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Plano Weekender Tackle Bag Plano Weekender Tackle Bag Keeping gear organized is a factor for success, and Plano’s new water-reistant Weekend Softsider Tackle Bag helps get the job done. It’s comes with a molded, waterproof base, zipperless top panel for quick access to two included Stowaway boxes and has room for more. A large internal compartment handles more gear and die-cut tool sleeves keep pliers or gear easily at hand. This year, too, Plano has improved its legendary StowAway 3500, 3600 and 3700 boxes with stronger components, more divider slots and Rustricor corrosion resistance. Learn More
Mustang Survival Elite 120 Mustang Survival Elite 120 personal flotation device If you’re in a boat, it’s a good idea to wear a PFD if you’re under power or in rough conditions. Your loved ones don’t want to get that call about an accident. Inflatable PFDs, such as the improved Mustang Survival Elite 120 , should be a consideration. Improved technology has all but eliminated surprise inflations due to rain, boat spray or humidity. The new Elite 120 is a re-engineered version of the Elite 28 and has 28 pounds (120N) of buoyancy. It has a breathable mesh back and a shorter chassis to prevent ride-up on all body types, even at high speeds. The PFD uses the Hammar MA1 inflator, which is designed to activate only when submerged and won’t be activated by humidity, rain or spray. Learn More
Dhukr Hook Remover Dhukr Hook Remover Getting stuck with a hook is terrible, especially if an angry or flopping catfish is somehow still in the mix. We ran across the Dhukr dehooking tool last year at ICAST and offer it again. It’s a simple, portable hook removal device that works for almost any hook. It was designed by Michael Pisano, an ER doctor from Marco Island, Florida, who for more than 20 years at hospitals saw myriad hooks embedded in different body parts. The Dhukr tool securely slips around the hook shank and, with pressure applied, helps it slip out the way it went in. If you fish, even walking around ponds or neighborhood lakes, the Dhukr is a great addition to your tackle bag. It’s one of those “I’d rather have it and not need it” items. Learn More
More New Gear from ICAST B’n’M Poles Mossy Oak Blacklite B’n’M Poles has partnered again with fellow Mississippi company Mossy Oak to produce the Mossy Oak Edition Blacklite catfish rod series. These rods are designed to take on catfish from farm ponds to river settings, with camouflage accents and premium components. B’n’M and Mossy Oak previously have collaborated on several rod series, so anglers know this one will be strong, as well. The new line is also designed for use with black lights at night, so you can see the bite easier and also film the catch. Learn More
Trapski Racks Bucket Cutting Board Trapski Racks Bucket Cutting Board The Trapski Racks Bucket Cutting Board is a no-brainer for boaters or bank anglers for several reasons. It has two grooves underneath to fit into standard 5-gallon buckets or premium models with a smidge wider diameter. The 24x15 board fits securely onto a bucket, creating a solid and stable surface to cut and prepare bait, make lunch, sit and fish or whatever needs to be done. It’s made in the U.S. from 1/2-inch marine grade HDPE and has an integrated 24-inch ruler along with non- skid/marking feet for use on flat surfaces. Ignore that its roots are in saltwater and embrace the possibilities, whether you’re going after cats on a boat or the bank. Learn More
