Is Shrimp The Ultimate Catfish Bait?

What is the best catfish bait? What catfish bait works best? That is a question all catfish anglers ask. When you are fishing for catfish you want the best catfishing bait. In this video I compare shrimp to chicken and cut bait while fishing for catfish during the spawn. Catching catfish during the spawn can be tough, and it usually means you need to downsize your catfish bait, in other words use smaller catfish baits. Many people use shrimp for catfish bait, and shrimp will catch catfish as we see in this video.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @dietermelhorn
FOR A GUIDED FISHING TRIP WITH ME CLICK HERE: dietermelhornfishing.com/guid...
TO CHECK OUT OR BUY THE GEAR I USE CLICK HERE:
dietermelhornfishing.com/gear
**CONTACT INFORMATION**
MY WEBSITE: www.dietermelhornfishing.com
EMAIL: [e-mail]
If you have products you would like us to demo, or others items you would like to send by mail, you can use the following address. For a street shipping address for larger items please email us.
Dieter Melhorn
PO BOX 172
Cramerton, NC 28032
The Fishing Gear I Use:
ANDE MONSTER MONOFILAMENT FISHING LINE: amzn.to/3NiBoPg
ANDE LEADER MATERIAL: amzn.to/3lb7HU5
GAMAKATSU HOOKS: amzn.to/3FJvC6F
BOONE PLIARS: amzn.to/3PmxvdJ
LOWRANCE SONAR: amzn.to/39ow2mz
BOGA GRIP: amzn.to/3l8RvCL
DEMON DRAGON BLANKS: amzn.to/3ldVQEG
Reels:
ANCIENT MARINER REELS: www.ancientmarinerfishing.com/...
ABU GARCIA 6500 C3: amzn.to/3sxvBwX
ABU GARCIA CATFISH SPECIAL REEL: amzn.to/3MeXh1y
PISCIFUN BAITCASTING REEL: amzn.to/3MflLIf
KAST KING BAITCASTING REEL: amzn.to/3L9mTM9
LEWS BAITCASTING REEL: amzn.to/3NgPIYg
Rods:
CATCH THE FEVER: catchthefever.com/?afmc=melhorn
MY CAMERA GEAR
Main Camera: amzn.to/2wQXORR
GoPro Cameras: amzn.to/2wY6rLx
Tripod: amzn.to/2M5RgEz
Microphone: amzn.to/2wSCY5k
Waterproof Case: amzn.to/2MSNzaL
Micro SD Camera Cards: amzn.to/2NmscxH
LaCie Hard Drives: amzn.to/2M09DLb
MY CLOTHING
Katfish Apparel: katfishclothing.com/?aff=2
Costa Sunglasses: amzn.to/2NRqT6Y
Camo Crocs: amzn.to/2wLM436
Grundens Rain Gear: amzn.to/2oO5L6Q
BOAT GEAR
Yeti Coolers: amzn.to/2Nm4Yb6
Head Lamps: amzn.to/2M7Poex
Marine Band Radio: amzn.to/2QcbaRK
EPIRB: amzn.to/2MX9GwH
#catfishbait
#baitforcatfish
#shrimpforcatfishbait

[@foureightyvolts]

I just can't put a knife through a living fish. As weird as it is, I can use chicken, chicken liver, beef liver, hearts, shrimp, etc... which was alive at one point, but I just can't bring myself to use freshly killed cut bait, bait that I killed. Been catfishing for over 30 years, I could never do it. I'm soft, I know, but that's how I feel. I can't kill a fish to catch a fish. I love Melhorn's videos, but it just kills me seeing a living fish being sawed in half... alive just for bait. It's a great bait, I know, but it's not for me.

[@DieterMelhorn]

No shame in your game. Do what’s comfortable for you and enjoy fishing…..👍👍👍

[@DodgeCwby99]

I use ship here in oklahoma during the spawn .. drift it with a bobber over rocks .. works like a charm!!

[@cade-o3107]

North carolina here, fish the French broad river regularly and raw shrimp is my go to store bait if i dont have time to catch live bait, and its always been a pretty solid bait. Havent caught any monsters on it biggest ones are 12 to 15lb. Works about as good as chicken in my opinion just choose shrimp over chicken cause doesnt leave my hands smelling rotten haha. Have also caught a few bass floating shrimp. You can mix jello powder in the shrimp and let it sit overnight and it really firms it up. Thanks for the great videos man ive learned alot from you and youve really upped my catfishing game. Keep up the awesome work❤

[@jliketheletter637]

Up here in Manitoba I fish cats lots and cut baits definitely work but this year shrimp was the answer for sure. Channel s and bullheads

[@Haydenyergin34]

Richard Gene the fishing machine said to try the shrimp in the winter time when the catfish are targeting smaller baits and they will kill it.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Might give that a shot!!

[@noahgonefishing23]

You know, I'll be honest other than cutbait, and live bait shrimp is the one bait that seems to actually catch a nice number of fish and quality of fish. If you're in the right spot and using it right.

[@mikehuber3163]

Love your videos. I'm new to Catfish. I'm in Michigan on a Inland Lake. I use store bought shrimp and killing it. Me and the grandsons have a blast with catfish. Keep up the great job.

[@DieterMelhorn]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching!!

[@niceguydmm]

Fished with the rod and reel shrimp on Wylie years ago before the blues took over. Worked great for channel cats!! 25 years ago big channel cats...

[@908whwy90]

I use The Wrap System with shrimp and it really makes a difference keeping bait on the hook for catfish

[@ExperienceKevsworld]

Fishing's always awesome, even when the catch'n ain't!

[@Tonnsfabrication]

Fished the Ohio river yesterday with momma down at RC Byrd L&D. Had a bag of shrimp in the freezer so that was the bait of the day, cought some nice channel cats right at the entrance of the lock. For that stretch of river any fish is a good fish to catch. Mommas just been begging me to take her out on the boat to fish, oh the agony of it all.

[@jeffholder5647]

My shrimp bites have been off for the last couple weeks. Chicken and cut have been working down here in south Texas.

[@slange455]

looks like you ate the bait lol funny back in the 80s fishing with my dad it was worms and shrimp….we use head on shrimp in the power plant lakes for red fish

[@user-fo9hu7jz4s]

It’s the ultimate channel cat bait I think but my buddy Mark Austin has caught 50lb blues near the 85 bridge on shrimp.

[@williamkost733]

Shrimp from harris teeter is fresh and works well

[@DMVWhiskerKing]

Mmmm sounds like dinner Chicken and Shrimp 🍤 😋. Shrimp works pretty good in my shallow waters , normally channels and Blues no Flatheads for me . 1st Channel on Cutbait , 2nd Blue on Chicken 🐔 , 3rd Kitty a Channel tiny Perch bait , 4th Popped off 😔 4th Landed and little Channel cat . 5th landed and a Blue on Chicken 🐔 . 6th on CutBait and a Blue. I haven't fished much since spring started now we in summer . 7th kitty is a in drift sock but landed baby Channel. Bam kitty's on Shrimp #8 🍤 nice Channel 👌. Lol I'm keeping score lol 😆 . Another one on Chicken 🐔 a Channel kitty #9 😺. Yeah Shrimp can be mushy use bait string 🍤 on #10 a fishy 🐟. Great video 📹 as always 😀

[@josiahrazo4691]

Love the videos and thanks for the tips. I'm reletively new to catfishing and I always find your videos helpfull.

[@chuckwdaniel]

We only have channels and flatheads in the area lake where I grew up. But the biggest channel I ever caught was on shrimp, about 14 pounds. For flatheads I used bluegill.

[@williamcarr3976]

Shrimp is good for a lot of scenarios, I’ve done well in fresh water with them, Toledo Bend In shallow water at night, Calcasieu River in deeper water water (never caught anything big on shrimp) but the eaters will tear it up.. Caught specs and flounder on shrimp too.. Catfish on trotline, I’ve had good success with blue gill and crawfish if the turtles don’t pick it clean

[@InSearch4I]

Alright guys spilling my secret catfish bait. Cut raw chicken that has ground shrimp powder on it. (can be found in a bag in the mexican spices) cut up chicken and cover in a bag like you do jello.

[@jbhodj2012]

Good vid. I use shrimp often along with cut and now chicken. Problem I have with shrimp is the gar stripping hooks

[@mcbassinfaas7285]

yep only thing i use that and bluegill chunks. best luck ive ever had on those 2

[@Broncin2]

Every time I go out even with the fam I have rods in the water. Kids swimming in the back, fishing out the front.

[@Chris_Smith_burner_account]

Come on up to Ohio. The channel cats in Sandusky bay love shrimp. Never had luck chasing blues with it.

[@jondoe8914]

Never had luck with the shrimp in WV

[@zach_6.813]

Would really enjoy seeing more of your hunting on video as well. Rather you drop the hammer or not, a lot of us would still enjoy watching! The gear you prefer would also be interesting to see.

[@damriverboys7794]

Just depends what that fish wants that day but seems like the fish in one school will all feed on the same thing one school eats nothing but chicken the next is all cut bait and a different area is shrimp all in the same day on the same body of water

[@HooksandHammocks]

Lyle gonna be very upset with you if you use up all his shrimp!!😂

[@shannonherb2048]

I have caught catfish with shrimp, but I'd rather eat the shrimp and catch some decent catfish. I prefer bream since I can eat them too lol.

[@amishhackerlul3731]

Jello garlic shrimp with skip jack oil

[@robertmceuen3630]

I use raw shrimp, and it works great. Put it in a zip lock bag, little garlic salt. Different sizes for whatever hook you're using. Yes, almost all the cats are small to medium. I guess the big ones are still spawning? Fishing is fun anyway, big ones just make it more fun.

[@soonerbred22]

big ones will are still spawning in Oklahoma for a couple more weeks. the little ones will come in after. I hand fish. once the big ones are done the smaller ones move in after the 1st week of July usually

[@robertmceuen3630]

@@soonerbred22 Great reply. I am in Ok. and am anxious to catch a few 10 pounders.

[@joelwcarter8058]

try worm scented dough bait sometime. it will work

[@patrickhaney7540]

Have you ever tried squid?

[@LifewithJames]

I’ve only used it once while saltwater fishing and caught one pretty quickly and kept having other fish go crazy on it but could never get them to catch the hook. Never tried it in any freshwater

[@Brunnen_Gee]

I've had good luck with shrimp, old freezer burned stuff and "fresh", but it seems to get turtled much faster than other baits I've tried.

[@user-mo1jm4gl1p]

Caught a 40lb blue catfish suspending shrimp on the lower Susquehanna River

[@waltershoults8803]

You are making me so hungry 👍💯

[@waltershoults8803]

It’s only downfall is it’s ability to stay on the hook as you know catfish love to chew their food. Thx for sharing and fish on!! 💯🔥❤️👍

[@davidransom4476]

Catfish, sturgeon, stripers, and those dang crawdads that eat bait off your hook.

[@StingofTruth]

I went bank fishing 2 days ago and caught 2 channel cats, 3lbs each using shrimp.

[@STRETCHFishing]

I've used shrimp many times. But never did well. Chicken and cut bread do the best. I am always anchored

[@mr.nobody750]

Shrimp is great for eater catfish but for the monsters gizzard shad and bluegill and crappie is the best

[@cryptofan6255]

I live in Southeast Tx near the coast. The spawn has been over for two or three weeks here. I was catching three to four pound Blue Cats on shrimp like crazy! I guess the downside to shrimp is that you can lose a few since it's so easy for them to pick them off the hook. I never really thought about this until tonight, but since I live in a coastal area I can get shrimp much cheaper and cook them all the time. You can overcook shrimp in a hurry in boiling water. They get tough as sh*t in a hurry! Never tried this, but wonder if you couldn't boil the hell out of some shrimp in a strong garlic solution and make them tougher to get off the hook? Couldn't hurt to try!

[@tomothanrahan4467]

Did this work?

[@cryptofan6255]

​@@tomothanrahan4467 Haven't tried it yet. Sure seems like it would. I bank fish for cats in a river. In this recent heat they have moved on to deeper water than where I fish.

[@matthewsmith9769]

I want to see a video with trying raw bacon. Please

[@cryptofan6255]

Hey Dieter, I hope you see this as I would love to see you use and do a video on "FishBites for Catfish." In full disclosure, I haven't tried them for catfish yet, but I kill saltwater fish with it. FishBites aren't some gimmicky bait that you find at Walmart. (Although, Walmart is carrying them now in Florida and Galveston.) Knowledgeable saltwater fishermen love them. I divide my year between Texas and Florida fishing the coast and everyone has a package or two in the tackle box. If you aren't familiar with it, the stuff actually looks like those strips of bubblegum kids buy these days. Looks almost exactly like that gum. It does have a like a fine nylon mesh inside of it that holds it together. It releases some sort of biological/chemical response that inspire fish to bite. It has zero scent to us, but sure attracts fish. There is not a salt water fish that it doesn't seem to attract. I've caught Bull Reds, Bull Black Drum, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Pompano, and both Spanish and King Mackerel. I actually caught a Manta Ray (which seldom eat bait, they eat plankton) with a four 4ft wingspan last summer. I've caught sting rays, but many people fish a lifetime and never catch a Manta Ray unless they foul hook it. Felt like I was reeling in a mini van on my Penn Squall! Long story short, there is nothing that won't hit the bait, and I prefer it over shrimp HANDS DOWN! There are only two downsides I see to the bait. You seldom catch a fish in under 5 or so minutes on the bait. Takes a few minutes for it to soften a bit and do it's thing. But, as an avid catfisherman myself, it's not like we aren't used to waiting a few minutes on a bite. The upside, if you are really getting on to fish one day, that damn bait lasts forever. IT CAN"T BE PULLED OFF A HOOK! I've had times when I've pulled in 6 to 8 Pompano before even considering changing that piece out. Most people I know (including myself) cut it up in a piece about an inch and a half to two inches long and simply hook it in the middle. The only downside to this bait, when you are done fishing it is pretty slimy and you have to cut it off the hook. No way you can pull it off by hand. That inner mesh is too strong. You can find it on the Walmart website by simply searching "Fishbites catfish." It's shad scented. Think it can be found on Amazon too, but I have heard the fresher it is the better. I would imagine Walmart turns it's inventory over faster than some of the little sellers on Amazon. By the way, the catfish scent has a 4 1/2 star review on Walmart. There are so many whiny people reviewing these days, 4 1/2 stars is about as good as most products can get. I have no reason to believe some of the saltwater scents might not be just as good in freshwater. I would love to see how this works out for you! I just found out that they make FishBites for catfish because Walmart doesn't stock it where I live, I'll be ordering some soon.

[@Bottomfeederonfire]

Those catfish are eating better than me!

[@robertchillcott7669]

Channel Catfish ❤ Shrimp

[@madtownangler]

I use shrimp when I don't have time to catch bait to use. It works just fine better than crawlers and I can catch carp with it too

[@johnp.1608]

I was shocked when I caught a 16 lb carp on shrimp last week too! Didn’t think they’d eat that.

[@jasonlittle4049]

I've heard a lot of people say that shrimp works good as bait but I've always looked at this way I rather eat it. Shrimp taste to good to just feed it to fish lol

[@cerebraltackle]

And chicken? 🤣

[@jeffreyneely9283]

Shrimp worked great for my brother's group when they fished in Santee a couple weeks ago they did great.

[@jghillstudio1857]

Yes sir shrimp works….just saying…. see if you can rig up a couple carp rods…should find one or two other side of old 7 Oaks bridge…

[@rickywagner3551]

Shrimp was one of my dad's go-to bait. We caught a lot of catfish with it.

[@taylorfritz3801]

Shrimp, one of the baits that costs more then catfish but yet people use it to catch catfish 😂

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

They're catchin though

[@tonyharvey7188]

How fast do you drift this time of the year? I am going to Lake Moultrie this Saturday for a week.

[@jghillstudio1857]

Try to keep drift speed around .5 or half a knot.

[@DieterMelhorn]

I’m a 0.5mph guy….up to 0.7mph will work, but I like it slow

[@slange455]

Only issue with shrimp on the Texas coast they really don’t want people to use frozen shrimp….some type of disease that can spread from foreign shrimp??

[@wesleyharden-nd8jf]

What is your opinion on the catfish sumo hangry hooks?

[@DieterMelhorn]

Never used them….

[@oncomics1128]

Try the shrimp closer to the bank maybe. Otherwise, a little soy sauce and cornbread works real good.

[@TexanRooster]

Hey! Just asking, how long were you out there during the video?

[@DieterMelhorn]

I don't remember exactly, but rarely do I fish and film longer than 5-6 hours.

[@joelwcarter8058]

try using the whole bait fish sometime . will get you bigger fish that way

[@rondellschuyler7074]

Fish catch fish. With that being said some of those small catfish would be cutbait.

[@deewah1698]

Question: I have seen a few guys fillet fish while they seem to still be alive. Is it a strategy? (BTW, I am not a member of peta)

[@DieterMelhorn]

No strategy…..sometimes they just won’t die.

[@giannolo1]

How are you hooking the shrimp on the hook? Do you leave the shell on?

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

Take the shell off and hook through the back lengthwise diagonally. Taking the shell off helps release the oils better

[@DieterMelhorn]

I leave the shell on in hopes that it helps keep it on the hook

[@haroldsfishingadventures754]

@@DieterMelhorn you can slice the shrimp in thin pieces and thread on the hook, or you can salt cure it so it's tougher. Can also use it to catch bluegills for bait

[@kencleg7721]

Catches smaller fish it works

[@shawnrieser6299]

How long does the spawn last for a particular area

[@DieterMelhorn]

The majority is done within a month…

[@Scumfrog74]

Port and starboard I think you mean left and right it’s fresh water man lol

[@DieterMelhorn]

LOL!!! Yea sir, left and right side. BUT, it varies depending on which way you’re facing!!! So, that is why port and starboard are oriented to the bow….😉

[@nicktouville8753]

How can I get a guide trip with you

[@DieterMelhorn]

dietermelhornfishing.com/guide-trips

[@tzzzz20]

Sir What main line do you use.?

[@DieterMelhorn]

Ande Monster monofilament 30#

[@cerebraltackle]

I never used chicken as a kid. However, shrimp was on every trip. Could this be a regional thing? A size of fish thing? Because we haven't got cut bait to work worth a @#&$!! 🤣

[@tomothanrahan4467]

Try using a smaller or bigger hook see how you bait it is what I'd say also don't set the hook wait for the cats to take it. You may also be using too big pieces of cut bait.

[@leightonhoward345]

Ultimate catfish bait? It's definitely ultimate fat guy bait. The beginning made my stomach growl...

[@raysgonefishing3271]

Trout love shrimp also so why not cats

[@davidmassie7776]

Chicken livers work great and are cheap

[@robbiesmith9786]

Wonder y cat fish dave don't deer🦌 hunt

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Catfish are the least picky fish on earth. Aside from vegetables, I can't think of anything they won't go after.

[@raybrewer5319]

Can't catch'em if you don't have a bait in the water!! Few of them little ones make a good sandwich.

[@codyrivenburgh6007]

In my area I use cut up bluegills…. And every time I see a guy in my area use shrimp think of allow lives….. I call ‘‘em welfare shrimps

[@rabbitbully1810]

Raw is always better...