Some of the most effective natural baits are preparations designed to produce strong scents that attract fish.

Stink Baits
Catfish are scavengers and suckers for anything that smells foul. After live bait, stink baits, either rolled or dipped, are the most effective method of catching catfish. Stink baits can be made in a doughy consistency and rolled into a ball that is attached to a hook, or in a more liquid form that is dipped. Dip baits, or sponge baits are another form of stink bait that is more liquid in consistency. A small sponge is attached to a hook and then dipped to coat the sponge heavily. The upside to dip baits is that you don't have to get the smell on your hands, if you're careful.

Stink baits can either be commercially prepared or made at home. Although stink baits can be ginned up at home, a word of caution would be in order. Generally speaking, anything that smells bad enough to be called stink bait will leave a lingering odor long after your departure, and will not be received well by the lady of the house.

Dough Balls
Carp are an excellent diversion from traditional gamefish. They're plentiful in most regions and very scrappy when hooked. Dough balls are an effective method of attracting carp, and the bait is simple to prepare. Dough balls can be as simple as a piece of fresh white bread rolled between the fingers, or a special preparation made primarily from flour and grain and cooked with flavor enhancers. An enhanced approach to the simple white bread method is to dip the bread in bacon grease. Popular flavors to prepared dough balls include Kool-aid™ and Jell-O™.

Wheat Bran Balls
1 c. flour
2 cups wheat bran
2 T. sweetener (sugar, honey, molasses, corn syrup)
Enough water for stiff dough
Mix ingredients and knead. Form into small balls. Cook in boiling water 15-20 minutes. Drain, cool.

PowerBait®
Berkley's PowerBait, a commercially prepared dough bait is very effective for trout as well as panfish, depending on the mixture. This bait is prepared from actual fish and other organic matter. You roll PowerBait® into a small ball and fish it close to the bottom with a small hook. PowerBait® is also available in prepared cubes with a glitter-like substance that slowly washes away, simulating scales dropping off of a small baitfish.

Cheese
Commercial cheese baits are available, but you can also use regular cheese made for human consumption, very effective bait for catfish, trout and carp. Use a soft, aromatic cheese that can be rolled into a ball. Velveeta® can be mixed with a small amount of flour or crushed grain to stiffen its consistency as well.

Fish Eggs
Most trout species are very susceptible to foraging on fish eggs. Fish eggs can be harvested from your catch, if you're fishing during the spawn, or purchased commercially. Salmon eggs are the most commonly used egg and are generally hooked one or two at a time and fished on or near the bottom. Eggs are harvested from hatcheries, marinated or gelled with additives to give them more substance, and sold in jars. Fishing roe sacks, which are small amounts of eggs wrapped in mesh, are also an effective and popular method. Roe sacks are more durable and that can be an advantage in rough water, heavy current or when long casts are required.

Corn
Canned corn is effective both as a bait and an attractant when scattered around the area you intend to fish. Scattering bait as a lure is called chumming. Some states do not allow chumming, so check local fishing regulations before you try this technique. Chumming is an effective technique because it attracts foraging fish in large numbers and also lowers their suspicious nature. After gobbling a few easy tidbits, they don't suspect that a hook will be part of the fare. The downside to chumming is filling their bellies before they get to the hook. Corn is fished on a single bare hook or jig, on or near the bottom.

Cut Bait
A popular technique for catfish and other species such as striped bass is to use cut bait, or bite-sized portions sliced from an expired baitfish. Cut off a small strip, leaving the flesh attached to the skin, which makes it durable for casting and more difficult to nibble off. Shad and chubs are popular cut baitfish species for freshwater, while mullet, bluefish or pinfish work well in saltwater. Liver and entrails from fish or chickens is also a popular form of cut bait for catfish.

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