Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

gents,
Have any of you ever tried using cut saltwater bait in Freshwater? I moved to so-cal in 2008 and one of the most popular baits out here to use for giant flathead, blue and channel cats is cut mackerel. They throw chunks just like you would for striped bass. I have heard of it in tidal rivers, hudson, raritan, deleware etc, but never in lakes. These guys are fishing this way in freshwater impoundments and catching giants. This is a first for me. Anyone ever try it?

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

cut bait is awesome for catfishing

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

Makes sense to me, especially for opportunistic fish like cats....
Wether its native to them or not, its FOOD.....
I would think that cats would prob be the best candidate
for non native dead bait eaters followed by icey pike and lakers...

good post:)

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

Favorite bait of mine is chunked bunker in central nj lakes and rivers

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

I know people tip jigs with squid and shrimp for deep water lakers...

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

I used some killies left over from fluking this year in the lower rockaway/pasiac and pulled out a few nice smallies and two pike.

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

live killifish are excellent for stuff like bass perch and crappie in lakes, and ponds.

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

I've used cut mackerel and bunker for cats in the big D. For cats, you just need something bloody and stinky. I don't think they care what water it was alive in. :D

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

Killies are great for smallmouth. Bunker for channel cats--even northern pike, when the water is coldest, will hit bunker cut bait. I guess they smell it. As for flatheads, they're not like channels & I guess not like blues. They go after live forage...like smallmouth bass in the Delaware, so live bluegills, suckers, even live eels--another saltwater bait--work best on flatheads.

Re: Saltwater Bait in Freshwater
 

When fishing small rivers, you can use a real small bait tote to hold a dozen killies, and use one killie over & over. They're many times hardier than shiners, and they don't get ripped off the hook as easily, either. The largest of the pint or quart cast a mile too.