Bait for Blues

Type: Tidal
Region: Southern
Location: Potomac River

The biggest challenge with catching blue catfish is getting bait. Blue cats are voracious eaters and seem to eat almost anything. Bait on the other hand is not so easy to come by. I am hoping that DNR and/or other anglers might offer some suggestions. Here are some ways that I have caught bait.

Pentagon lagoon and the spoils: I have caught bluegill using wax worms on a bobber. One time, it took me 3 hours to catch one bluegill -- hanging my head in shame.

Washington Channel: I have caught perch using live minnows and cut down sibiki rigs. (2 hooks only)

Fletchers: I have caught perch using shad darts during the shad run in the spring.

This may come as a surprise (I know I was surprised), but blue cats eat almost anything including other blue catfish. Yesterday, I caught a blue catfish while jigging for striper. I cut up the catfish and put it on a bottom rig, and caught several more blue cats.

Hopefully, more anglers get interested in blue catfish. They have proliferated the Potomac and are literally everywhere. They are super strong and a lot of fun to catch. Anyone interested in catching "saltwater sized" fish in freshwater should give it a try.