We occasionally field some pretty weird questions here at USAngler, and we’ve got one for you today.
Can you use hotdogs as bait?
That may sound crazy, but the qualified answer is yes.
Catfish and pike are known to take hotdogs, and plenty of experienced catfishermen swear by hotdogs that have been marinated in secret sauces to enhance their smell and color.
So without further ado, let’s dive deep into the idea of using hotdogs as bait.
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Hotdogs as Catfish Bait
While blue and flathead catfish prefer a diet of fish and actively hunt for their prey, channel cats are drawn to stinky baits of all kinds.
Marinated hotdogs are popular catfish bait!
We’ve discussed these dietary and behavioral differences before, so if you want the full run-down, check out this article:
In short, if you’re after monster cats, skip the hotdogs, but if you want a cooler full of keepers for a fish fry, wieners are a solid choice.
Catfish are absolutely coerced in scent organs, and their skin functions like a giant nose, allowing them to smell even the most minute scents in the water. They’ve evolved this way to help them hunt in muddy, turbid water where visibility is next to nothing.
Channel cats are bottom feeders, scouring the water just inches off the mud for anything they can eat. They don’t discriminate, and they’re not particularly active hunters like blues and flatheads. Instead, they’re looking for an easy, slow-moving, often dead meal.
That’s why stinky chicken livers, punch baits, and other common catfish “stink baits” are so effective at attracting channel cats. Catfish Charlie’s Blood Dip Bait and Secret-7 are good examples; these vomit-inducing concoctions leave a scent trail that channel cats can’t resist!
But commercial punch and dip baits are the only way to go, and plenty of experienced catmen love hotdogs.
If you want to give them a try, grab the cheapest pack you can find, and follow this recipe:
Hotdog Chunk Bait
Ingredients:
- A dozen hotdogs
- 2 tbsp. minced garlic
- 2 tbsp. garlic salt
- the oil from one can of sardines
- Optional: strawberry Kool-Aid powder
Instructions:
- Slice the hotdogs into one-inch pieces, and add all the ingredients to a sealed jar. If you’re adding the red drink mix, include enough water to get it liquidy. Color, rather than flavor, is the goal with the Kool-Aid, and you want a vibrant red.
- Shake, and store in a cool, dark place for a day or two.
This one’s not so bad on the nose, but the garlic and oil definitely create a scent trail in moving water.
Catfish connoisseurs swear by the addition of the Kool-Aid powder, so I recommend adding it to the mix.
When you’re ready to go, just cut a small piece of hotdog, maybe an inch long, and run your hook through it. You’re ready to go – and you’ll be surprised at just how effective hotdogs can be.
Final Thoughts
Weirdly enough, hotdogs will work effectively for at least two species, and I’m sure there are others that may take a wiener every now and then.
We hope that we’ve answered any questions you might have had about using hotdogs as bait, but if there are issues we haven’t addressed, we’d love to hear from you.
Please leave a comment below.
Source: usangler.com