I am thinking about trying for some whiskered fish

I know lakes and streams around here have some cats in them of various sizes.
I am wondering if they ever bite soft plastics fished slowly on the bottom ?
I have plenty of lures and stuff for bass and panfishing, my wifey likes to fish with worms and catches some bullheads and an occasional cat. I am thinking of joining her and trying for some cats.
I see others catching them, not great size but more eating size. I love fried catfish too.
I am wondering about getting some smelly bait and big hooks and giving it a whirl.
As I recall you fish on the bottom. As a kid I used to catch bullheads in a farm pond and they were very good at swallowing the hook and boy was it a job to get it out.
Any advise would be appreciated.

As I recall when hooked these fish hang to the bottom and fight like all get out.

Thanks for reading,

Iowa Roger

lately I’ve been having good luck fishing leeches under a slipbobber for the cats.

Last couple times I have been out FRESH cut bait has produced where some frozen cut has not. Chubs, suckers on a circle hook with a shorter lead about 8″. Tricky cats nowadays they have been taking the bait and heading to shore making me think the sinker is just moving in the current, until I reel in on it and bam fish.