I’m going to be targeting catfish on the St Croix and Mississippi this year. Will be my first time going for cats. I’m curious as to what types of fish you use for cut bait. I’ve seen a lot of people on YouTube using sunfish but I think that’s illegal in MN. Also heard bullheads which I would think you would catch on your own. Just looking for a little guidance from the experienced guys.
If your fishing the WI side of the river you may use anything for cut bait, well I guess not rusty crayfish or Asian Carp.
On the MN side, no game fish. Best of sticking to cut sucker, creek chub, freshwater drum…shrimp work well to if you can stop yourself from eating all of them.
Stink baits work well for channel cats and if your just a little careful, you won’t smell like last weeks cheese when you go home. 
Thanks Brian. Was eyeing a couple spots on the St Croix in the Hudson area. Is it legal to catch sunfish from a local pond near me and use them in the WI side or does it have to be caught from the same body of water?
When we target cats and sturgeon in Stillwater we just catch a couple suckers then use them for bait you can catch a sucker in 5 minutes on the river
Thanks Brian. Was eyeing a couple spots on the St Croix in the Hudson area. Is it legal to catch sunfish from a local pond near me and use them in the WI side or does it have to be caught from the same body of water?
Must catch it same body of water you’ll use it.
Redhorse sucker is a good cat bait.
When shad season opens, that is a good bait too.
I likes those mooneyes!! I wish I could catch them easier on the Mississippi. They are some of the best cut I can get my hands on. Especially the head piece. Same for those red horse.
I likes those mooneyes!! I wish I could catch them easier on the Mississippi. They are some of the best cut I can get my hands on. Especially the head piece. Same for those red horse.
There are hundreds washed up on shore from lake city towards red wing. The eagles are eating really well!
Keep in mind as posted above, those bait (sunfish) can not be transported in Mn or WI. Sunfish is legal to use in WI waters (WI side) but not in the MN waters.
A good friend of mine catches his sunfish on the MN side then boats to the WI side to use them from live flathead bait.
I was going to post about the dead shad one Pepin the other day thinking we could run down there and pick some up for bait. Nope. Once it’s left Pepin it’s not allowed to be brought back as bait.
Something I would like to see changed. Taking home shad and freezing it for later use seems harmless to me. Although it might give our poor CO’s another headache.
Keep in mind as posted above, those bait (sunfish) can not be transported in Mn or WI. Sunfish is legal to use in WI waters (WI side) but not in the MN waters.
A good friend of mine catches his sunfish on the MN side then boats to the WI side to use them from live flathead bait.
I was going to post about the dead shad one Pepin the other day thinking we could run down there and pick some up for bait. Nope. Once it’s left Pepin it’s not allowed to be brought back as bait.
Something I would like to see changed. Taking home shad and freezing it for later use seems harmless to me. Although it might give our poor CO’s another headache.
I didn’t realize shad get that big or that silver. There were some big ones washed up there.
Wait! 
FYI
DO NOT just throw shad on boat floor.
I had to rent a rug Doctor lol
Getting cut bait is a no brainer. Cats eat everything that swims in the river. If you can catch it so can the cats so everything you catch can be bait. On WI border waters you can use game fish provided you are in Wisconsin waters and the game fish are of a legal size. I was out on Wednesday and caught 2 beautiful 15″ suckers. If you bought those in a bait shop they would cost you $5 each. Catching bait is kind of a fun part of the trip – you can fish 3 lines in WI waters and I always have 3 bait rods rigged and ready to go. A piece of nightcrawler, toss it out on the bottom and in no time at all you’ve got a sheepshead or a suckers. I love the heads – best part of a big sheepshead or sucker IMO. Here is a link to an article on how to cut bait: https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/articles_767760/
Here is another cut bait tip. This is from a cat tip back in 2009. Here is the link:https://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/articles_772034/
Gizzard can get up to 21″.
It is fun watching walleye fisherman fishing schools of big shad
This was last fall south of the 94 bridge, a school pushed into us as we were fishing, this one was around 10″-12″. Hooked him in the mouth with my jigging rap, not sure if it bit it or I snagged it. Was thinking about how it would make good cut bait at the time, too.
IMG_20161105_174650.jpg
That would make GREAT cut bait. 
For me that would make bout 8 pieces for Andy 2 pieces
However , andy catches bigger fish then me. I help by weeding out the smaller ones LOL
Thanks again guys. Hoping to go target some cats in the Hudson area in the next couple weeks and see how it goes.
Can whitefish and tullibee be used as cut bait? They are not listed as a game fish as far as I know.
I’m no catfish expert. I can say that the people I know who fish big flatheads on Pool 4/5 and have results seem to really like using sunfish (on the WI side).
There’s one guy in particular who puts some real nice fish in the boat with sunfish in Pool 5. He’s probably in his early 60’s and says he has never come across another person targeting flatheads at any point or time on Pool 5 which is crazy.
^No walleyes swim in Pool 5 though. Don’t anyone waste your time there. 
Can whitefish and tullibee be used as cut bait? They are not listed as a game fish as far as I know.
As long as you catch them from the same body of water you’re going to be using them in.
If a person is allowed enough lines, I try to have cut bait on one of them for flats. We have a bunch of folks using cut bait for flats. I will use it on occasion late summer/fall.
Sunfish are easy to come by and they are lively little critters for use on the WI side.
I used them once but I found keeping track of which side of the river I was fishing and which bait along with how many lines.. well, it was just beyond my pleasure level. Now I fish like I’m on the MN side and don’t have to worry about it.
I am more thinking if tullibee cutbait can be used to pout. Seems like it would be a good option if legal.
I am more thinking if tullibee cutbait can be used to pout. Seems like it would be a good option if legal.
Where can I get more information about bait?
Check the Other Species section of the online regulations or contact the Minnesota DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157.
Sunfish on the st croix is my go to bait of choice. Just be sure to fish the wi side and hold a wi license. Most of my big flat heads have all come off sunfish.
If you read the fishing regulations, you’ll find if you’re fishing boundary waters you need to have the license of the state you reside in. If a Minnesota resident, you need a Minnesota license. You don’t need a Wisconsin license if you’re fishing on that side, but be sure to read the regulations to see the details.
If you read the fishing regulations, you’ll find if you’re fishing boundary waters you need to have the license of the state you reside in. If a Minnesota resident, you need a Minnesota license. You don’t need a Wisconsin license if you’re fishing on that side, but be sure to read the regulations to see the details.
True. But fishing as a mn resident on the border water I am not allowed to use sunfish. I have to have the wi license for that to be legal. At least that’s what the dnr who works taylors falls area told me. And ill go with what he says since he carries the ticket book
Like I said, read the regulations. You follow the rules of the state whose waters you are fishing in. If you are fishing on the MN side, you follow MN rules. If you are fishing on the WI side you follow the WI rules. Carry the regulation book with you or download it to your phone and you can show it to anyone who challenges you. We have too many sportsmen who don’t read the regulations. Enough said.
This should clear up the confusion. No matter the license you hold, you follow territorial rules:
Like I said, read the regulations. You follow the rules of the state whose waters you are fishing in. If you are fishing on the MN side, you follow MN rules. If you are fishing on the WI side you follow the WI rules. Carry the regulation book with you or download it to your phone and you can show it to anyone who challenges you. We have too many sportsmen who don’t read the regulations. Enough said.
Yes I was agreeing with you. Sorry for the confusion. Enough said.
Sunfish on the st croix is my go to bait of choice. Just be sure to fish the wi side and hold a wi license. Most of my big flat heads have all come off sunfish.
had to wait 5 years but now he knows what bait to use
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