I am fishing for carp and catfish at pay lakes and cant seem to catch anything....

[bgmik1313]

...What am I doing wrong? I have tried shrimp, livers, night crawlers, and some store bought doughbait. People around me are catching fish but I cant seem to even get a bite.
I used chicken livers and was fishing at night. all i could get to bite were some small striped bass. i let the bait sit on the bottom and people around me were catching 20 pounds and up. 1 guy caught a 44 pound flathead.

[Neville Humpworthy]

The best tactic I know for carp is to take a can of corn and throw the corn into the lake where you are going to fish. Wait about half an hour, then use a second can of corn for bait. Bait your hook with a kernel or two and throw it out there. The chum of the first can will draw them in, and you'll catch some carp.

A trick for catfish is to "sweeten" the dough bait with some canned anchovies or sardines. Just stir them right in. Another trick (no kidding) is to squeeze a tube of Preparation-H into the dough bait. (It contains fish oil.) I've seen that work, too.

EDIT: If you're wanting to catch flathead or big blue cats, you'll need to use live bait - preferably bluegill or bream. Hook a 2"-3" bluegill under the dorsal fin. I like to clip their tail fin a little to put some blood in the water and keep them from swimming too much. I'll also score them on one side (just a little) to put some blood and scent in the water.

[karl k]

both of these fish feed on the bottom, is that where your bait is? also be patient. these fish feed by smell, you may be giving up to try another spot just as they are zeroing in on your bait.
you may also try using lighter line. if you are using 20lb test clothes line you may be at a disadvantage. unless the folks around you are catching 20lb fish. 6 or 8 should be fine, just back off your drag setting so that it gives line before the line breaks and you should be ready for anything.

[Johnny boy]

carp smell you on the bait and wont hit it unless you rub it in vanilla and catfish hang on the bottom and feed more at night

[person]

Try bread. Breadballs made made from normal white or wheat bread will catch both catfish and carp in virtually any lake. you can fish them on bottom or on top with a bobber and catch plently of fish. one thing to mention though is you need to make sure the bread stays moist in order to stay on the hook when rolled into a ball.

[stickypyros2]

Your problem is you're paying to go fishing.

[Jason]

One thing I have used for cat fishing is chicken liver, and I fish in the night. Other than that just keep trying, you will get one sooner or later.

[marcia f]

Well, like so many here have said that these fish eat off the bottom and one thing my husband and I use is turkey liver. It stay on the hook better than chicken liver. We usually cut a few pieces into very tiny pieces and dump them into the water and then we use the remaining liver on our hooks. It works pretty good. But, the biggest cat fish I ever caught was with a nasty old dead worm on my hook.