Fish is a great trapping bait for mink, foxes, coyote, raccoon, etc One of best baits is a big fat bullhead. Catfish is good too but my wife likes eatem. I freeze em or salt em down in a 5 gallon bucket. I have caught many a nice UP coyote on a bullhead. The very oily and smelly fish last longer than most other species. Furbearing animals are attracted to a chunk of fish even miles from the nearest body of water. I caught a bunch this spring and even fried up a few and they were not that bad. I started making baits as a very young trapper and we did have Trapperman backin the 70's which would of made it a lot better. But it is interesting to see how your thoughts for what would be good are so similar to what I tried as a young trapper. It is very important if you are not freezing your fish to preserve it with salt or Sodium Benzoate Powder. I noticed in this or an other recent posting the important fact of using for bait what is legal - each state has its own unique laws. Be creative and try different items. And remember schools of thought are all over the board. Example tainted, fresh and all kinds of degrees in between. I personally prefer a slight taint to a bait. Remembering a canine can smell many many times better than you. Experiment and continue to use what works for you while always letting the animals tell you which is the best for your area.
Last edited by John-Chagnon; 05/04/21 04:40 PM.