How to Catch More Catfish with Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait - Pro Tips & Tricks!

What Makes Catfish Punch Bait So Effective?

Punch bait is a soft, sticky, cheese-based bait for catfish designed to be "punched" directly onto your hook. Unlike traditional catfish baits, it's infused with powerful attractants and fibers that create an irresistible scent trail in the water.

Here's what makes Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait special: This premium catfish bait clings directly to a plain treble hook, without needing springs, sponges, tubes, or dip worms. Just "punch" your hook into the bait and pull the hook out at an angle. The fibers and chunks will stick to the treble hook. 

Why Mr. Whiskers Outperforms Other Catfish Baits: 

After three decades of proven results, here's why more catfish guides choose Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait prepared bait over any other punch bait: 

• Effortless Application – Sticks to plain catfish treble hook without additional gear.
• Powerful Scent Dispersion – This stink bait creates strong scent trails that draw catfish from long distances.
• Superior Durability – Maintains form and stays on your hook longer than other catfish baits.
• Versatile Performance – Effective bait for catfish in still waters, rivers, and reservoirs.
• Proven Track Record – Trusted catfish punch bait for over 30 years.

What You'll Need: 

Catfish Bait & Hooks: 

• Mr. Whiskers Catfish Punch Bait: Premium prepared bait.
• Whisker Seeker 4x Strong Treble Hooks: Size #6 catfish treble hooks recommended in most cases but adjust hook size accordingly. 
• Punch Bait Stick: For applying stink bait – a paint stir stick works great!

Rod & Reel Setup: 

• Vertical Fishing: Medium Light Catfish and Carp spinning rod + Size 20 spinning reel. 
• Slip Bobber Fishing: Medium Power Chad Ferguson Signature Series Catfish Rod + Size 30 spinning reel.  
• Line: 35 lb Whisker Seeker Braided Line 
  Braided fishing line works best for vertical fishing because you’ll feel more, and it has less stretch, so you’ll get more powerful hooksets. Braided line also excels for slip bobber fishing. You get good, strong hooksets, but can also pull out of rocks, limbs, and other hang-ups.

Additional Tackle:

• Appropriate sinkers – 1/4 to 3/4 ounce egg sinkers work great with punch bait.
• Split shot weights for slip bobbers.
• Lightweight slip bobbers for suspended catfish bait presentations.

1. Prepare Your Setup

Mr. Whiskers' Catfish Punch Bait works best when fished near the bottom. Attach your treble hook with a split shot above it, or use a small egg sinker. For vertical presentations with prepared bait, try the Whisker Seeker TomKat Ice Jigs. 

2. Load Your Catfish Treble Hooks

• Open your jar of Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait and stir with your punch stick.
• Insert the catfish treble hooks directly into the punch bait.
• Use the stick to press the hook deep into the catfish bait.
• Pull the hook out of the bait at an angle.
• Ensure all hook tines are covered with bait. 

3. Target Prime Locations for Catfish

Cast your prepared bait to areas where catfish naturally feed, like: 

• Submerged logs and structure 
• Rocky drop-offs 
• Rip Rap or Rocky Banks 
• Channel edges 
• Points and humps 
• During summer, don't forget that suspended fish respond well to catfish punch bait, even blue catfish! 

4. Master the Bite Detection

When using a punch bait, like Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait, catfish often inspect the bait for catfish before committing. Watch for: 

• Light taps or pulls 
• Subtle line movement 
• Any change in tension 
• Slight changes in bobber presentation

Pro Tip: Set the hook at the slightest indication when using punch bait – don't wait for a massive pull! This is why bobber fishing and vertical fishing are so effective. Bobber fishing allows you to see the bite. Vertical fishing with light tackle and holding the fishing rod allows you to feel every single nibble. It’s not uncommon for fish to bite very lightly!  

5. Maintain Your Catfish Bait Advantage

Reapply your punch bait frequently, especially after missed bites. The more scent from your bait you put in the water, the more fish you'll attract. FRESH BAIT = MORE FISH!

It's common for the bite to get better the longer you fish. More catfish will smell the punch bait and come into the area.

We asked catfish pro Chad Ferguson (“Mr. Catfish”) for some tips on catching catfish with Mr. Whiskers Catfish Punch Bait, and here’s what he said:

"After almost thirty years as a professional catfish angler, I can tell you that Mr. Whiskers Catfish Punch Bait consistently outperforms other baits for catfish when it comes to prepared baits. Here's what separates successful anglers:

Fish Structure:

• Catfish use structure like drop-offs, points, humps and ledges as ambush points for feeding. 
• You’ll always find catfish on this structure, even if it’s just a few fish.  
• Pay close attention to sonar and look for hard returns (arches) on your fishfinder towards the bottom.  
• Once you find some fish, drop your bait down and knock them on the head. If they don’t bite pretty quickly, move around some and cover some water. Sometimes a change in depth of one foot makes all the difference in catching fish! 

Fish Cover:

• Cover like lily pads, boat docks, cattails, and trees are great places to target catfish with punch bait, especially in the summer months.  
• In the summer, target shady areas after the sun comes up, and you’ll find catfish holding in this shade. Sometimes you have to fish tight up against this cover.

Patience Pays:

• Light bites are common with punch bait.
• Stay alert and ready.

Presentation Matters:

• Shallow Water: Bobber fishing with a lightweight slip bobber is an effective presentation in water less than 8 feet deep. This is a great technique for fishing during the catfish spawn and during the summer when you’ll find large numbers of catfish holding tight to cover or rip rap. Set the hook at the slightest indication of a bite. 
• Deeper Water: I love vertical fishing with punch bait using light tackle. Especially for blues and channels. In water deeper than 8-10 feet vertical fishing is the most effective presentation both when fish are on or near the bottom and in the summer when they often suspend. I use the ML Catfish and Carp Spinning Rod paired with a size 20 spinning reel and 35lb braided line. I hold the rod at all times and sometimes even keep the bait moving a little with a slight and slow jigging motion. You need to be at the right depth and get the bait in front of the fish, and they’ll eat it.  This is a killer technique to catch a ton of fish all year long! It's very effective for catching channel catfish in the Summer months and blue catfish in the Fall and Winter. 
• Suspended Fish: It’s not uncommon to find suspended catfish in the heat of the summer, especially blue catfish. Finding schools of thousands of blue catfish suspended above the thermocline. You can catch tons of fish in just a few hours. Find schools of feeding fish above the thermocline. Then, suspend punch bait in front of them.

Location Trumps Everything:

• If your bait isn't getting bites, move spots.  
• When punch bait fishing, I know quickly if the fish are going to eat. If I’m not catching fish within 5-10 minutes, I’m moving because they’re not eating! 
• Sometimes I’m only moving 5-10 feet, but I’m covering water pretty fast until I start catching fish.  
• Once I hook a fish, I slow down and start covering the water more thoroughly.  

Keep Bait Fresh:

• Rebait the hook often.  
• You want as much smell as possible in the water because it draws more fish in!  

Here’s how to manage your punch bait in extreme heat:

• Stir It Often: Regularly stirring the bait helps mix the fibers and ingredients back together, keeping the consistency uniform and easier to punch onto the hook. If you let it sit too long in the heat, the oils can separate and rise to the top – a quick stir solves that. Stirring the bait regularly works well during any season and makes it easier to bait your hook. 
• Keep It in the Shade: Direct sun can quickly make punch bait turn softer. Always store your bait in the shade, when possible, while fishing – even just tucking it under your chair or in a shadowed tackle box makes a big difference. 
• Cool It Down: If your bait gets too thin, pop the jar in an ice chest or even a refrigerator and let it cool off. Cooling it off thickens the bait back up naturally, bringing it right back to that perfect sticky consistency Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait is known for. 

Fish Cover:

• Cover like lily pads, boat docks, cattails, and trees are great places to target catfish with punch bait, especially in the summer months.  
• In the summer, target shady areas after the sun comes up, and you’ll find catfish holding in this shade. Sometimes you have to fish tight up against this cover.

Order today and enjoy!

• FREE shipping on orders over $75 
• Same-day shipping on orders before 2pm CST 
• Hassle-free returns 
• SSL-protected checkout

Questions?

• Questions about catfish treble hooks or punch bait technique? Call our expert team at 1-855-WSEEKER – we're here to help you catch more catfish! 

What makes Mr. Whiskers Punch Bait the best catfish punch bait? 

Our special sticky formula stays on catfish treble hooks longer, disperses its powerful scent effectively, and works consistently as a bait for catfish – targeting both channel and blue cats. And, more guides trust this prepared bait more than any other stink bait. 

What catfish treble hooks work best with punch bait?

A #6 catfish treble hook provides the perfect balance of catfish bait holding capacity and hookset effectiveness for most situations – but remember to adjust the hook size as needed.

How is punch bait different from other catfish baits?

Punch bait is thicker and stickier than other catfish prepared baits, staying securely on a treble hook without additional accessories. Unlike liquid stink bait (that requires sponges or tubes), punch bait holds better, cleaner and longer for your fishing sessions.