Chicken liver can be a very productive bait for catfish, but there are two big problems with using it. The first problem is its texture. Chicken liver is very soft, which makes it hard to keep on a hook. The second problem is how messy it can be to work with.

I have spent a lot of time fishing with chicken liver, and I believe that I have found the solutions to both problems!

• Purchase the smallest livers you can find.
• The day before your fishing trip drain the liquid from the container.
• Cut several 3" - 4" squares from an old pair of nylons, or cheesecloth.
• Place a small liver (or small piece cut from a large liver ) in the center of a square of the nylon, or cheesecloth.
• Gather the corners of the nylon or cheesecloth and secure with a small rubberband or thread.
• Do the same with all of the livers.
• Place the finished balls of liver back into the liver container and cover it.
• Place the container in the refigerator.

To fish with the balls of liver place one on a #1-2/0 long shank bronze hook. Use just enough sinkers to hold the bait on the bottom. When you detect a hit let some line out to allow the catfish to run with the bait. Set the hook when the fish pulls the slack out of the line.

When you get to the fishing hole you wont have to deal with the mess of using chicken liver. The prepared liver balls are very easy to handle, and they wont fall off of the hook. The other advantage of using this method is that you don't have to use a treble hook. The single hook will not snag the bottom debris nearly as much as a treble hook will.