Category: Fishing &amp; Bait

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Posted on May 26, 2026 by Aerica

Wichita Fishing Forecast: June 2026 — What’s Biting and Where

June is when Wichita-area fishing kicks into full summer mode. Crappie are post-spawn, catfish are starting their night feed, white bass are wrapping the run. Here’s your month-by-month playbook for June 2026.

Channel Catfish

Bite: Heating up. Daytime bite improving as water warms. Night bite is peak season.

Best spots: Arkansas River below the Lincoln dam, El Dorado main lake near the river arm, Cheney riprap at night
Best bait: Stink bait on treble hooks (punch or dip), cut shad, chicken livers
Best time: Last hour of daylight to midnight
Rig: Slip sinker, 1-2 oz, with treble hook tied direct

Crappie

Bite: Post-spawn. Fish have moved off the bank to brush piles and deeper structure. Bite is steady but you have to find them.

Best spots: El Dorado brush piles in 12-18 ft, Cheney bridge pilings, Wilson State Fishing Lake brush
Best bait: 1/16 oz jigs with curly tails — chartreuse/pink in stained water, white/pearl in clear
Best time: Early morning and late evening
Tactic: Vertical jig over brush, or troll slowly with 4-6 rods

White Bass

Bite: Run is wrapping up but schooling fish remain in main lakes. Strong topwater bite morning and evening.

Best spots: El Dorado and Cheney main lake schools, look for surface activity (gulls, splashing)
Best bait: Topwater plugs (Pop-R, Skitter Pop), inline spinners, small swimbaits
Best time: Dawn and dusk for topwater action

Flathead Catfish

Bite: Pre-spawn move into shallower water. Big fish actively feeding before spawn.

Best spots: Walnut River below Winfield, Verdigris River, Arkansas River deep holes
Best bait: LIVE bait only — bluegill, bullheads, large minnows
Best time: Sunset to 2 AM

See our flathead guide for full tactics.

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass

Bite: Post-spawn, fish recovering. Bite improves through June as water hits 75°+. Cover-oriented.

Best spots: El Dorado coves, Cheney rocky points
Best bait: Soft plastics around cover (worms, lizards), spinnerbaits on cloudy days
Best time: Early morning, late evening, overcast days

Bluegill

Bite: Strong all month. Peak spawn around full moon (June 1 and June 30, 2026).

Best spots: Farm ponds, Sedgwick County park lakes, Lake Afton
Best bait: Crickets, worms, small jigs, popping bug fly
Best time: Anytime — great kids’ fishing

Crawfish

Activity: Peak month for trapping. Water is warm enough they’re active, cool enough they’re feeding hard.

See our Kansas crawfish guide.

🌧️ June Weather Effects

Kansas June brings thunderstorms. Rain stirs water and triggers feeding — fishing right BEFORE a storm is often gold. Fishing immediately AFTER muddy runoff is usually tough. Watch the radar.

This Month’s Gear Checklist

Live minnows (always — by the pound)
Stink bait (channel cats peak month)
Crappie jigs in chartreuse/pink and white/pearl
Topwater plugs for white bass
Headlamp + extra batteries for night flatheads
Bug spray (Kansas mosquitoes are out — see our mosquito guide)
Cooler with ice

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Posted on May 26, 2026 by Aerica

Best Stink Bait Recipes & DIY Variations for Kansas Catfish

Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait is made in our facility — but if you want to mess around with DIY stink bait at home, here are recipes that work for Kansas channel cats. Fair warning: it stinks. That’s the point.

Why Make Your Own?

Three reasons:

Cheap — basic ingredients cost pennies per jar
Customizable — adjust scent profile to local conditions
Fun — kids love it (then they smell terrible)

That said, commercial stink bait has its place — see why at the end.

Recipe 1: Classic Cheese Bait (Punch Bait Style)

Ingredients:

2 lbs sharp cheddar (block, not pre-shredded — has no anti-cake additives)
1 lb chicken livers
1 cup flour
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup garlic powder
1/4 cup anise extract (optional, adds licorice scent cats like)

Method:

Cut cheese into chunks. Let sit at room temp for 2-3 days in a sealed bag until soft and pungent
Blend chicken livers in a food processor (use one you don’t love — it’ll never smell right again)
Mix all ingredients in a 5-gallon bucket with a stick
Cover and let “cure” outside in the sun for 5-7 days, stirring daily
Store in screw-top jars

Recipe 2: Wheaties & Garlic (Dough Bait Style)

Ingredients:

2 boxes Wheaties cereal
1 can chicken broth
4 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp anise extract
2 tbsp ground catfish food (sinking pellets, crushed)

Method:

Crush Wheaties to powder
Mix dry ingredients
Slowly add chicken broth, mixing until dough-like (firm enough to stay on a hook but soft enough to mold)
Form into balls, store in fridge in plastic bags

Use within a week — doesn’t keep as long as cheese-based bait.

Recipe 3: Pure Catfish Funk (Old Timer Recipe)

This is the recipe your grandfather’s brother-in-law swears by. Don’t make it indoors.

Ingredients:

Old fish heads (you’ve been freezing for this purpose)
2 lbs raw chicken
1 box of cornflakes
Whatever Kool-Aid packet is in the cabinet (yes, really — adds color and flavor cats like)
Garlic powder, generous
Water as needed

Method: Grind everything together. Let sit in a sealed bucket outdoors for 7-10 days. Stir occasionally. Try not to throw up. The worse it smells, the better it fishes.

🤢 About the Smell

Real stink bait smells like rotting fish + cheese + garlic. That’s chemistry — catfish track amino acids and decay byproducts. The smell IS the bait working. Wear old clothes. Use a stick, not your hands. Wash up before you go inside.

What Makes Commercial Stink Bait Better (Sometimes)

DIY stink bait works. But commercial bait — and specifically Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait — has advantages:

Consistent scent profile — same jar to jar, predictable performance
Better binding — won’t fall off the hook on hard casts or in current
Longer shelf life — properly cured commercial bait keeps for a year+
No prep time — buy jar, fish
No basement smell — your wife will thank you

For fishing weekends or guided trips, commercial wins. For tinkering and pride of catching on your own recipe, DIY wins.

Rigs & Tactics

Whether you use DIY or commercial bait, fishing technique is the same. See our stink bait rigging guide for the right rigs and beginner mistakes.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Posted on May 26, 2026 by Aerica

Best Crappie Brush Piles for Wichita Lakes (And How to Build Your Own)

Crappie don’t roam — they cluster. The fish you’re chasing in El Dorado or Cheney are tucked tight against brush, fallen trees, or dock pilings. Find the brush, find the slabs.

Why Brush Piles Work

Crappie are ambush predators. They hold tight to vertical structure and wait for baitfish to swim past. A good brush pile gives them:

Cover from bass and bigger predators
Shade from direct sun
Ambush positions to attack baitfish
Spawning structure in spring (3-6 ft of water with brush)

One stack of cedar in the right spot can hold 30+ crappie.

Finding Existing Brush in Wichita Lakes

📍 El Dorado Lake

Standing timber in the Bluestem Point bays. Marker buoys often indicate fish attractor sites. Brush piles tend to be 12-20 ft deep in summer.

📍 Cheney Reservoir

Less natural cover — look for the established fish attractor sites maintained by the KDWP. Map at kdwp.ks.gov.

📍 Wilson State Fishing Lake

Stocked brush piles in 8-15 ft. Smaller lake, easier to find.

📍 Marion Reservoir

Native timber in the headwater arms — drive a bit further for less pressured fish.

📍 Farm Ponds

If you’ve got access, ponds with submerged structure (dropped Christmas trees, old fence posts) hold all the crappie. Ask permission.

Building Your Own (Legally)

📋 Public Lake Rules

Most Kansas public lakes require KDWP permission to add fish attractors. Check kdwp.ks.gov before dropping ANYTHING into a public reservoir. Private farm ponds — your land, your call.

Best materials

Cedar trees — last 5-10 years underwater. Cheapest crappie magnet.
Bamboo bundles — last 3-5 years. Easy to sink with concrete blocks.
PVC structures — pre-built fish attractors that last decades. More expensive but permanent.
Hardwood (oak, hickory) — lasts longest (10+ years) but harder to sink.

How to sink them

Wire 2-3 trees together at the base
Wire a cinder block to the base
Drop in 10-20 ft of water near a known transition (point, drop-off, creek channel)
Mark the GPS location — you won’t find it later without one

When to build them

Winter is the best season to build brush piles. Water is low (you can wade out farther), fish aren’t pressured, and the brush has 3-4 months to settle before spring crappie spawn.

Fishing the Brush

Once you’ve found (or built) a brush pile:

Anchor 15-20 ft away (don’t spook the school)
Vertical-jig small jigs (1/16 oz, chartreuse or pink) just above the brush
Live minnow on a slip bobber works at the right depth
Move when the bite slows — crappie move with light and temperature

For full crappie tactics see our Crappie Fishing in Wichita guide.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Posted on May 26, 2026 by Aerica

How to Set Up Your First Fishing Rod & Reel (Wichita Edition)

Brand new to fishing? Picking your first rod and reel feels like more choice than it should be. Here’s the no-nonsense walkthrough — what to buy, how to string it, and what rig to tie on for your first trip on Kansas water.

Pick the Right Combo

For your first setup, get a medium-action spinning combo. It’s the most forgiving for beginners and handles 90% of Kansas freshwater fish.

Rod length: 6′ to 7′ — long enough to cast far, short enough to control
Power: Medium (versatile)
Action: Medium-fast (good hooksets without being stiff)
Reel size: 2500–3000 series
Budget: $40–$80 buys a quality combo you won’t outgrow in year one

Spool It With the Right Line

Skip braided line for now. Start with 10 lb monofilament — forgiving, easy to tie knots, cheap to replace when you snag it on Wichita brush.

To spool:

Open the reel bail
Tie the line to the spool with an arbor knot
Close the bail
Have a friend hold the new line spool (label side up) with a pencil through the center
Reel slowly with light pressure on the line — about 30 seconds of reeling fills it
Stop when the line is 1/8″ from the spool’s outer edge

Tie a Basic Rig

For your first trip, use a slip bobber rig. It catches almost everything and you’ll see the bite.

Thread a bobber stop onto your line
Thread a bead, then a slip bobber
Tie on a #4 baitholder hook with an improved clinch knot
Pinch a split shot 12–18 inches above the hook
Set the bobber stop to your target depth (4–6 ft is a good starting point)

Pick a Bait

Live minnows — the universal bait. Crappie, bass, catfish, and big bluegill all eat them. Pick them up at Mr. Mc’s by the pound.
Nightcrawlers — bluegill, catfish, perch. Cheap and stupid-easy to rig.
Stink bait — channel catfish only, but unbeatable. See our stink bait beginner guide.

First-Trip Spots Around Wichita

Sedgwick County Park ponds — easy access, stocked, friendly to beginners
Lake Afton — west of Wichita, family-friendly, lots of bluegill and catfish
Cheney State Park beaches — bank fishing, dependable
Local farm ponds — if you’ve got friends with access, ponds turn on first in spring

📋 Don’t Forget Your Kansas Fishing License

Anyone 16 or older needs one. See our Kansas fishing license guide for how to get one in Wichita.

Pick up your first combo, line, hooks, bobber, and bait all in one trip at Mr. Mc’s Bait & Tackle. We’ll help you rig your first rig if you bring it in — no charge.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Posted on May 26, 2026 by Aerica

Best Kansas Lakes Within 30 Minutes of Wichita

If you live in Wichita, you’ve got serious water within 30 minutes in every direction. Here’s the rundown — what each lake is stocked with, where to launch, and what to bring.

El Dorado Lake (25 min east)

The Wichita angler’s go-to. 8,000 surface acres of solid fishing.

Stocked: Channel cats, blue cats, crappie, white bass, walleye, largemouth, smallmouth, wipers
Boat launch: Multiple — Walnut River Marina, Bluestem Point, Shady Creek
Camping: State park campgrounds, electric and tent sites
Best for: Spring crappie in the brush, summer blue cats in the river arm, white bass run in March-April

Cheney Reservoir (30 min west)

9,500 acres on the Ninnescah River. Bigger water, more wind, great fishing.

Stocked: Channel cats, white bass, wipers, walleye, largemouth, crappie
Boat launch: Cheney State Park marina + several public ramps
Camping: Full-service state park with hookups
Best for: White bass run on the Ninnescah arms, riprap dam crappie, summer wipers

Lake Afton (20 min west)

Sedgwick County park with a 270-acre lake. Family-friendly, great beginner water.

Stocked: Bluegill, channel cats, largemouth, crappie
Boat launch: Public ramp, electric motors only (no gas motors)
Camping: Sedgwick County campground
Best for: Bank fishing with kids, dependable bluegill, weekend cat fishing

Wilson State Fishing Lake (25 min east)

Small Sedgwick County lake — 100 acres. Quiet, easy access.

Stocked: Channel cats, bluegill, largemouth, crappie
Boat launch: Public ramp, electric motors only
Camping: Primitive sites
Best for: Quick after-work trip, dependable channel cats

Arkansas River (right in town)

You don’t even have to leave Wichita. The Arkansas runs through downtown.

Stocked: Channel cats, blue cats, flatheads, white bass, drum, carp
Access: Multiple parks — Riverside, Sim, Murdock, Pawnee Prairie. Walk-in bank fishing
Best for: Below the Lincoln Street dam (year-round cats), white bass run in spring, big flatheads at night

See our Arkansas River catfishing guide for spots and tactics.

Bonus: Just Over 30 Minutes

Kingman State Fishing Lake (45 min west) — small, quiet, good catfish
Marion Reservoir (60 min north) — crappie destination, worth the drive
Council Grove Reservoir (75 min north) — flathead factory

🎣 Gear Up Before You Drive

Pick up live minnows, stink bait, tackle, and ice all in one stop at Mr. Mc’s. Browse the Bait & Tackle Shop →

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

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Posted on May 26, 2026 by Aerica

How to Clean & Cook Catfish Like a Wichita Pro

You caught a stringer of channel cats on the Arkansas River. Now what? Here’s the start-to-finish on cleaning, filleting, and cooking Kansas catfish the way Wichita does it.

First — Keep Them Alive Until You Clean Them

Catfish flesh goes soft fast. Best practice:

Keep on a stringer in the water while you fish, OR in a cooler with ice + a little water
Clean within a few hours of catching
Don’t let them sit in warm sun — quality drops by the hour

Cleaning Method 1: Skin & Gut Whole (Old School)

Nail the head to a board through the eye socket
Cut around the head behind the gills with a sharp fillet knife
Use pliers to peel the skin back from the cut, working from head toward tail (catfish skin is leathery)
Once skinned, cut off the head and tail
Slit the belly, remove guts, rinse clean
Cook whole, on the bone

Pros: faster, less waste. Best for small to medium fish.

Cleaning Method 2: Fillet (Boneless)

Make a cut behind the gills down to the spine
Turn the knife flat and cut along the spine toward the tail, riding the bones
Cut down through the rib cage on each side
Lift the fillet off — should come away cleanly
Flip the fish and repeat the other side
Skin each fillet: lay skin-side down, hold the tail end, slide knife between skin and meat
Trim out the red lateral line meat (looks like a dark stripe) — it’s where the strong “muddy” flavor lives

Pros: boneless, restaurant-grade. Best for bigger fish.

💡 Pro Tip — Trim the Red Line

Many people think Kansas catfish taste muddy. The dark red strip along the lateral line is the culprit. Cut it out and your catfish tastes clean and mild.

Soak Before Cooking (Optional but Recommended)

Soak fillets in salt water or buttermilk for 1–4 hours before cooking. Buttermilk pulls out any remaining muddy taste and tenderizes the meat. Pat dry before breading.

Recipe 1: Fried Catfish (Wichita Classic)

Ingredients:

Catfish fillets, soaked
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne
1 egg + 1/2 cup buttermilk (egg wash)
Oil for frying (peanut or vegetable)

Method:

Heat oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet or dutch oven
Mix cornmeal, flour, and seasonings
Dip fillet in egg wash, then dredge in cornmeal mix
Fry 3–5 minutes per side until golden and flaky
Drain on paper towels, season with extra salt while hot

Serve with hush puppies, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.

Recipe 2: Blackened Catfish (Cast Iron)

Mix Cajun seasoning: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, cayenne
Coat fillets in melted butter, then heavy on the seasoning
Heat a cast iron skillet until smoking hot
Lay fillet in dry pan, cook 2 minutes per side
Serve with lemon and rice

Recipe 3: Grilled Catfish (Foil Pack)

Lay fillet on a sheet of foil with butter, lemon slices, onion, and garlic
Season with salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning
Seal the foil pack
Grill 10–12 minutes over medium heat

Pairs well with a cold beer and corn on the cob.

🐟 Need Bait for the Next Trip?

Pick up live minnows, stink bait, hooks, and line at Mr. Mc’s Bait & Tackle.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

Quick Links

Posted on May 25, 2026May 26, 2026 by Aerica

How to Get a Kansas Fishing License in Wichita (2026 Guide)

If you’re 16 or older and fishing in Kansas, you need a license. Here’s the straight breakdown on how to get one in Wichita — online, in person, by phone — plus what kind to buy for your situation.

Do You Need a Kansas Fishing License?

Yes if: You’re 16 or older and fishing on public water in Kansas. This includes lakes, rivers, reservoirs, state fishing lakes, and most public ponds.

No if: You’re under 16. Or you’re fishing on private water where you have the owner’s permission and the water doesn’t connect to public water. Or you’re a Kansas resident 65+ fishing in the county where you live (with senior pole-and-line privileges).

Even if you’re exempt, it’s smart to carry proof — Kansas wardens check.

Types of Kansas Fishing Licenses

Annual resident license — covers all of Kansas for a calendar year. The standard pick.
Annual nonresident license — same coverage, higher price for out-of-state anglers.
5-day nonresident — short trip option.
1-day permit — for the rare day-only trip (locals usually skip this in favor of annual).
Lifetime license — pay once, fish forever in Kansas. Often the smart move long-term.
Combo hunt/fish — discount if you do both.

Trout permits are separate — required if you fish KDWP trout-stocked water during the season. Paddlefish, sturgeon, and certain other species need extra permits too.

Where to Buy in Wichita

1. Online (fastest): Go to gooutdoorskansas.com. Buy, print, and you’re done in 5 minutes. Kansas accepts a phone screenshot as proof at most lakes.

2. By phone: Call KDWP’s licensing line at 1-833-587-2164.

3. In person at a licensed vendor: Major sporting goods stores, some Walmart locations, and bait shops sell licenses. Call ahead — not every Wichita location sells them.

4. At a KDWP office: The Region 5 office covers south-central Kansas including Wichita.

Carry Your License

Kansas accepts paper or digital. Most folks just screenshot the PDF on their phone and call it done. If you’re going to a remote spot with no signal, print a backup.

⚠️ Prices Change

Kansas fishing license prices update yearly. Check the current rates at gooutdoorskansas.com before you buy.

After You Get Your License — Gear Up

Stop into Mr. Mc’s Market on your way to the lake. Pick up live minnows by the pound, a jar of Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait, tackle, and a sandwich for the bank — all under one roof.

For where to go: see our Fishing in Wichita guide with species, spots, and seasonal tips.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

Quick Links

Posted on May 25, 2026May 26, 2026 by Aerica

Catfishing the Arkansas River Through Wichita: Spots, Bait & Tips

The Arkansas River runs right through Wichita and holds channel cats, blue cats, and flatheads year-round. Most folks drive past it on their way to a lake — here’s why you should stop instead.

Why Fish the Arkansas River in Wichita

The Arkansas is overlooked by most weekend anglers who head to El Dorado or Cheney. That means less pressure, fewer crowds, and a year-round bite for anglers who know where to drop a line.

The river holds:

Channel catfish in every kind of water — riffles, deep holes, eddies
Blue catfish in deeper holes, especially below dams
Flathead catfish tucked into log jams and undercut banks
Carp and drum as bonus catches

Best Wichita-Area Access Points

Below the Lincoln Street dam — classic Wichita catfish hole. Deep, structure-heavy, fish hold year-round.
Riverside Park area — bank access, holes and structure throughout.
Below Big Arkansas/Little Arkansas confluence — current breaks where the rivers join concentrate fish.
Murdock Park & Sim Park — easy walk-in, multiple holes.
Pawnee Prairie Park — quieter water on the west side.
South of town near the railroad bridges — deeper, less pressure.

When to Fish

Spring (April–May): Pre-spawn channels move shallow. Best daytime bite of the year.
Summer (June–August): Night fishing wins. Big channels and the occasional blue come out after dark.
Fall (Sept–Oct): Stink bait season. Fish feed heavy before winter.
Winter: Slower but not dead. Deep holes below the dams stay productive.

Bait That Works

For channel cats: Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait on a treble hook. Cut shad or cut bluegill also produce.

For blue cats: Cut shad, cut skipjack, or fresh dead bait. Bigger bait, bigger blues.

For flatheads: Live bluegill, live bullheads, live perch. Flatheads only eat live bait.

Grab live and cut bait at our bait & tackle shop on the way to the river.

Tackle & Gear

7′ medium-heavy rod, fast action
4000-series reel, smooth drag
15–20 lb mono or 30 lb braid
Circle hooks 4/0 to 8/0
Slip sinker, 1–2 oz (lighter for slow water, heavier for current)
Headlamp if you’re staying past dark
Rod holders — set the rod, wait for the bend

⚠️ River Safety

The Arkansas can rise fast after upstream rain. Check the river gauge before you walk in, especially near the dams. Don’t wade in low-visibility water — Wichita’s rivers have soft mud and drop-offs.

For broader Kansas catfish tactics: read our full catfishing guide. For flathead-specific tips: flathead guide.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

Quick Links

Posted on May 25, 2026May 26, 2026 by Aerica

Behind the Jar: What Makes Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait Work

There are a hundred stink baits on the market. They’re not all the same. Here’s what goes into a jar of Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait — and why it puts more channel cats in the cooler than the mass-produced stuff.

Made Right Here in Wichita

Most stink bait on the shelf at the big-box stores comes out of a factory somewhere in Texas or Missouri. Ours is made by hand, in small batches, right here in Wichita, Kansas. We use real ingredients because that’s what produces real fish on real lines.

Real Fish. Real Oils. Real Minnows.

Three things matter in stink bait:

Scent strength — how far it pulls fish in
Hook hold — how long it stays on under casting and current
Scent dispersion — how the smell spreads through the water

We hit all three with real fish oils (not synthetic flavoring), actual ground minnows (not “fish meal” filler), and a binding system that holds thick on a treble hook but releases scent steadily into the water.

Why Ingredients Matter More Than Marketing

Walk down the bait aisle at any chain store. You’ll see jars with cartoon catfish, bold claims about “secret formulas,” and prices that suggest you’re paying for the label more than the bait. Half of those jars have synthetic fish flavoring, soy meal, and a thick gel binder. The catfish know.

Catfish hunt by smell. Their nostrils are wired to detect amino acids, fish oils, and protein breakdown. Synthetic flavoring smells like food to humans — not to catfish. Real fish + real oils smell like food to catfish.

Three Formulas, Three Uses

Punch bait: Thick and sticky. Pushes onto a treble hook with a stick. Holds in current and through hard casts. Best for moving water.
Dip bait: Thinner. Coats a plastic dip worm or tube. Creates a bigger scent cloud, best for slack water and ponds.
Dough bait: Soft and moldable. Molds around a treble hook with a spring coil. Beginner-friendly.

Pick the one that matches the water you fish.

How to Actually Fish It

For the full rigging guide, mistakes to avoid, and timing tips, see our how to use stink bait guide.

👃 Stir Before Every Trip

Stink bait separates if it sits. The oils rise, the solids settle. Stir it for 30 seconds before you head out — gets the scent and binder back in suspension.

Where to Buy

Pick up Mr. Mc’s Magical Catfish Stink Bait at our bait & tackle shop at 1901 E 21st St N in Wichita. We also carry live minnows by the pound, treble hooks, dip worms, and everything else you need to fish stink bait properly.

Wholesale accounts welcome — we ship case quantities to marinas, tackle shops, and convenience stores across the region. See our wholesale page.

Visit Mr. Mc’s Market

📍 1901 E 21st St N
Wichita, KS 67214

🕐 Open 9 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week

Quick Links