ORIGINAL: Chuck7
It's hard to keep on the hook..but if I was fishing specifically for catfish..I'd use chicken liver...no sinker..for the fish seem to suck it off the hook so you need to see the slightest move of your line..
Worms and minnows are good but you will catch other species as well..
chuck the answer to your problem is you need to put your bait in some small panty hose. i learned it on the gon website. i have done it a few times with messy baits.