Nice to see another cat hunter. I moved here from northern New York 2 years ago and have been waiting to talk cats. Up there I can tell you this once the ice out the cats start moving. As far as baits any blood bait chicken liver or hearts. The hearts stay on better. You can also get treble hooks with a spring wraped around them that will help keep your livers on. I had good luck at Chatfield last year fishing by the inlet. So if interested let me know we can try Chatfield sometime soon I live 5 min. from there.