Hog Wild catfish bait works decently in a pond or small lake. I really
think that it was designed to catch fishermen's money.

If you're going to spend money on prepared catfish baits, the absolute
best I have ever found is called "Danny King's Catfish Punch Bait.
It's available throughout the Southwest through local bait shops and
Wall-Mart.

Just use a stick like a paint-stirring stick to punch the #2 treble
hook into the bait, then pull it out with the line at an angle. Keeps
your hands clean and catches the heck out of the channel and blue
cat... and occasionally the small flathead.