One thing you'll hear often is “flathead catfish

only eat live fish”. ... In colder water especially, flatheads will hit cut bait, especially when they're feeding heavily. If you've get even a slight movement to the bait by fishing current or drift fishing that's even better.

What is the best bait for flatheads?

Flatheads feed primarily on live baits. Good hearty and lively baits like live perch, bluegill, sunfish, goldfish or mudcats are the preferred bait for catching flatheads.

Do flathead catfish only eat live bait?

Flathead catfish almost always forage on live bait, while blue and channel catfish will forage on both live and dead prey. Regardless if you are fishing for catfish with a rod and reel, or bank poles and trotlines selecting your live bait is relatively consistent.