Use chicken livers on treble hooks, get the bait to the bottom if you can, in an area without snags, look for a deep hole or rip rap structure. You'll need some heavy sinkers, too, at least 1/8 - 1/4 ounce. And 12 pound test line minimum for cats. I like the Zebco Rhino baitcast reel, heavy duty and works really well.

Also, look online for these solunar charts, tells the position of the moon and stuff each month and how it relates to fish feeding, my fishing magazine has it, I swear by it, it really works, you go out on the recommended days on the solunar chart and you'll catch fish. Bring a pliers to remove the hooks.

Cats will hit lures at times, worms, cat food, but chicken liver is the old go-to.