I only use Chicken Breast Meat soaked in a plastic bag with Cherry, Fruit Punch or Grape Kool-Aid. It's easy to purchase and easy to prepare. I tried all types of Kool-Aid but the best for me is to buy straight up Kool-Aid dump it into a plastic bag, add the sugar and mix the sugar to the Kool-Aid. Cut up the breast in chicken chunks and add to bag and mix again. You can use the bait right away, however I found after a 24 hour soak the chicken gets aa deep color, Kool-Aid doesn't get all over your fingers, and most importantly the bait hardens up and lasts way longer on the hook. I just keep using the bait and Kool-Aid juice over and over until it goes bad. It can last a long time. Try it and let me know how it works out. I mostly catch Blue Cats and Channel Catfish with this bait, rarely do I even catch a flathead, no matter what bait I use. I don't think there are many of this species in Lake Gaston.