Channel cat like smelly baits. Flat heads like live baits. I have best luck with turkey livers tipped with shrimp or crawdads. Small bluegill work pretty good. I usually cut them in 2.
Some people have good luck with stink baits.
Personally, I haven't. I've also fished those very smelly shad sides from the jars but have never caught anything on them. Of course, it's hard to beat a plain ol' night crawler. Sometimes fish about 1' under a bobber. Sometimes it works best to fish on the bottom.