If you had a cast net, you'd probably be able to use live & cut Shad. From what I'm hearing from a buddy that's been there recently, Shad schools are all over the place, up in the river end (Van Buren to the horseshoe bend especially).

Only time I've ever specifically fished for Catfish at Taylorsville, I used my cast net to catch Shad .... cut them in half ... tied up to a stump in one of the cuts on the main lake ... hooked the Shad under a float about 4ft deep ... and cast them out about 20ft past the mouth of the cut. Caught several good eating sized Channels.

Just a thought, but if I was going to use hotdogs ... I think I'd buy the cheapest ones I could find (the greasiest ones), & marinate them in garlic powder & soy sauce.