Shad and night crawlers work pretty well when alive but I dont really fish catfish with live bait. I usually just put on a turkey/chicken liver and that is how I catch mine and it works all the time. The only other live bait would be your hang and to o some noodlin' but i highly doubt you are up for that

I don't think goldfish are legal to use as bait. Especially for live bait.

shad and gills.

take a minnow (or two) and hook them directly in the middle of the body (it should start wiggling) then take a little garlic salt and load the minnow in garlic salt...put a split shot about 5 inches above the hook (dont put it to high you want the bait to stay close to the bottom)

For flatheads I like live bream (sunfish). They will work for large channels and blues also. I prefer worms or cut bait for the previous two.

Night crawlers have worked best for me to catch smaller catfish, but for the big one like cut bait or live herring.

night crawlers and worms

For Channel Cats: Shad
For Blues: Shad or Bluegill
For Flatheads: Bluegill

depends on your local regs as crappie are probably the best bait to use for a big flattie however they are illegal to use for bait in most states i use bluegill goldfish or shad down here though