Uncooked shrimp. Buy it in the grocery store, peel it at home, keep in on ice. It's easy to put on the hook, stays on and will get chomped by any catfish, even flatheads.

Keep in mind, fishing from the bank makes landing the big boys a little harder, especially if it is a steep bank or one with difficult footing. In a boat, you have the luxury of a trolling motor and can play the fish a little to wear it down. From the bank, you need a slightly heavier line and have to be very careful about horsing one in. It's easy to break them off or cut the line on bank rocks.

Good luck to the lad. Sounds like he's making memories