Fishing with Live Bait

There are many myths that surround using live bait instead of artificial and most of them are not true. Live bait is still used by many anglers. The one factual part of live bait, which no one can dispute, it that is often messy, and it smells terrible. If you can surmount these two factors, you will be in good shape to try live bait on your next fishing outing.

There are some basic principles that should not be ignored when using live bait. None of the principles concerning live bait are clean or nice, but they are mandatory. You should never handle live bait when your hands are dry. Bait has a slimy layer on the outside, which is protective as well as inviting to predators, and if your hands are dry you will risk removing that layer.

If you are running short on live bait, try to save the bait that dies in your live well or in a nearby bucket. When your live bait has run out, you will still be able to use the freshly dead bait on your hook to attract fish. All you have to do is cast your line and bob it a little to give the appearance that your decoy has some life left. Be careful of the weight that you put on a line with live bait. Fish are going to spot a weight if it is too heavy and weighting down the bait. Your weight or sinker should be light enough to give the bait the appearance of free floating in the water.

Seasonal fishing can change the perspective on live bait. For instance, the summer months can be brutal, especially in the South. You may need to adjust your thinking and practices when the summer months hit. Keeping the bait alive will be the hardest obstacle for any angler in the summer. In order to keep your bait living, you will need to change out the water regularly so that the oxygen can keep flowing through to the bait. However, you can’t just stop at changing out the water.

The temperature of the water is crucial because the water on the surface is hot and deadly for living bait. Therefore, having ice on hand to put into the live well will be the most beneficial way of keeping your live bait happy until they reach the hook. There is also a bait shortage during the summer months on things like shrimp and live croaker. You will save yourself a lot of time if you call the bait shop the night before to ensure that the bait you want is available. The shrimp are the most common bait in the summertime, but they are not as effective as you may think. When everyone is using shrimp, the fish are not as excited by them because they see them everywhere. Try using a baitfish that is not as often used in the summer months and guarantee a better chance of catching a fish.

Some other tips you should keep in mind when fishing with live bait is to never hook your live bait in the eyes. The reason is that you want the bait to see the fish approach them because they will become more excited and it will cause the fish to latch on better. Another thing is that you should add water softener salt to the water that is holding your live bait. The salt will make the scales of your bait harder while instantaneously preserving the slimy coat that attracts predators.

Lastly, you should make sure that you know how to properly throw a casting net before trying to catch bait. People often times throw the net too hard or too soft and this results in frustration and a net that does not consistently open.

Live bait can come in handy when you are trying to have a big day out at sea. Reason and logic will tell you that a fish would be more attracted to real food as oppose to faux food. However, the live bait does increase the workload so make sure you are prepared to deal with the entire package before committing to fishing with live bait.

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Types of Trout Fishing Bait

You can also ask other people who are trout fishing in the area and get an idea for what the fish are biting that particular day and you can contact the park (if fishing in a park) and ask for information but your best bet is to go prepared with several different types of bait. If one doesn’t seem to be working for you, then you simply switch to another.

Worms are often considered one of the best bait options. There are many different types and sizes of worms, however. Night crawler worms are some of the best worms for live bait trout fishing. They are easy to get, the trout usually like them, they are good weight and easy to use. Hellgramites and water worms are also popular but they are sometimes hard to get. Many regular worms are too small and harder to cast. Small minnows sometimes work well depending on the season and the type of trout.

Adjust your bait to the type of trout you are trying to catch and be sure you know how to hook them correctly, particularly when working with live bait.

Here are some additional trout bait fishing hints:

• Use something orange in color as bait
• Use power bait (such as the yellow corn types)
• Use just enough bait to cover the hook and no more.
• Collar hook a night crawler with a marshmallow directly above the hook on the line
• Use pink or yellow salmon eggs

As you can see, there are many different types of bait that can be used when trout fishing. There are also many different types of fishing that can be done. Some types include:

• Dry flies
• Streamers
• Top water mousing
• Egg and bead

The type of trout fishing technique you are using may also affect the type of trout fishing bait you use. Remember to remain flexible and keep different options available and you will have more success with your trout fishing endeavors.

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Trout Fishing Lure and Bait Information

First, you also know that you are going to need a rod and reel. Some people prefer to catch trout with fly rods but many others enjoy a rod and reel. If using a rod, please consider:

• A light rod of 4-5 feet long
• A light duty spinning reel or spin casting reel
• 4-6 pound test line
• #10-#14 bronze hooks
• a few small split shot
• small knife and other accessories

Types of Lures

There are many different types of fishing lures often used and also different types used in trout fishing. Some trout fisherman will swear by a particular type, size or style of lure while another will live by another. It usually comes down to a matter of learning all that you can about the different types and having several of your favorites with you at all times so that you can try them on the trout.
Spinners, jigs and other minnow imitators are good trout lures. Any color or style typically works but some good ones to start with are Gold-Browns, Silver-Rainbows, and Copper-Brookies.

Types of Bait

There are many different types of bait and trout tend to be picky and unpredictable when it comes to what type of bait they enjoy. The same trout may love one type of bait one day and hate it the next so it’s really hard to know for certain. You can ask other people who are trout fishing in the area and get an idea for what the fish are biting that particular day but your best bet is to go prepared with several different types of bait. If one doesn’t seem to be working for you, then you simply switch to another.

Nightcrawler worms are some of the best worms for live bait trout fishing. They are easy to get, the trout usually like them, they are good weight and easy to use. Hellgramites and water worms are also popular. Many regular worms are too small and harder to cast. Small minnows sometimes work well depending on the season and the type of trout.

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Lake Trout Fishing Flies, Lures and Bait

***Note*** Know your zones. There are certain areas that allow trout fishing during season but that have certain rules and restrictions in that particular zone. Some zones have restrictions on flies, lures and bait so be sure you become familiar with the rules of that place you are going fishing.

Flies, lures and baits are often classified as you see below:

Class A: Natural and scented baits. This includes natural fish food such as bait fish, crayfish, frogs permitted as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn and other food substances. Class A is anything that is not designed to injure or kill the fish. Class A does not include fishing flies or artificial lures. It does include dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell and any fly, lure or bait containing or used with such substances.

Class B: Soft plastic unscented bait. This includes synthetic eggs, synthetic worms, synthetic grubs and soft plastic lures.
Class C: Artificial Lures. This includes lures constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait defined in (A) or (B) above.
Class D: Fly. This is an artificial lure made from a single-point hook, using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined above, that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached.
When zone restrictions are present, they will usually be listed by referencing to type A, B, C, and D. Be sure you look into any and all possible restrictions before you begin fishing in an area.
When it comes to choosing a type of lake trout fishing fly, lure or bait, you need to remember that trout tend to be very finicky and unpredictable. Because of this, you may want to bring several different types of each choice with you so that if you are unsuccessful with one, you can try another. You can always try to ask other fishermen in the area what they are using but there is no guarantee that it will work for you or even that they will tell you.
Trial and error in a particular area of trout lake fishing usually works well. When you are not seeing results from one type of bait after some time, then simply try another and see if the trout enjoy it.

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