Fishing Baits

By: admin Mood: - General Articles Date: May 15, 2007 Music: None

 Choosing the right bait is vastly important, and determines the success of your fishing trip. Different fish respond to different visual cues before they decide to bite, so you have to make sure that you are presenting them with a delectable feast. While some species may respond well to color, others prefer movement or sound.     

 There is no magic bait to be used for all freshwater fish, although there is one that virtually all species will find appetizing, and that is the night crawler. Everything from bass to perch to trout can be caught using these worms, although don't make the mistake of leaving too much of the worm dangling from the hook, because this results in a lot of lost worms! The thing to make sure of when using the night crawlers is that a sufficient amount of the worm is on the hook so that the fish cannot possibly pull it off; this is also the case when casting the line, because you don't want the worm to fall off from the force of your swing. Pierce the night crawler at the tip (head) and work the hook all the way through the body, until almost the whole hook is covered with the worm. If there is a significant portion hanging off the end, just tear it off, but don't expose too much of the tip of the hook, as this will deter biting.     

 When trout fishing, you will want to use insects such as grasshoppers, crickets and caterpillars; these are also ideal for pan fish and sunfish. Grasshoppers are very popular with trout in the summer, as they end up falling into the streams by themselves, and the fish are used to them. Trout prefer their food live, but if you cannot get access to this (most often sold in a bait store, or you can catch or dig up some of your own), you will need a good imitation of such. When bass fishing, artificial bait such as rubber worms and top water baits are most popular.  If you go for artificial bait, don't be too timid in choosing the colors. There is a wide range available, and using several colors at once will most often yield the best results. If you are in doubt, check with local fishermen, bait stores or the marina to determine what is preferred on a certain lake.    

On the other hand saltwater fishing requires a slightly different array of bait to make the catch. There is a vast variety of bait out there, and different fish species will bite different things, so it is important to cater to the one you want to catch. Prawns and shrimp work well to catch flounder, snapper, cod or redfish; live bait fish like the yellow tail and mullet will help you reel in tuna, cods and mackerel. Overall, the best bait to use in saltwater fishing is shrimp, since almost all species will be tempted to take a bite. In addition, you may want to try smaller baitfish, since all larger saltwater fish prey on smaller species for food. Always match the size of your bait to the size of your hook so you don't overdo it and let the fish get away with a piece of the food without catching onto your hook. Putting small bait on a large hook looks unnatural so that is also a factor to consider in your choice of bait. Your best bet to get the fish to bite is to use bait that is part of the fish's daily diet, but if you are unsure or don't have a particular species in mind the bait mentioned above is a good choice. As with freshwater fishing, ask for advice from an experienced angler, as you can then get advice specific to the water you will be fishing in.      

 Most bait stores sell all varieties of baits to help you catch what you are looking for. Initially, it may be preferable to experiment with various types of live bait and artificial ones to determine what the fish in that area prefer. Once you have the bait that will get you the best results, remember to keep your hooks sharp and hide as much of them as possible under your bait. Refer to local fishing laws to know if it is allowed to free unused bait into the lake when freshwater fishing, and when fishing in saltwater change your bait every twenty to thirty minutes to keep the smell fresh and attract more fish.