Natural baits like worms, leeches, minnows, crayfish, crickets, and grasshoppers are popular choices for freshwater fishing. Additionally, bottom-dwelling fish such as catfish and carp are often attracted to cut bait and prepared baits like dough balls.
It's essential to adhere to local fishing regulations to ensure the legality of your chosen bait. Some lakes prohibit the use of rough fish minnows due to the risk of them overtaking the ecosystem and depleting the game fish population.
When considering the cost, using live bait can often be more economical than fishing with lures. Losing a single worm is typically less costly than losing an expensive lure. Furthermore, sourcing your own freshwater live bait can lead to additional savings.
For further guidance on selecting the best freshwater bait for your target species, refer to the Freshwater Fish Species section.
Below are a few related projects.
1. Becoming Proficient in Nymph Fishing: An In-Depth Manual on Utilizing Effective Patterns, Realistic Elements, and Provoking StrikesCUT FISHING BAIT
Cut bait, which involves using pieces of fish, offers a distinct approach to attracting fish compared to live bait or lures. Fish that are drawn to scent are particularly inclined to strike at cut bait. Almost any fish that you catch can be utilized to create cut bait, including bait fish. For optimal effectiveness, it's advisable to scale the fish while retaining the skin. Catfish and carp are notably responsive to cut fishing bait.
Notably, various species of saltwater fish such as sea trout, bluefish, and sailfish exhibit an attraction to this form of freshwater bait. To explore saltwater fishing bait options further, refer to the Saltwater Fishing section.
LEECHES
Leeches serve as highly effective live freshwater fishing bait, particularly for species like walleye and northern pike, and are readily accessible at bait shops. When hooking leeches, it's best to pierce them through the sucker located in their tail. Leeches possess suckers at both ends, but the tail sucker disk tends to be larger than the one on their head.
A fundamental principle to bear in mind when using leeches as live fishing bait is to avoid fishing them faster than their natural swimming pace. The allure lies in their swimming motion, which entices nearby fish.
For those handling leeches, it's beneficial to allow them at least an hour to acclimate to a new temperature if placing them in a live well. This adjustment period enables them to stretch out and swim naturally. Despite their delicate appearance, leeches are surprisingly resilient and can endure for extended periods. Storing them in a refrigerator can help keep them fresh for several days, ensuring they remain viable bait options.
DOUGH BALLS
Prepared fishing bait, also known as dough balls, are commercially produced and conveniently packaged in cans, often tailored for specific fish species like trout, panfish, catfish, and carp. These baits are designed to be molded entirely around the fishing hook, encompassing even the barb, or they can be utilized on a treble hook equipped with a bait holder attachment.
Alternatively, anglers can opt to create their own dough balls using a simple recipe.
HOMEMADE DOUGH BALLS
For a delectable homemade freshwater fishing bait tailored specifically for catfish and carp, follow these simple steps:
- Combine 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a mixing bowl.
- Gradually add water from a 1-quart container until the mixture forms a heavy dough consistency.
- Shape the dough into balls, aiming for sizes ranging from ½-inch to 1-inch in diameter.
- In a separate pan, combine the remaining water from the quart container with 1 cup of molasses.
- Introduce a flavoring element of your choice, such as garlic, licorice, anise, or strawberry gelatin, to the molasses-water mixture.
- Place the pan on the stove and bring the molasses-water mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, carefully add the dough balls to the mixture, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan.
- Allow the bait to cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- After cooking, allow the bait to cool before using it for fishing.
GRUBS AND MEAL WORMS
Grubs and mealworms are popular choices for live freshwater bait, particularly for panfish, sunfish, and trout. They are widely accessible at tackle and bait shops and can be utilized individually or in clusters for increased effectiveness.
Alternatively, you can gather grubs from various sources such as soil and the swollen, distorted leaves of trees, plants, and vegetables. This provides anglers with an additional option for obtaining bait, especially for those who prefer harvesting their own bait rather than purchasing it.
MINNOWS
Minnows, essentially baby fish, serve as versatile and effective freshwater fishing bait. They are widely available at bait and tackle shops, or anglers can opt to catch their own, provided it's legal in their area. Minnows come in various sizes, with larger ones, known as 'shiners,' particularly suitable for bass and pike fishing.
Depending on the fishing technique employed, there are different ways to hook minnows for optimal performance. For cast and retrieve, trolling, and drifting, anglers should vertically hook the minnow through both lips or the tail. Conversely, for still fishing with a bobber, hooking the minnow through the back just above the dorsal fin is recommended, ensuring not to damage the spinal cord. The goal is to maintain the fish's natural movement to attract bites.
Here are some additional tips and tricks for using minnows effectively: For enhanced action, try hooking the minnow upside down on a light jig, prompting it to struggle and create enticing movement. When storing minnows in a bucket, it's essential to use the same water from which they were obtained and to avoid overcrowding, ensuring the bait remains lively and appealing to fish.
INSECTS
Ants, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars serve as excellent live freshwater fishing bait, particularly for catching panfish, sunfish, and trout. Interestingly, brown trout are particularly drawn to ants presented on a fly, showcasing the effectiveness of this natural bait. Additionally, smallmouths and large trout display a preference for immature versions of mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, hellgrammites, and dobsonfly larvae.
For anglers seeking to utilize insects as bait, there are some useful tips and tricks to consider. Insects can either be purchased from bait shops or caught by the angler. Ants, for example, can be gathered from a nest, while larger insects can be captured using a net. Involving the whole family in the process can make it a fun and engaging activity for everyone.
FRESHWATER CLAMS AND MUSSELS
Clams and mussels, if native to your area, present a fantastic option for live freshwater bait, attracting native fish species effectively. To ensure their freshness, it's best to gather them from shallow waters either before or during your fishing trip. Once collected, crack open the shell, remove the clam or mussel, and allow the bait to harden slightly in the sun. This helps it stay securely on the hook during casting and retrieval.
When attaching mussels to the hook, it's advisable to use thread to tie them on, ensuring they are secure without pulling too tightly. This method helps maintain the bait's integrity and increases its appeal to the fish.
CRAYFISH
When angling for smallmouth bass, utilizing live crayfish can prove highly effective, particularly when using them whole and lively, hooked through the tail. Alternatively, for panfish, focusing on the tail meat or meat from the larger pincers of the crayfish can yield favorable results. When targeting catfish, bullheads, or carp, employing dead crawdads threaded onto a hook can be a successful strategy.
Crayfish can be obtained from bait shops or captured using a window screen or fine mesh net submerged in the water. Agitating the water to drive the crayfish into the net facilitates their capture. To maintain their freshness, store them in moist rags, damp moss, or a dedicated bait bucket.
For trolling purposes, utilizing cut fishing bait can be advantageous. Utilize the thin belly area and cut long V-shaped strips to simulate the appearance of a fish or eel. Including a pectoral or pelvic fin on the bait enhances its allure to fish. When preparing the bait, it may be necessary to scale the fish strip, but threading the hook through the skin aids in preserving the bait's integrity during use.
Another option for fishing bait is prepared fishing baits, which are available commercially or can be homemade. These baits often come in a paste-like mixture of dough, blood, cheese, and other proteins. Mold the bait around the hook, including the barb, or use it on a treble hook with a bait holder attachment for added effectiveness.
FRESHWATER WORMS
Worms stand out as one of the most versatile and effective freshwater fishing baits, suitable for a wide range of freshwater fishing endeavors. Whether procured from a few shovels of soil in your garden or sourced from a shaded, damp area, worms are readily available for anglers. Alternatively, they can be conveniently purchased from fishing tackle stores and bait shops. When targeting walleyes and bass, utilizing earthworms or night crawlers can yield favorable results.
For panfish, sunfish, and trout, opting for smaller manure worms is often the preferred choice. These worms can typically be found in cattle and horse pastures, providing anglers with an accessible and effective bait option.
When employing worms as fishing bait, there are several tips and tricks to enhance their effectiveness. To deter smaller fish from nibbling at the worm without taking the hook, utilizing just a portion of the worm can be effective. Additionally, threading the hook through the side of the worm at multiple points along its body can help secure the bait more effectively. For fish prone to stealing bait, such as sunfish, completely covering the hook with the worm can help prevent theft.
Another option for freshwater fishing bait is catfish stinkbait, a concoction designed to attract catfish. To prepare this bait, fill a jar with pieces of forage fish, such as shad, and cover the jar with a loose lid to allow gases to escape. Leave the jar in direct sunlight for a day or two, and upon opening, the potent aroma will indicate that the catfish stinkbait is ready for use.
EELS
Eels prove to be highly effective, particularly when targeting striped bass, especially when employed whole for trolling purposes. Anglers can opt to hook them through the eyes or lips to maintain their natural presentation, or alternatively, they can be cut into smaller, more manageable chunks. Due to their durability and robustness, eels are well-suited for both trolling and bottom fishing techniques, offering versatility in freshwater angling pursuits.
CURED FISH ROE
Salmon or trout eggs stand out as prime freshwater bait, particularly for species like salmon, steelhead, and trout. During spawning season, when these fish are actively moving in streams, rivers, shorelines, or harbors, they often show a strong preference for eggs over other bait options. Anglers can utilize egg spawn sacks, typically small cheesecloth pouches containing clusters of eggs, or cured skein, which consists of cured egg clusters, by attaching them to their hooks. These bait options can be left to float freely or weighted with a small sinker to adjust the depth. While cured fish roe is readily available at most bait and tackle shops, anglers can also opt to make it themselves with a bit of effort.
