Comprehensive Guide to Live Bait for Freshwater Fishing
July 2020
There are 2 styles of fishing bait – the Naturals and the Mimics. The “Naturals” are baits that fish eat as standard food in the wild such as worms and minnows. The “Mimics” are baits that are not eaten naturally, but have proven effective such as marshmallows, cheese and even sponges.
You can also check our articles Catch and Keep Bait for Saltwater Fishing and How to Catch and Keep Your Own Fishing Bait.
The Naturals – Worms
Target species – All
Earthworms and nightcrawlers are the quintessential bait for fishing. Everyone has seen the image of a worm suspended below a float/bobber as the classic fishing tactic. Worms are a great starter bait for kids as they attract various fish and often lead to consistent fishing action.
Worms can be purchased from any bait store or retailers such as Walmart. They can also be captured easily by digging near leaf piles or any similar compostable area. After a significant rain you can pick up worms directly from the driveway. It is best to store worms in a cool area and out of the sun and heat. You can even keep them effectively in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Worms can be fished in a variety of ways. They can be used either whole or in segments. It is best to use as small hook as possible to present the worm in a natural manner. They can be suspended with a bobber/float or fished on the bottom effectively.
The Naturals – Minnows (and similar)
Target species – Trout, Bass, Pickerel, Perch Trout and Perch tend to like smaller minnows. Bass and Pickerel prefer larger minnows.
Minnows are highly effective fishing baits especially for larger fish as they are very natural components of the fish diet. Minnows supply action and also cover fishing area by swimming that enable them to be presented to more fish than a worm that tends to stay in one spot. It is best to rig minnows with small hooks, and floats, etc. to allow as natural a presentation as possible. The best ways to hook minnows is either through the lips or in the upper back behind the dorsal fin.
Minnows can be purchased from any bait store. Usually either golden shiners or dace fish that are available for baits. It is also possible to capture minnows in a minnow trap baited with bread. It is very important to keep live minnows in a cool water, to change the water frequently with lake water (not tap water) and if possible, use an aerator/bubbler device to keep them healthy. Cool water supplies more dissolved oxygen for them to breathe. Tap water has chemicals that will kill minnows. When using them for fishing it is best to put in lake water in the bucket to acclimate them properly.
Other small fish can also be used for bait such as miniature sunfish. I have caught many big largemouth bass using sunfish for bait. You should be aware of fishing regulations and not use a bait that is in conflict with state guidelines.
The Naturals – Others
Target species – various
Fish are opportunists. They will eat what is available if it is not too large or too difficult to catch. Various “other” baits can be effective for fishing including Grasshoppers, Crickets, Frogs, Grubs, Crayfish and there are many others. At times it is good to “match the hatch” or use a bait that is readily available in the water you are fishing. If you notice a lot of action or a specific bait that is prevalent in your area it is certainly worth a try.
The Mimics – Others
Target species – Trout, Carp, Sunfish, Rockbass
As mentioned, there are some baits that are not typically part of the fish diet in the wild but are effective when used for fishing. These include the following:
Berkely PowerBait (artificial bait) comes in either a paste or in nuggets. It is very effective for stocked Trout especially early in the season. PowerBait is also manufactured into other form factors such as worms and grubs, so it is a bit of a cross over between bait and lures. PowerBait comes in either floating or sinking options. The sinking option can be used with a bobber/float and the floating option will require a weight (12-18” from the hook) to keep it near the bottom.
Cheese/marshmallows/corn are all effective baits. Cheese and corn tend to sink and marshmallows float, so similar to PowerBait it is best to use either a bobber/float or weight to match the bait. I have caught Carp over 25 pounds using canned corn kernels for bait. I have also caught very large Trout using mini marshmallows in Lake Ontario tributaries. These odd baits do work.
Please send any constructive feedback or suggestions. You can contact me by email [email protected].
Tight lines … Paul Goldstein