Fishing with Live Bait
With all of the innovative and high tech features that artificial lures currently have, fishing with live bait still produces over
50% of freshwater game fish caught in North America. Dependent on the time of the year and water temperatures or when fishing slows down live bait is
definitely the preferred choice for a successful catch.
Most live bait are purchased at a local Bait Shop or for a rewarding experience can be caught by yourself. Your bait should
always be kept fresh and lively, active fresh minnows, worms and crayfish catch fish, it will also save you money by learning how to keep your bait alive.
Fishing with Bait Fish
To most anglers the word minnow means a small fish used for bait. Minnows are apart of a fish family that includes over 250 species in North America.
The most commonly used and commercially sold minnows are Fatheads, Shiners, and Suckers.
Fathead
Fatheads are the most popular and universal of baitfish and are commonly used as forage for game fish. The fathead minnow is a fresh water fish, native
to most states. They generally reach 2 to 3 inches in length and have a life span of two to three years. Fathead minnows are sometimes called "tuffy",
"ruby red", or "blackhead." They come in two different colors, black and rosy red (orange). Fatheads feed on small organic organisms, and their maximum
length seldom exceed three inches in size thus making them one of the best forage fish available for bass, bluegill, walleye, and crappie to feed on.
Spawning begins when the water temperature reaches 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and repeats monthly until water cools down in the fall. In Northern States,
the fathead minnow inhabits boggy, stained colored lakes, ponds and slow moving streams. In Southern states it lives in silt or mud bottomed lakes ponds
and slow moving rivers.
Common Shiner
Common shiners average about 2 1/2 to 4 inches long; some reach 8 inches. Their color is basically silvery with a dusky back. In comparison with similar
species, the head, eyes, and mouth of the common shiner seem noticeably large. Their native range is Midwest and Eastern States. It inhabits both warm and
coldwater streams and may be found in the same cooler waters as trout. Common shiners spawn in spring. Gravel in riffles is often used for spawning, but
they commonly spawn over the nest of a creek chub, river chub some males excavate their own small nests. The common shiner feeds at or just below the water
surface primarily on insects. Because it is common and readily caught it is important forage fish for many game fish as a popular bait minnow, especially
in the Northern States for ice fishing. Also known as Silver Shiner, Redfin Shiner, Creek Shiner, Eastern Shiner.
Care and Keeping of Baitfish
When fishing with minnows and suckers having fresh lively bait can make a world of difference in getting a bite. The action of a struggling minnow/sucker
on a hook with a natural scent will draw attention of nearby fish even enticing neutral or negative mood fish to a reactionary strike.
Here's a few pointers in keeping your live bait alive long enough to be useful especially during the summer months
1. Keep them Cool... Nothing kills minnows and suckers quicker than extreme heat.
Keep your bait bucket in the shade and out of direct sunlight. Warm water greatly reduces the oxygen content. Small amounts of ice can be added periodically,
but do not overload the ice or the temperature drop will shock the fish and kill them.
2. Changing the Water... If the water in your bait container turns cloudy because of ammonia being released (waste) by the baitfish or they are at the top
gasping for air the water needs to be changed. If you're on a lake or river make sure you temper the water in the minnow bucket to the same temperature as
the water system you're fishing by adding small amounts of water rather than submerging the entire bucket. Rapid change in temperature will send the baitfish
into shock and they eventually die. In adding or changing water from a city tap use a de-chlorinator to remove the chlorine, a few drops goes a long way. Most
bait shops or your local pet store have chlorine removers in a liquid. Water from a well or bottled water requires no de-chlorinator.
3. Proper amount of bait... Over crowding of minnows or suckers in a bait container will immediately reduce the amount of available oxygen, and increase the
toxic ammonia level from their waste. If you over fill your container with minnows by the time you get to your destination from the bait shop probably and 1/3
or more of your bait will be dead floating on the top. Here is a recommended guide line based on minnow sizes and a standard sized minnow bucket at 8 quart
capacity.
Small ( Crappie Fathead Minnows) 3/4"- 1"
Standard 8 Qt 6 dozen
Medium ( Fathead's, Shiners) 2"-3 1/2"
Standard 8 Qt 4-5 dozen
Rigging Baitfish
There are three basic options to bait a minnow on a hook. The first is in the mouth insert the point of the hook under the lower lip and push the hook
through the top lip, the hook shank will be facing forward with the tip of the hook facing up. This allows the baitfish to look natural as it swims forward.
Lip hooked baitfish are used tipped on a jig or live bait rigs; sliding weight bottom rig, bottom bouncers, drop shot rig or on a float/bobber set-up. By
hooking the baitfish through the lips will keep the water from circulating into the gills and it will eventually die. Check your bait often. Lip hooked
baitfish also work well on preserved baits.
The second option is hooking the baitfish through it's back in front of the dorsal fin, be careful to pierce only the skin and not through the spine.
Using this method the baitfish will keep it alive for a longer time. This hooking technique is used when stationary fishing, a floating/bobber set-up
or for ice fishing hooking a baitfish on a tip-up.
The final option is hooking through the tail for free-line fishing. Insert the hook tip at the fleshy base of the tail and run it through, ending with
the hook tip and shaft facing rearward. Use a simple split shot and hook rig cast the minnow gently and let it sink and drift while it swims freely.
Fishing Baitfish Containers
Fishing with Live Bait The basic angling tool in keeping and transporting live baitfish to your fishing spot is the minnow bucket. Years back galvanized
steel bait buckets were used and are still found in many tackle shops. Today the traditional minnow bucket is still used but made from hard plastic.
Fishing with Night Crawlers & Red Worms
The earthworm is the most widely used bait for freshwater fishing and is one of easiest natural bait to collect and keep. There are hundreds of species of
earthworms in North America, all have the same general shape but differ in size and color. The most common and popular worms used for bait are: Night Crawlers
and Red Worms.
Night Crawlers
For years the night crawler has been the leading live bait choice among the majority of anglers. The night crawler is deadly and irresistible to most large
game fish when used as live bait on a crawler harness, any type of hook/weight rig, tipped on jig or under a bobber set-up for walleye, largemouth and
smallmouth bass, trout, catfish, and sturgeon. Using a small piece of a night crawler you can have fun catching perch, bluegill, rock bass and other
panfish as well.
Red Worms
Red worms also known as leaf worms, garden worms and red wigglers. They are very popular live bait for game fish that prefer smaller worms, such as panfish,
bluegill, perch and trout. Red worms are hardy and not as sensitive to temperature as the common night crawler. They are also very active when placed on a
hook as they wiggle attracting and catching fish. Red worms are especially effective when it comes to bait stealers, small mouthed sunfish that nibble at
the bait, to increase the catch thread a red worm on a hook and leave the hook point uncovered.
Worm Care & Storage
Night crawlers and red worms are stored refrigerated in bait shops as they require a dark and cooler environment to survive. When fishing with earthworms
for the day they should always be kept in the shade and out of direct sunlight especially when it's very warm. Nothing smells worse than a container of
sun baked worms. After your day on the water to keep your bait fresh either put them in a cooler with ice, place the container on top you don't want to
drown your bait in the cooler water or place the container in a refrigerator.
For keeping worms in a good condition for a extended period of time you should consider buying a portable worm carrier. Most containers made of a
insulated material that will maintain a cool moist environment that worms enjoy. Some models can be dipped into water to aid in keeping them moist
others have external ice pack holders for hot days. To get at the worms easily many have two access doors that you can flip the container over when
they burrow to the bottom, make sure the container has a snug fitting lockable doors. Another choice is what material to store them in. We recommend
buying commercially made worm bedding available at most tackle shops. The cellulose organic based bedding makes temperature and moisture regulation
easier. Many worm containers have kits with bedding included just follow the instructions on the package.
2222 State Highway 33 Hamilton, NJ 08690
Phone: (609) 570-8035 Fax: (609) 570-8036
