fresh worms vs. plastic worms: I am new to fishing on my own and wanted to know if its better to use fresh bait versus plastic?

FishingDad2020 Loc: Southwest Missouri

I am new to fishing on my own and wanted to know if its better to use fresh bait versus plastic?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

FishingDad2020 wrote:

I am new to fishing on my own and wanted to know if its better to use fresh bait versus plastic?

Welcome to the Forum, FD. Not all live bait is better than artificial, but I think a live crawler will out fish a plastic crawler. (MHO)

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Real worms win! But have some plastic worms in case you cant find any real ones. Just Sayin...RJS

Moscooter Loc: Sunset Beach, N.C.

Well, you would likely get more feedback and more specifics if you could or would identify just what kind of fishing and for (what) fish you are after.

If you're using a cane pole and a bobber and after pan fish or even other types, a live worm is a better choice. Same deal if using a bobber with a casting rod/reel.

However, if you aren't gonna sit a "watch" that bobber and want to cast and reel in and cast again, etc.
you don't wanna use live worms as they will quickly fall off the hook. Then you would want plastic worms if indeed worms are your choice.

Now, nothing beats a live shiner if you're bass fishing, but that brings about lots of other choices too.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Live worm will definitely catch the fish. A little more action involved on your part using plastics.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

FishingDad2020 wrote:

I am new to fishing on my own and wanted to know if its better to use fresh bait versus plastic?

Have this neighbor come down here from Massachusetts a few times through out the year and brought his entire family with him over the 4th of July. He asked me what's biting and I informed him what and where.

Well the clan brings an assortment of live worms and goes completely different direction from where i told him to go. 2 days go bye and i get the call. What was the name of that plastic bait and where did i say to go?

So fishing Dad check with the locals where you are going, try the live stuff it just may work. But the local bait shop wants your business they should lead you in the right direction.

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

50+ yrs ago, you could go into a store and buy a rig to hook up night crawlers. It came with a loop, then beads, a two blade prop, more beads, a snelled hook, drop down three to four inches to the bottom snelled hook. Some even had three hooks, for those long night crawlers. You fished it much like a texas rig, without the sliding weight.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Harris T. Fudpucker wrote:

50+ yrs ago, you could go into a store and buy a rig to hook up night crawlers. It came with a loop, then beads, a two blade prop, more beads, a snelled hook, drop down three to four inches to the bottom snelled hook. Some even had three hooks, for those long night crawlers. You fished it much like a texas rig, without the sliding weight.

In Michigan that was known as a night crawler harness I think but it's been 55 years!

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

USAF Major wrote:

In Michigan that was known as a night crawler harness I think but it's been 55 years!

Google Nightcrawler Harness, everybody still makes them for walleyes.

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

A bit of the origin, with a bit of the fisherman flash and color. The early ones had a prop, not blades.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Harris T. Fudpucker wrote:

A bit of the origin, with a bit of the fisherman flash and color. The early ones had a prop, not blades.

Yeah, everybody is into "Blades and Bait " nowadays. You can probably still find pre rigged Creme plastic worms with a prop. You can rerig with a real crawler.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

Harris T. Fudpucker wrote:

50+ yrs ago, you could go into a store and buy a rig to hook up night crawlers. It came with a loop, then beads, a two blade prop, more beads, a snelled hook, drop down three to four inches to the bottom snelled hook. Some even had three hooks, for those long night crawlers. You fished it much like a texas rig, without the sliding weight.

Lindy still makes them. Use them trolling once in a while - Walleye, Wipers, Catfish and trout all hit them. Buy them by the box of six as I usually end up giving a couple away most trips out

rtk Loc: Eastern Washington

Bopttom walker and slow death hook, nightcrawler. Sometimes a smile blade.

bggent204 Loc: On Lake Meade in East Berlin PA

flyguy wrote:

Welcome to the Forum, FD. Not all live bait is better than artificial, but I think a live crawler will out fish a plastic crawler. (MHO)

Has anyone with the lack of rain noticed how hard it is to harvest nightcrawlers. I was told they go deeper sometimes as deep as 15 foot. Im in Adams county PA about 16 min north of Gettysburg. And it seems the fish has just stopped bitting as well. Will try some good size minnows and go deep perhaps the O2 is better there

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

When the ph level gets to high the worms will burn at the surface so they have to find better soil. In PA you should have a lot of maple trees. Take the leaves in the fall and pile them high. When spring comes around you should have you need just by moving the pile. You might even wet it once a week. Manure works well also. I tear down my boxes and put the cardboard in my garden, wet it every so often. I can havest pds of European nightcrawlers. Not as big, but more active.