Am I the only one who bass fishes with live bait? Smallmouth
Feb 17, 2021 15:47:24 #
MrJohn
Loc: Roseville, MN
For me it depends on what the natural forage in the lake is. I have a cabin on a lake in MN. The natural forage is crayfish. I’ve had good luck with crayfish colored lures. In warm weather leeches have been a winner. Minnows, too. As it’s been said “Smallies, pound for pound the fightenest thing around.”
Feb 17, 2021 16:22:19 #
Feb 17, 2021 16:49:31 #
artandmona2
Loc: Freehold, NJ
I have had alot of luck with shad colored rapalas, using classic rapala knot.
Feb 17, 2021 16:52:10 #
Billy Bob
Loc: Terre Haute,IN
I believe everyone is spot on. Fishing means different things to different people. I love fishing tournaments as well as pleasure fishing every chance I get. You don't have to be crazy to fish tournaments, but it sure helps. SOOOOOO do what you enjoy, get out as much as you can and be as conservation minded as possible. As a great Bass fisherman use to say on TV. Eat what you want and release the rest.
Feb 17, 2021 17:40:04 #
thats why Berkeley and others who make their version of live bait works so well. Almost as live bait, with out any of the drawbacks.
Feb 17, 2021 20:10:50 #
RubberSoul1965
Loc: Greensboro, North Carolina
I'm with ya brother! I'm not a pro and I don't have any problem whatsoever dunkin a creek chub or two to catch a bass. I always catch and release, and I don't see the big deal as long as I'm havin' fun. Not tryin' to impress anybody. I just love to catch em. As a matter of fact, I enjoy droppin' a minnow trap in the creek and seein' what I can catch. It's not as much fun as catching the bass, but it's a hoot in itself.
Feb 17, 2021 20:40:04 #
Feb 17, 2021 22:09:30 #
thirdwillie
Loc: Missouri Ozarks
I smallmouth fish in a couple of streams in the Mark Twain National Forest, southwest Missouri. My favorite is Swan Creek, on which one is likely also to see a black bear, most of which are fairly small and do not bother fishermen and fisherwomen.
I'm very basic because these are crystal clear streams out in the sticks, where fish can be spooked. Long casts downstream with small rooster tails and beetle spins can be very successful, and very easy/harmless to catch and release as you go.
But you bet, if I'm not catching, I'm not proud. I'll float a live worm or piece of worm, threaded to cover the hook completely, or a live minnow, or a small shrimp, or a live cricket. I try to hook them quickly, to catch them in lip and mouth, but usually these healthy smallmouth in spring fed water attack with all they've got. If I kill two, my personal ethic (I don't judge anyone else) is to switch back to artificial.
Hey, we hit 13 below zero today and set a new record low for our part of this amazing planet!
'Tis a privilege to live in the Ozarks
I'm very basic because these are crystal clear streams out in the sticks, where fish can be spooked. Long casts downstream with small rooster tails and beetle spins can be very successful, and very easy/harmless to catch and release as you go.
But you bet, if I'm not catching, I'm not proud. I'll float a live worm or piece of worm, threaded to cover the hook completely, or a live minnow, or a small shrimp, or a live cricket. I try to hook them quickly, to catch them in lip and mouth, but usually these healthy smallmouth in spring fed water attack with all they've got. If I kill two, my personal ethic (I don't judge anyone else) is to switch back to artificial.
Hey, we hit 13 below zero today and set a new record low for our part of this amazing planet!
'Tis a privilege to live in the Ozarks
Feb 18, 2021 08:06:17 #
Fredfish wrote:
I don't understand the challenge, put food in front of a hungry animal, and they eat it, ?????
Fred,
When I had the kids in the boat, they needed action...I needed them to catch something without a lot of casting activity to avoid trips to the ER 😉. That evolved into the Wife as a Newbie, the Grandkids, other friends who are Newbies. Same deal, some are just plain dangerous with equipment in their hands and have no clue what happens behind them in the back cast. I took a buddy and his Son out a few years ago and got snagged in the throat and he was an experienced fisherman.
When I go out for bass alone, or with my fully grown Son, artificials it is for the challenge. When fishing for crappies or walleyes I will use live bait as I am looking for a meal.
Feb 18, 2021 09:35:36 #
OJdidit wrote:
Fred, br When I had the kids in the boat, they nee... (show quote)
Very similar with me OJ, newbies, women, children,,or "meat fishing " I'll use bait. In my little boat that doesn't happen often, but when I had my 28 footer it happened a lot. When I'm alone, never except powerbait occasionally for trout. I love the challenge of artificials.
Feb 18, 2021 13:42:58 #
Fredfish wrote:
Very similar with me OJ, newbies, women, children,,or "meat fishing " I'll use bait. In my little boat that doesn't happen often, but when I had my 28 footer it happened a lot. When I'm alone, never except powerbait occasionally for trout. I love the challenge of artificials.
👍🏻
Feb 18, 2021 15:59:25 #
stevef
Loc: Orange City, Florida, 32763
A lot of good information. My take away is the circle hooks. Thanks
Feb 18, 2021 16:19:20 #
mojoman
Loc: fayetteville,ar
been wading and floating for smallmouth for forty years. used live early on- craws and river minnows-torn them up.as I got older used plastic craws almost all the time-still catch my share-only thing with live is-you need to detect bite quickly as they seem to take deep as opposed to plastics-nothing like the real thing as others have said-but fishing with plastics you can catch 3-4 fish before rebaiting-the are both effective-good luck-nothing pull like a smallmouth!!!!!!!
Feb 19, 2021 09:49:16 #
Doug-1
Loc: Tooele,UT
I like live bait for the small mouth available in my area. They were illegally planted in a small reservoir bread me and unfortunately are over running the pond. They are a mandatory kill species. I almost feel bad for them. They are stunted because of the lack of forage. Lots of fun to catch a stringer full. The seagulls eat well when I go there. As well as my family. 50 to 60 a day 1and 2 pounders not uncommon on a drop rig with ,#12 hook drop rig using 1/2 night crawler. Please don’t knock live
Feb 19, 2021 14:35:40 #
peter stratton
Loc: lewes de.
I am no way a purist but using live bait dilutes the challenge. When my kids were young I had them use live bait to ensure they had fun. But now, if I gave them a live minnow they would look at me cross eyed. There is a reason why they don't allow for live bait in tournaments.
peter
peter
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