Live Bait?

[Abbeysdad]

Maybe a dangerous question ....but does anybody use live bait.

[BigBassin144]

Very controversial topic there Abbey, lol.

I don't use live bait for bass, and probably never will. I kind of consider it cheating, don't know why though.

BB

[bamabassman]

when i am busting some bream i do.

[Jrob78]

I personally do not use live bait, not because I think there is anything wrong with it but because live bait fishing can get monotonous, to me. I definitely don't consider it cheating though.

[nofearengineer]

I do once in a while...crappie or bluegill fishing. I catch the occasional bass with it though.

[Backwater Charlie]

I use worms for Bluegill occasionally. I don't use live-baits for Bass, but would like to soon.

If live-bait fishing was cheating, than that Japanese dude wouldn't be tied for having caught the largest bass.

[Bassboss]

Yeah, I use it! Live bream and big bass like each other! Is it cheating?

Sure is!!

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by Backwater Charlie

I use worms for Bluegill occasionally. I don't use live-baits for Bass, but would like to soon.

If live-bait fishing was cheating, than that Japanese dude wouldn't be tied for having caught the largest bass.

Well that's a whole nother controversial topic right there man.

And to clarify, I do use live bait for gills, perch, and walleye. Just not bass.

BB

[WaffleJaw]

I use live bait for catfishing and catching the live bait=)

Not for bass though,and live bait is not cheating at all!...I always look at bass fishing like a chess match..To goal being to outplay them with artifical lures and convincing them its real....I just prefer the challenge.

[Abbeysdad]

Well, I'll follow-up by saying that I use live bait.
I fish the largest of the Finger Lakes (Cayuga) here in CNY and there be all kinds of species of fishes in them thar waters. Why it's deep 'nuff, there might be a whale in there (hehe).
I prolly use night crawlers the most, although a few times I have used (perch) minnows and once used some crabs. I recently tried some 'packaged' minnows (without success).
Night crawlers have produced a lot of small bass and perch and a few bluegills (one the size of a dinner plate). Last time out I was hooking a lot of weeds, so I'm going to experiment with slip bobbers for better depth control.

I do also use lures of various types with mixed success and I troll with lures, but to date this has not produced.... but I don't have a downrigger (yet) and will soon try a diving plane.

I have to say that overall, the catch is much greater with live bait - but to date, they all go back to catch again another day *

* disclaimer: If I catch a lobster , large lake trout or landlocked salmon ... it might go home with me for supper

[Jrob78]

Originally Posted by WaffleJaw

I use live bait for catfishing and catching the live bait=)

Not for bass though,and live bait is not cheating at all!...I always look at bass fishing like a chess match..To goal being to outplay them with artifical lures and convincing them its real....I just prefer the challenge.

Well said, I like to think of it like I'm going after the fish, not waiting for them to come to me.

[66KingFisher]

With few exceptions when we use minnows for crappie or sandbass, I always fish with artificial lures. Personally I like the additional challenge artificials offer.

I recently introduced some lures to my panfishin buddy that has caused him to change his habits and leave the cricket cages and cans of worm dirt at home....lol. He went down a purchased a whole mess of small lures the other day and he's been using nothing but them since.

[bassinbob]

Just for walleye. Although I did snag a rather large shad awhile back. Rigged it up and threw it out. Let it sit and fished lures. After an hour it was still alive but didn't get hit on it.

[geezer1]

Never, for Bass, in over 50 years. In fact, while in Panama fishing for Peacock Bass, I was the only one in the boat fishing artificials. I didn't outfish many, but I held my own. I don't think there's anything wrong with using live bait, I just really enjoy using artificials. Pretty much for the same reason WaffleJaw cited.

[cassidyta]

For me it is a metter of why I am fishing. If it is to eat, then I will use live bait often. If it is just for fun, then no.

[keithdog]

When bass fishing I prefer the challenge of using artificials. Actually, I only use live bait if I'm wanting to catch fish for a meal. Like panfish, or occationally walleye or pike. I'll use bait sometimes for trout and salmon as well, although I'm usually chuckin spoons at those fish.

[Captmikestarrett]

I have tried livelining for LGMouth but just is less productive here in MD. First of all the cover is jungle thick... and second the LGMouth are never in the open areas anyway.

Have you ever tossed a 1 dollar shinner into a bunch of pads? More often the shinner never makes it back as it wraps around every piece of structure..

But there are applications for live bait that work better than lures.

Schooly LGMouth in big lakes is a prime example.

Fishing for stripers in the C Bay using live spot I have got some large LGMouth in salty water. That was not the norm but it happened.

Capt Mike

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by WaffleJaw

Not for bass though,and live bait is not cheating at all!...I always look at bass fishing like a chess match..To goal being to outplay them with artifical lures and convincing them its real....I just prefer the challenge.

Nicely said. That's how I feel, and kind of why I consider live bait cheating for bass.

BB

[nofearengineer]

I have found that artificial lures don't smell as bad as live bait after a couple weeks in my tackle box.

[JerseyFisher]

I was raised fishing with live crawlers and crayfish for bass and panfish on Lake George. It is very effective, and catches a lot of fish. Its more of a quantity catcher rather than quality. However in the past 3-4 years I have pretty much only used artificial lures.

[Jrob78]

I also find artificials so much more convenient. Often my fishing trips are relatively short and messing with a minnow bucket and going to a bait shop just isn't worth the time and trouble. My Dad likes using live minnows for bass fishing and he does pretty well, just not my style.

[walkeraviator]

Here in TX went salt water fishing for the first time with teh Fathe-In-Law and my wifes uncle... they were tearin up speckled trout on live croakers (controversial even amongst those who use live bait)... i stuck to a swim bait and caught quite a few small ones, but enjoyed not having to hook a fish every three seconds (my hook was an EWG and i didnt have a circle hook, so it would fly off midcast and leave me a birdsnest)

but when crappie fishing... nothing beats a minnow...

[Abbeysdad]

Well I think live bait is far more challenging than dynamite!

[geezer1]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

I have found that artificial lures don't smell as bad as live bait after a couple weeks in my tackle box.

Yeah. Plus, when you use artificials you don't have to fill your tacklebox with water!

[Jrob78]

Originally Posted by Abbeysdad

Well I think live bait is far more challenging than dynamite!

That's funny