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Artificial bait is simple to hook because it doesn't wiggle and it is not slippery. It comes in sizes easy to position to your best advantage. Live bait however is more difficult to use, but often it is much more effective.
Bait for attracting freshwater fish run the scale. Worms, leeches, minnows, crayfish, crickets, grasshoppers, the list could go on and on. Saltwater fish have their own favorites such as sea worms, small eels, miniature crabs, shrimp, squid and other small fish species.
These are all most effective when used fresh which is also when they are most difficult to hook. They wiggle are slippery and smelly. Fishing is nothing if not messy. That's part of the lure.
Worms make good bait for nearly any freshwater or saltwater fish species. Digging these up out of the garden is a distant third choice however if you want the best. Gardens generally don't have enough worms and by the time they are used they are often not very useful. Transporting them is a pain so make it easy and get them as close to the lake as possible, preferably at a bait shop.
Hook the worm at multiple points along the body from head to tail, to keep them on long enough for their intended purpose. Thread them around while doing this to hide the hook as much as possible.
Minnows also make great bait as long as they are kept fresh in a bucket of cool water. Keep the number down so they aren't crowded though because they do need to swim.
Hook minnows through the back bone or behind the head. Some anglers find it easier to hook them through both lips, but they are more prone to pull off the hook this way. Hooking them through the tail makes it more difficult for them to thrash, decreasing their attractiveness to your target.
Highly skilled anglers are fond of using crickets and grasshoppers as bait. They can only be used fresh and they are quite difficult to hook. However those that have nimble hands and can master the technique will find they are great attractors.
Leeches can be difficult to find in bait shops, but they do make wonderful bait. Be careful not to get them attached to your hands or arms. Hooking them through the sucker in the tail is the preferred method.
Clams are easy to use and are very effective when fishing for perch, rockfish, sea trout and other fish. Removing them from the shell is fairly easy with a knife or nimble fingers.
Shrimp are nearly perfect for saltwater fishing. They are great attractors and are very easy to hook. They don't slide around and are a size that makes them easy to manipulate by young and old alike. Remove the shell and hook them through the tail. Just don't be tempted to eat them yourself!
Every angler has his or her favorite bait and hooking methods. Some like to spend more time fishing and less time fussing and go for the ones that are effective but easy to snag and cover the hook well. Others prefer more of a challenge before dropping the line. |
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