Live bait vs. artificial

[BackOnTheWater]

I'm sure this one will tick off quite a few of you, but I assure you that is not my intention. Other than possibly sparking a lively debate, I am just sharing my personal opinions.

While I will occasionally take a bucket of minnows out after panfish, I am at heart an old-school artificial lure fisherman. I feel that, while catching a lot of fish is a ton of fun, it's the hunt from which I get the most enjoyment. I believe that a person that makes his own lure or fly (which I don't, by the way) and goes out to track down and hook the elusive trout or other gamefish is a true sport fisherman. This person uses his talent and experience to defeat nature. I do not hunt, but I also don't think that sitting in a tree watching a salt lick all day is truly hunting. Get a bow and crawl through the woods, tracking and out-smarting your prey...now THAT's hunting. Otherwise you might as well set out a bear trap.

If I catch a few 2-3 pound fish in 8 hours on the lake I'm happier than those days when I might boat 20-30 smaller ones in an hour chasing top-water blitzes. I'm not one to appreciate instant gratification without effort.

If you must fish or hunt to feed yourself or your family, that's a different story. Get 'em however you can.

There is a reason few, if any, tournament formats do not allow live bait. It's too easy. It does not pit one person's skill against another person's.

Dropping lures out of a boat and trolling around does not test your talent, either. Go ahead and drop a trot-line and come back later.

Call me all of the names you like. I just appreciate trying to find them, trying to tempt them into biting what I throw, trying to hook them when they do, and trying to keep them on all of the way to the boat or bank too much to care...emoToast

 

[MadBomber]

There are two ways to fish.  feed'em or fool'em.  To each his own.  I like to fish with live bait in the late fall.  There is no question that live shad about 4-6" long is the best lure for big bass.  If I had some, I would use them.  But, I'm not set up to catch or keep live shad.  To be honest though, I'm more impressed by a 20 lb. sack caught on artificial lures than with live bait.  However, I'm not going to look down on the live bait fisherman, especially if he is careful not to gut-hook his catch.  

 

[rsimms]

I have never been shy about telling folks that whether hunting or fishing, I prefer "quantity over quality." When I deer hunt, I hunt hair, not antlers. If antlers come along, that's great... but as long as it is legal, "if it's brown it's down." And these days I'm actually doing the Quality Deer folks a favor.. and have indeed, gleaned special invitations to some premier hunting spots because they know I'm not too proud to shoot does.

My fishing isn't much different. Obviously I love catching BIG fish, especially big catfish. And I do reasonably well in that department. But my philosophy is that "if I fish for quantity, the quality is likely to follow." I bass fished Chickamauga in the 1980's, but when the bass fishing plummeted, I quickly grew tired of fishing for six hours for 2 or 3 bites, maybe. I became a "jerk on one end of the line searching for a jerk on the other." And I didn't care what species was doing the jerking. That philosophy hasn't changed much. There's not a fish that swims that I don't love to catch. And there is not a "purist" bone in my body. I will catch 'em however best suits me at the time. If it's artificials, so be it. If it's live (or cut) bait, so be it. It it's trolling, so be it... or casting... you get my point. I love catching fish and when my terms aren't working, I don't mind catching them on their terms.

And trust me... it's not because I'm guiding now. I was a fish hog long before the word "guide" entered my vocabulary. emoBigsmile

 

[Davo]

Fishing with live bait is just icky. Why would I want to get all dirty and smelly, heck with artificials I don't catch fish so my hands never have to stink.

 

[JerDog]

When I am out to fish, I want to catch fish, period. I have done them all and in the end I want quantity as well. There are days when I troll, days when I throw lures, and days when I use live bait. Whatever will catch the most fish. There is no shame in using one method or another and each one requires skill and knowledge. There is a science to trolling just like throwing lures to structure. To each his own!

 

[DoubleB]

Put me in Jerdog's camp...

It's just the being out on the lake with family and friends that I enjoy. I love the feel of the fish on the line, and, as they say, the more the merrier...

 

[Flippen*1]

Lures only for me, unless I'm with the little ones. Just the way I'm wired I guess.

 

[Bassin' Machine]

I prefer artificial bait. I believe it is about the skill and hunt as well. I have never used live bait, but why mess with all that when I have caught "quality and quantity" on artificial bait. Plus, many lures these days look like and imitate live bait so well, so there is really no reason for me to use live bait. My .02

 

[EricM]

I'm not entirely sure I want to get in on this one, but it seems entirely likely that my recent posts have been what's stirred BackOnTheWater. I'm sorry if I have somehow offended you by using worms for panfish, shad for bass, skipjack for stripers, or corn for carp; or by posting that fact here. I'm sure that I have offended fly fishermen by using spinners for trout. However, I refuse to apologize for using any fair and legal method that I choose, to pursue whatever fish species that I choose. You are welcome to choose the method you prefer, catch the species you like, and to post the results for others to read (or not, as THEY choose). One of the things that I think makes this site great is the variety of posts on different methods and species that help us learn or keep us smiling or just keep us in contact with others. I just don't see any harm or foul here.

 

[WLG]

EricM - 5/22/2007 5:31 PM

However, I refuse to apologize for using any fair and legal method that I choose, to pursue whatever fish species that I choose. You are welcome to choose the method you prefer, catch the species you like, and to post the results for others to read (or not, as THEY choose). One of the things that I think makes this site great is the variety of posts on different methods and species that help us learn or keep us smiling or just keep us in contact with others. I just don't see any harm or foul here.

Amen!! Im with you Eric. If its legal then I agree with it. Unless you are tournament fishing where live bait is not allowed I dont see any harm in using whatever you want to fish with. If its stinky...then the fish are gonna love it!!!!emoHoppingmad emoHoppingmad emoLaugh emoLaugh

 

[shsimons]

Your method of fishing should make you happy. Are you happy? If you answered yes to that question, bless you in your preferred method.

 

[rsimms]

shsimons - 5/22/2007 8:51 PM

Your method of fishing should make you happy. Are you happy? If you answered yes to that question, bless you in your preferred method.

Well put! emoThumbsup

 

[EricM]

I was just reading over the posts, and realized that mine could sound quite harsh if it were read that way. I, too, meant no offense, as I am a fly/lure/bait multi-species fisherman and enjoy them all.
What I have trouble with are some of the fisherman who prefer artificial lures, who will then put on their polarized sunglasses and drive a 20’ state-of-the-art bass boat with a 200 hp motor at 70 mph to get to a special spot known to hold fish, locate that spot with a mapping gps unit and a sidefinder sonar, sneak into that spot with a silent digital trolling motor and three batteries, use their carbon-fiber signature rod to cast a braided superline attached to a fluorocarbon leader with their super-smooth titanium casting reels with magnetic braking, and choose from an assortment of computer-designed, holographic, tank-tested, rattling lures designed to look and act like LIVE BAIT, sprayed with shad scent, who then try to tell me that the two guys in their 14’ flat-bottom Jon boat with a bucket of minnows and a tube of crickets have it too easy to catch fish and that it’s not sporting. Something’s really wrong with this picture. Even with all equipment being equal, the only thing truly different between fishing with artificial lures and live bait is that it is usually easier to tempt fish into striking with live bait. I really don’t understand the fuss, or the superior attitudes, except for the “us against them” that seems to exist in all sports, and in fact almost every aspect of human interaction. Hey, let’s just all enjoy it in our own ways! Thanks!

 

[hl&s]

I fish with lures only for bass but have absolutely no problem with anyone that fishes live bait. I just don't want to fool with it and I mainly tourny fish or practice for one.

Unless someone chunks a stick of dynamite in the lake I pay no attention at all.emoBigsmile

Bait,Skill,fish intelligence,luck,fate. Could be debated forever. I'm just happy to get on the water and catch one!

No offense to anyone. Just my 02.

(EricM, My boats only got 88 hp and 16 ft long. But if you see me you will know who it is. I'm the guy with 2 lifejackets
emoSmile )

 

[Bassin' Machine]

I, too, have no problem with people that fish with live bait. To each his own and whatever makes ye happy. It just aint my cup of tea.

 

[DoubleB]

This is a question that truely has no wrong answer... As long as you are following TWRA rules, then God bless you, cause I know you are doing as much to protect the sport I love as I am.

I love the guy who uses only artificial and competes in tournaments everyweekend because of the attention he brings to the sport. I love the Local Angler who Panfishes with atrificial because of the way he tansforms the sport into an art form. I love the man who pan fishes with worms to get fish for his freezer. And God bless the child who takes a stick or old pole, finds some broken line and hooks, digs bait, and just makes a day out of it for fun. God bless each and everyone of you who do it with a passion that makes sure the waterways in TN will still be great fun for my kids and grandkids, and great grandkids.

Who ever you are, may the fish find your hook and stay there till you send him on.
Robb

 

[JerDog]

DoubleB....AMEN TO THAT!

 

[Guest]

I'm with Richard and Eric for sure on this one. If you are legal hey whatever cranks your tractor. I love to catch fish by whatever legal means there is available. Any species that is good to eat as well. I fish for fun and for food. I believe the food thing is the bonus. Fun catching and fun eating fish and for me it is also enjoyable to cook fish for those that can't fish. I do not have to catch and eat fish in order to survive. As a matter of fact if I figured the cost of everything involved if fishing I would most likely have $50 per pound in the meat. The only thing that bothers me is when someone looks down their nose at me or others because we eat fish. Even if it is a "trophy"
If you caught it legally and want to eat it, more power to you. Just don't waste it.
One more thing, if anyone thinks that bait fishing is too easy and that anyone can do it with little skill they need to take a trip with EricM. There is every bit as much skill involved in bait fishing as there is in artificial fishing. Don't take my word for it, ask Jmax or Drumking or Liveliner or many others.

Cheez

 

[polo-dog]

I'm with you cheez! I just love to catch fish. I don't know why, I just do. I do enjoy fishing with artificials and I think that those with great skill with artificials will catch more fish than those with less skill. I also enjoy fishing with live bait or freshly dead bait and think that those with greater skill with these baits will catch more than those with less skill. There are times where one is better than the other but both are great in my thinking. I do like making my own lures and have done that many times whether it be flies or spinnerbaits or jigs or topwater baits. It is really neat to be able to go out there and hunt fish with something that I made and have success but if there is some way of fishing that is more effective then, I usually go for the most effective. I take a lot of friends fishing that are new to the sport and kids that have had little or no experience with fishing and because they haven't acquired any fishing skill, it's hard to find a way for them to fish that is effective and within thier skill level. In this case, often I will opt for live bait because I have a system that makes it fun for them to catch lots of fish with less skill. I still tend to catch more fish, even using the exact same tackle and baits when I take these friends because I have been fishing since I was a kids and have acquired a level of skill that gives me an advantage. And when I go fishing with EricM or DK and use the same techniques that they use, usually they out fish me because they have more skill than I do.

I do love to see the smiles on peoples' faces when they have a big old fish and a pic gets posted on CFF! It doesn't matter to me how they catch it, to them it's great! That's one reason that I keep coming back here again and again. We are truly blessed to be here in the TN Valley and be able to enjoy it!

 

[Liveliner]

I consider myself very lucky that I am by far not a one track fisherman. I have a wide range of ways and means to fish.

The dilemma I do have is sitting at home the night before trying to figure what pleasure I want to pursue the next morning. I may decide to go Bass fishing with artificial in Chickamauga...Ore maybe Nickajack. Or maybe I want to fish River Park with big shiners. But wait, The big Blues have moved back in at the Nuke. Naw!!! don’t want to fool with the boat. I’ll just take “Sharkbait” fishing for the big Bull Bluegills with Wax worms. I don’t think my son wants to go so I think I will go fish Cane creek with worms and Powerbait for Rainbows. Or should I drive on over to Caney-Fork??? Now if I go to Caney- Fork I am taking fly tackle only. No I know, I’m going to go to my friend’s private pond and catch some Bream. I think I will stop right there and go fishing for Carp in the duck pond.

I would hate to be so tied to one way of fishing that I could not do it all any time I saw fit.

As many ways as you can think of is still not enough for me. That is why I expanded my fishing more to include the many facets that Saltwater fishing has to offer. My favorite fishing is Big Shark Fishing with a 10 lb Cownose Ray or 12 lb bloody Bonito. It’s almost June. The big Breeder Sharks have moved into St Andrews Sound the second largest Shark nursery in the world. Can’t wait.

There is nothing wrong in liking it all except for the lack of time to get to do it all.