Live bait vs. artificial

[BigFishGuide]

Using live bait does take some skill. Try throwing an 8' cast net over a school of bait fish in about 25 feet of water. Or holding your boat in the current while trying to dip a load of shad off a wing wall (by yourself). Try keeping 300 of those suckers alive. And you will need all 300 of them on a slow day. It takes alot of knowledge of knowing where to catch the bait as well as knowing what you are looking at on your graph. It's not luck at all. It has taken me alot of time to figure out how to catch the bait and keep them alive. I've got countless hours of research in bait tanks, checmicals, how to rig the bait, what type line, what type hook. There's so many factors that come into play when using live bait.

To each his own. If you want to cast for bass that's up to you. I'm going to catch fish which still involves me using my knowledge to catch the bait, keep them alive, and put me or my client in the zone to catch BIG FISH.

As a side note: 20-30 fish in a 4hr. period is not uncommon. 60 to 70 fish in 8hr. is not uncommon with several fish being in the 5 lb range. With that said how many 5lb fish have you caught this year? May wan't to try the live bait. Catching is fun. Casting is ????

 

[HangnMoss]

BigFishGuide - 5/23/2007 4:12 PM

Catching is fun. Casting is ????

Casting is practice.


I'm mostly a lure fisherman, but I hold nothing against live bait. I've fished with live bait plenty in my lifetime, just not often. Much of my fishing time becomes available at the last minute, and I don't always have a lot of time on the water, so loading up a tacklebox full of wood, plastic and metal is just easier. As for live bait fishing requiring less skill, I'd have to disagree. You've still got to find fish, otherwise you're just drowning bait. You've also got to know how to rig the bait in a manner that won't impart an unnatural characteristic. I will agree that your chances of catching large fish is better with live bait, but those older fish can get pretty selective in what they eat (see previous statement about skill and imparting unnatural characteristics).

 

[fischnrod]

Growing up, I used to sit on the bank and fish with my Dad who always used worms or minnows (live bait). We went quite often, mostly for crappie or cats. I'll never forget those days with my Dad who taught me how to enjoy the outdoors with nothing but a stick pole and digging worms to fish with. I only fish artificial now but i sure am glad my Dad fished with live bait,otherwise, I may not have learned to love fishing like i do.Thanks to my Dad who has since passed away, HE REALLY DID ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO TAKE ME FISHING. emoHeart

 

[Jig]

Artificial or live it doesn't matter to me! If they will bite it, I will throw it! But, I do enjoy those cheaper trips when I can catch my bait!

 

[SeqBass]

HEY BFG !!!! I've caught quite a few in the 5lb range. But anyway... it's all fishing. Keep tearin' em up man !!!!!

 

[TennesseeTalker]

Loved this thread!!! As you can tell by reading it .. we have tons of skill and knowledge on this site.


I APPRECIATE ALL the comments on the subject. I'm like the majority ... either or .. as long as the law likes it!

But I will say I hold a special admiration for those that fish the "lure" way. It does take some additional knowledge and practical application of such to make it work. Not to mention more patience, determination, and tenacity.

TT

 

[rsimms]

TennesseeTalker - 5/24/2007 8:14 AM

Loved this thread!!! As you can tell by reading it .. we have tons of skill and knowledge on this site.


I APPRECIATE ALL the comments on the subject. I'm like the majority ... either or .. as long as the law likes it!

But I will say I hold a special admiration for those that fish the "lure" way. It does take some additional knowledge and practical application of such to make it work. Not to mention more patience, determination, and tenacity.

TT

Thanks (Paula) emoLaugh

 

[drumking]

I tease Rsimms about trolling for Crappie and using live bait as "cheating", but I say that in jest. I use "dead" meat for the few times that I catfish. Other than that, I fish artificials for crappie and bluegills. I have outgrown my passion for bass fishing (sorry Jmax), but do enjoy catching the occasional smallmouth or spot while dock fishing for crappie. I had a great time with MrWhiskers fishing for spots a few weeks ago.

When I can catch fish on artificials, then there is no need for me to turn to live bait. At my age, just riding around the lake with the wind blowing through my hair (this is a joke folks), through my bald head, is thrill enough for me.

My position on all this is simply fish for the fun of it. If you can't catch'em on artificials on a consistent basis and want more fish for the table, then by all means get you some "minners" and go drown them rascals.

I really appreciate and respect BFG for all the time and effort that goes into acquiring the bait that he fishes with. My good friend, Steve Baker, who is a top striper guide told us that many times he is up at 4:00 am going to catch the live bait for his clients that he then takes on an all day striper trip. That could wear on a man after a while, so I respect all that they have to do for their clients. emoGeezer

 

[TennesseeTalker]

emoScratch Paula???? Well I can only ASSUME that you are referring to American Idol .. which I never watch.

Although I don't look ANYTHING like Paula .. I can probably dance as good as her. Huh????

emoBigsmile

TT

 

[Liveliner]

TennesseeTalker - 5/24/2007 8:39 AM

emoScratch Paula???? Well I can only ASSUME that you are referring to American Idol .. which I never watch.

Although I don't look ANYTHING like Paula .. I can probably dance as good as her. Huh????

emoBigsmile

TT

Hummmm??? - - I do not know if you can dance better than Paula or not.... I guess that since you brought this up, You are going to have to dance for us at the pic-nic. Can't wait.

 

[rsimms]

TennesseeTalker - 5/24/2007 8:39 AM

emoScratch Paula???? Well I can only ASSUME that you are referring to American Idol .. which I never watch.

Although I don't look ANYTHING like Paula .. I can probably dance as good as her. Huh????

emoBigsmile

TT

Yes, American Idol Paula... she is ALWAYS the peacemaker, never a negative word about anybody. Striving hard to make everybody look good and keep everybody happy... trying to balance out the "Simons" of the world. See the similarity here. I'm a huge IDOL fan if you haven't noticed.

Earlier this year I was in one room wrapped up in American Idol and Dancing With the Stars, while my wife was cooped up in front of the TV the other room watching a basketball game. What's wrong with this picture?emoScratch

 

[TennesseeTalker]

Richard .. are you saying you'd like to wear the skirt???? emoLaugh emoLaugh emoLaugh

BTW .. LL .. I wasn't talking about ACTUALLY dancing .. I was talking about the ability to say something that offends no one. There will be no dancing by me at the picnic. Take an awful lot of Bloody Mary's to accomplish that. Doubt the stars will be aligned for THAT to happen.

TT

 

[Fishin Fool]

My take on this is with the majority.....as long as it's legal and will catch fish I'll try it. I'd say when I am bass fishing that about 90% of the time I am using lures. But I do love catching bass deep on shiners! With crappie I fish about 70% live bait and the other 30% with jigs and such. Bream. shellies and the like are about 70% live bait and 30% poppers, jigs and things like that. Catfish has always been a live bait fish ofr me but this past year I think I caught more on lures than I did on live bait! Don't let anyone fool you; it takes a lot of skill to catch fish either way. I've spent many a day on the lake with live bait and nothing to show for it, so it's not the easy solution that some people might believe it to be.

Richard I am an "Idol" fan too. Except when Melinda got voted off and I haven't watched since then!

 

[Guest]

Maybe I can spike the hushpuppies enough to make TT dance.
Anyone in favor?

 

[TennesseeTalker]

cheez - 5/24/2007 9:54 PM

Maybe I can spike the hushpuppies enough to make TT dance.
Anyone in favor?

emoUpsmile That might get me in trouble! I emoHeart your hushpuppies!!! emoEek

TT