The Best Baits to Use for Fishing
February 25, 2022

When people think about fishing, they always think of worms as their best bait option. Worms are excellent options for baits, but there are various other options to select while going on a fishing expedition.

What to Consider While Choosing a Bait

While considering which bait to use for your fishing, it is vital to know the kind of bait to use, whether natural or artificial lures. Below are valuable points to consider while selecting a bait:

  • Consider the Feeding Habits of the Fish: Most freshwater fishes prefer natural baits such as leeches, crayfish, worms, crickets, etc. It is advised to also go for lures that are alive instead of dead baits.
  • Check the Fishing Regulations: It is vital to consider the local fishing regulations around the area you wish to fish, as some baits may be regarded as illegal to fish with.
  • Check Your Budget: Some fish baits are expensive compared to others. The best fishing baits are usually costly.

It is essential to go for lures that attract fish to your line to have a productive outing. Below are top fishing baits:

Leeches

They can be easily obtained at any fishing store. One key attraction of leeches is their swimming motion when put into the water. Leeches have suckers at either end of their body, but the sucker on the tail is larger than the head. They are mainly used for fishes such as walleyes, black bass, sunfish, catfish, trout, etc.

Minnows

Minnows are baby fishes used as baits and are primarily used for freshwater fishes. Minnows are mainly used for crappie, black bass, catfish, saugers, pickerel, white bass, salmon, etc. Minnows come in various sizes, and the bigger sizes are used for pike and bass fishing. Always ensure that their spinal cord is not damaged and hook them upside down on your jig to ensure proper motion.

Insects

Insects such as ants, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers are great baits to attract freshwater fishes. Insects can be sourced from bait stores, and they are primarily used for hunting panfish, trout, sunfish, crappie, etc.

Crayfish

You can get them from bait stores or capture them alive using a fine mesh or window screen. For smallmouth bass, it is often advised to use whole and living crayfish, and for catfish, dead crayfishes are preferable.

Dough Balls

Dough balls are artificial baits you can use for fishing. They come in cans labeled for specific fishes such as carp, trout, catfish, panfish, etc. While using, ensure to abide by the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also make your dough balls at home using cornmeal, sugar, water, etc.

Fishing is a fantastic experience most people look forward to. However, to ensure you have great catches while fishing, use excellent baits like those listed above!