Fishing with Live Bait

“It’s easier to feed them, than it is to trick them,” sums up the reason why live baits are so popular with Piedmont lake anglers. Store-bought worms, crickets and minnows account for a large percentage of all fish caught on live bait. However, anything that crawls, flies or swims is considered live bait. Regardless of what type of live bait you fish with, it is important to practice a few time proven techniques.

Begin by matching the fishing outfit, line, terminal tackle and hook to the size of the bait. A hook too large will act as an anchor, and will not allow the bait to swim naturally. When in doubt, use a smaller hook.

“The larger the baits, the better the fishing,” is not always a true theory. In fact, if you want to catch more fish, use smaller baits. Both large and small fish can swallow little ones, while only the larger fish can eat big baits.

Hook the bait so that it can swim naturally. When slow trolling or drifting live minnows, hook them through the nostrils, lips or eye sockets. When still fishing minnows below a bobber/float, they swim best hooked on either side of the dorsal fin.

Night crawlers and red wigglers should be threaded on the hook a few times. Be sure to leave a small portion of the worm to dangle and wiggle at the end. Crickets, a popular bait for bream, can be hooked through the head, thorax or abdomen.

Bass, perch, crappie, and stripers prefer minnows, shiners, shad, herring, trout, and small fish. Bream (sunfish) take worms, crickets and other insects. While, catfish will eat anything, but small channels and blues prefer worms, and flatheads like minnows best.

Tips from Capt. Gus: When live baiting, give the fish plenty of time to take the bait.  Bass will strike live bait from the tail, and then turn it in its mouth before swallowing it headfirst. This process takes a few seconds, so wait before setting the hook.  

Captain Gus Gustafson is full time professional fishing guide on Lake Norman. Contact information: Email: Gus@LakeNorman.com  - Web Site www.FishingWithGus.com - Cell  704 617 6812.