How to Fish With Live Bait
Many anglers choose to fish with live bait because it is effective at provoking strikes from a wide variety of fish. Whether he is targeting small sunfish or monster muskies, an angler can use live bait. Some of the most popular types of live bait are nightcrawlers (worms), minnows, and leeches. To learn how to fish with live bait, read on.
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Instructions
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How to Fish with Live Bait
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1
Decide how you will present the live bait. The three most popular methods are below a bobber, on a live-bait rig, or on a jig head. All types of live bait can be fished with these methods. Bobbers are effective when anglers want to suspend their bait in one area; live-bait rigs are effective when anglers want to troll or drift their bait along the bottom; and jig heads are effective when anglers want to cast.
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2
Attach the bait to the hook. The three most common types of live bait are worms, leeches, and minnows. Worms can be hooked anywhere, though some anglers like to hook them on one end or the other so they swim through the water. Leeches should be hooked just below the sucker. Minnows can be hooked through the mouth, tail, or just behind the dorsal fin.
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3
Work the bait gently. Live bait comes off the hook relatively easy, so a strong whip of your rod tip could make the bait fall off. However, set the hook anytime you believe a fish is biting.
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4
Reel in your bait and check that it is still alive at least every few minutes. Live bait is much more productive than is dead bait.
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5
Switch baits if the fish are not biting. Some days, for reasons clear only to the fish, they prefer one bait type over another.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep your live bait cool by storing it in the shade. If you are using bait like minnows that require water, keep the water cool. Active live bait will lure more strikes than lethargic bait.
Check fishing regulations for any laws that relate to live bait. In some places, for example, anglers are not allowed to use live minnows.
