| Several myths exist with regard to the use of | | | | You will also have to maintain the temperature of |
| live bait instead of artificial ones. Like all myths, a | | | | the water. The water, especially at the top can |
| lot of them are baseless. Many anglers still use live | | | | be too hot, and hot water is very dangerous for |
| baits. However, most anglers admit to the fact | | | | live bait. Your bait will live happily if you add some |
| that live bait is not only messy, but also stinks. | | | | ice to the water in which you keep it. |
| You can happily use live bait during your next | | | | Remember also to put some water softener salt |
| fishing expedition if you don't mind the fact that it | | | | to the water in which you keep your live bait. The |
| stinks or creates a mess. | | | | water softener salt serves to harden your baits' |
| You should remember some basic principles if you | | | | scales while at the same time preserving its slimy |
| want to use live bait. These principles are quite | | | | coat that is chiefly responsible for attracting |
| messy and disgusting, but you will have to follow | | | | predators. |
| them. | | | | 5. Anticipate Shortage of Bait |
| 1. Wet Your Hands | | | | Summer usually creates a shortage of bait such |
| Never touch live bait with dry hands. The slimy | | | | as live croaker or shrimp. You can save a lot of |
| coat of live bait not only protects the bait but | | | | your time if you ensure well in advance if live bait |
| also invites predators. If you touch live bait with | | | | is available at you local fishing store. |
| dry hands, you will inadvertently remove this | | | | Shrimp is commonly available during the summer, |
| protective slimy layer. | | | | but it is not really a very effective bait. All anglers |
| 2. Use Recently Dead Bait | | | | use them and so it fails to excite the fish because |
| In case you lack a sufficient quantity of live bait, | | | | they see it all around them. Try using a bait that |
| you could collect some bait that has recently died | | | | is not commonly used to enhance your chances |
| in the water source where you store your live | | | | of catching fish. |
| bait. When you have exhausted your supply of | | | | 6. Never Hook Bait in the Eye |
| live bait, you can use the recently dead bait to | | | | The most important point you should bear in mind |
| lure fish. You only have to cast in the line and | | | | when you use live bait for fishing is never to hook |
| move it slightly to make it look as if your bait is | | | | them in the eye. The bait should see the fish that |
| still alive. | | | | is approaching it and get more excited. These |
| 3. Don't Use a Heavy Weight | | | | excited movements on the part of the bait will |
| Since fish are smart enough to notice a heavy | | | | attract the fish to it. |
| weight that pulls down a bait, you will have to | | | | 7. Learn to Catch Live Bait |
| take care about the weight you put on a fishing | | | | Learn how to cast your net properly when you |
| line. See that your sinker is light enough to make | | | | are making an attempt to catch bait. Sometimes, |
| it look as if it is freely floating on the water. | | | | people cast the net too soft or too hard. This |
| 4. Take Care of Live Bait | | | | often leads to failure and frustration with the net |
| You will have to adjust your fishing techniques to | | | | that refused to open. |
| suit the season. The toughest challenge of the | | | | Live bait is extremely useful if you want to have |
| summer is to keep the bait alive. Live bait is | | | | a day-long fishing trip at sea. Naturally, fish will be |
| difficult to obtain in the hot days of the summer. | | | | more attracted to real food, not fake food. But |
| In the South, especially, the summer can be very | | | | using live bait is not convenient for the average |
| harsh. | | | | angler. It means a lot of work. So ensure that |
| You will have to regularly change the water in | | | | you have mentally prepared yourself to handle all |
| which you keep your bait so that it gets a fresh | | | | the extra fuss and bother before deciding to use |
| supply of oxygen. Simply changing the water, | | | | live bait for fishing. |
| however, is not sufficient to keep the bait alive. | | | | |