| Using live bait is very natural. Whether it is | | | | in the spine since that will paralyze the minnow. If |
| worms, minnows, frogs, crickets, shrimp, or shad, | | | | you're using the minnow without a weight or float, |
| fish are accustomed to seeing these species in | | | | hook it in the tail so that it can swim naturally and |
| their natural surroundings. Fishing with live bait can | | | | freely, thus attracting big fish. If you plan to cast |
| be very effective and lead to attracting and | | | | the minnow repeatedly, it is best to hook the |
| catching more fish. In order to be successful, | | | | minnow in the lips, going up and in the middle of |
| though, the angler should be familiar with how to | | | | the lips. Never hook the minnow in the eye. You |
| effectively select, hook, and fish with different | | | | want the minnow to see the fish strike so that it |
| kinds of live bait. In this article, we will discuss | | | | gets excited which will ensure the fish strikes fast |
| basic techniques for selecting, hooking, and fishing | | | | and hard. Minnows and shad should always be |
| with live bait in order to optimize one's fishing | | | | handled with wet hands. Minnows and shad have a |
| experience. | | | | slimy layer on the outside of their body that has |
| Selecting the right type of live bait depends on | | | | an inviting scent to predators. Handling them with |
| the particular species of fish the angler is | | | | dry hands will remove that slimy covering. |
| targeting. Any kind of live bait will catch some kind | | | | When fishing with live bait, it is important that the |
| of fish. But, if you are targeting largemouth bass, | | | | bait act as naturally as possible and the bait is |
| minnows, crickets, worms and frogs are all very | | | | used in its natural surroundings. For example, frogs |
| effective. For trout fishing, worms and minnows | | | | are mostly found around lakes near lily pads, so |
| are more effective. If the goal is to catch really | | | | the most effective area to use a frog is near a |
| big fish, then choose larger size live baits, since | | | | patch of lily pads, not the open water. If you're |
| larger baits will attract bigger fish. | | | | casting live bait, try to minimize the impact of the |
| Probably even more important than selecting the | | | | bait by not casting it too much. Cast the bait as |
| bait and fish you will be targeting, is properly | | | | lightly as possible or even underhand. It is always |
| hooking the bait. The goal is to keep the bait alive | | | | best to use the freshest bait, but sometimes |
| while on the hook as long as possible and allowing | | | | keeping bait alive can be difficult. Bait that is dead |
| the bait to act as naturally as possible. The best | | | | can still be used as a last resort, though. Even |
| place to hook a frog is in the leg. This will enable | | | | though the bait is dead, try to work your rod to |
| the frog to act normally and keep the frog alive a | | | | get the bait to mimic the live version. For |
| lot longer than hooking it in the lips. The only | | | | example, if you are using a dead minnow, twitch |
| downfall to this is that the fish will have to | | | | your rod to jerk the minnow often so it |
| swallow the entire frog in order to be able to set | | | | resembles a live minnow. |
| the hook effectively. Hook crickets up and under | | | | Fishing with live bait can be very effective, |
| the middle of the body of the cricket. Minnows | | | | exciting and rewarding. Before you set out on |
| can be hooked in the upper back, the tail and the | | | | your next fishing excursion, just keeping in mind |
| lips, depending on how you plan to fish with it. If | | | | these few tips on how to select, hook and fish |
| you're fishing on the bottom with a sinker, hook | | | | with various types of live bait can really optimize |
| the minnow in the upper back. This will allow the | | | | your fishing experience. |
| minnow to swim naturally. Try to avoid hooking it | | | | |