Natural bait has been used to catch fish for thousands of years, and it is just as effective today. Bait can be purchased in most tackle shops, and there are as many types of bait available as there are fish that eat them.
Using live bait fish is a classic fishing tactic, and there are a number of bait fish that are commonly used. Fathead minnows are the most popular, catching a variety of game fish like crappies, perch, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass and pike. Gold shiners are a favorite of largemouth bass fishermen, especially in southern waters. Suckers and creek chubs are popular for catching pike and walleye, while shad are often used to lure largemouth bass and stripers. Herring, redtail chubs and emerald shiners are also common bait fish. Bait fish can be found at many bait and tackle shops, though the availability of different types can vary by region. Be sure to keep minnows in well-oxygenated water without drastic changes in temperature.
Also called crabs, crawdads, or crawfish, these baits can be highly effective for catching largemouth and smallmouth bass. Crayfish can catch other species as well. The usual method of fishing with them involves jigging or drifting them on or near the bottom around rocks and vegetation. Crayfish can be found in many bait shops, but they are also easy to catch yourself under rocks nearby a creek. Check your state's regulations as some crayfish are considered invasive species and are not to be transported from one body of water to another. Crayfish will stay alive for a long time in well-oxygenated water.
Worms are the most often used bait for fishing. They are easily available and will catch almost any fish that swims. Nightcrawlers are the biggest worms available, and they are effective for catching bass, panfish, walleye catfish, and a host of other species. Red worms are similar but smaller, and they are especially useful in catching trout and panfish. Worms can be drifted under a bobber, used with a split-shot or drop-shot rig or threaded onto a jig head. Wax worms, meal worms and spikes are all forms of insect larvae that are popular for ice fishing as well as fishing for trout and panfish year-round. All worms and larvae should be kept refrigerated when not in use in order to keep them fresh and lively.
Leeches make great bait, especially in the springtime. Spawning bass eat them, and they are effective for catching walleyes and pike as well. Catfish have a hard time resisting a leech drifted through deep cover. Leeches are not as widely available as some other baits, but some bait shops do carry them. In shallow water it is usually best to let a leech free fall on a weightless hook, but in deeper water some weight may be necessary. Leeches are also hardy and easy to keep alive, but they must be kept moist.
Salmon eggs are useful for catching salmon and trout in streams as well as trout that have been stocked in lakes. Cut bait, which is any fish or other bait that has been cut up for use as fishing bait, is particularly effective for catching catfish. Corn and dough balls are good baits for carp and catfish, and there are a number of "stink baits" that work on catfish as well.
If the bait you want to use is not available in your local tackle shop, it may be available for order online or through catalogs. Just be sure to consult your state's angling regulations as many states limit the species of bait fish and crayfish you may use. As with any other type of fishing, licenses are required to fish with live bait, and these are available in most bait and tackle shops in your home state.
