What is the best universal fish bait to use? I heard everything from wax worms to corn!!?
403643
It really depends on what you are fishing for. Corn is great for carp. Chicken livers are great for catfish. For large game fish (such as bass, pike, pickerel, etc) I find that anything small will be picked off by armies of panfish. For those I prefer shinners (roughly 2+ inches). The larger the shinner the fewer (yet larger) fish you will land.\n\nFor trout, mealworms (I think they are the same as waxworms) are killer. As they are for perch and crappie.\n\nFor saltwater.... I dunno.
522678
I don't know of any web sites that will send ya free baits, but if you find one let me know. I know where you can get alot of free baits though if that will help you out any. Go to a FLW event or a BASS event and they usually had out free lures. At least at the Flw championship or the Bassmasters Classic.
224449
for bait id say minnows and salmon eggs. they love 'em. for lures run spoons, spinners, rooster tails, even some rapala minnows will get eaten by the big ones.\n\ngood luck and leave a few for me!
1134818
I have had the best results with a Rebel Pop-r.  I have caught largemouth on the bone colored pop-r's as well as the brightly colored ones.  At night, I have had good results with a Arbagast Hula popper, as well as a Jitterbug. Both in black.  Heddon also makes a good lure called the Spook, which is retrieved with the "walk the dog" technique. If it is a windy day, with a ripple on the water, try a Heddon Torpedo.  As with all topwater lures, cast the lure near cover, and let it sit, until the ripples dissipate.  Then try different retrieves.  Fast slow and in between.  Let the lure pause every few pops, and usually that is when the bass will strike.  When they hit the lure, wait until you feel the fish pulling on you line, and then set the hook.  I have tried different topwater frogs, and the best in my opinion is the Bronze eye.  Its hooks are better placed and result in 75% more hook up when you get a hit.  I have found that most other topwater frogs have poor results.  The fish will hit them, but the hooks only set properly in 20% of the bass that take the frog. Have fun, and tight lines.
1056583
I think the rule is, If it stays on the hook then its bait.\nBread. cheese  Sweetcorn,  Maggots have all been used to a  great level of success. Depends on what you are hoping to catch as different fish like different things.\nRaid the fridge and try everything you find and then call that your lucky bait .\n\nChris
328446
I like to use my silver spinner. Get one with a bight strip on it. If you go in the river use a smaller one, and if you are at the mouth of the river us a medium one. They also like flies. Find out which ones just hatched and go get that bait. They eat it up. Good Luck!
422730
Natural baits for trout includes a wide variety of items -- worms, minnows, crayfish, fish eggs, grasshoppers, crickets, mayflies, caddis and crane fly larvae, waxworms and numerous other insect larvae. Hooks used for these baits can range from No. 6 to 14, more or less matching bait size with hook size. Worms should be threaded on the hook in at least two places and the entire hook concealed. On occasions trout will pick up a worm, crush it, drop it, and then pick it up again. This nibbling habit makes a cautious fish tough to catch on an exposed hook point.\n\nThere are two types of hooks that are best for worm fishing. The first is a split-shank hook, which has sharp points over which the worm can be threaded. The other is a tandem hook rig where two hooks are joined by a length of leader -- the lower with the bend directed downward, and the upper one about an inch above and the bend directed upward. Hook the worm so the head and tail extend about an inch past the points, leaving a loop in the middle. Worms are probably the best all-around trout bait and work especially well in spring and fall, particularly after rainfall.\n\nGrasshoppers and crickets are most often used in the fall. They can be hooked once through the tough portion of their body, above the front legs, or simply threaded on to the hook. These baits are most effective when drifted downstream into likely trout cover.\n\nMinnows are occasionally used for trout, particularly for large Brown's. Hook the minnow lightly through the back or lip and drift it into the deep pools that have hiding habitat structure. Small, soft-shell crayfish and fish eggs, usually from salmon, can also be productive when drifted in a similar fashion. Egg hooks should be used for salmon eggs. Insect larvae are productive at times, epecially while they are abundant in streams and are beginning to emerge. Most of the time they are fished like worms, but take care in casting because they come off the hook easily.\n\nPrepared trout bait ranges from commercial products to homemade concoctions. Most varieties have a cheese base and come in small chunks or balls. Cheese baits are usually cast across a pool and the bait allowed to drift with the current. Other popular baits include whole kernel corn, marshmallows, and cereal types. It doesn't take much imagination to fish for trout with these items, although all of them have enticed many trout to bite.
1001726
Worms work! Grey crickets, Power Bait,(either one) on a chartreuse jig have worked for me in the past when fishing for crappie, blue-gill, and bream.\nGood Luck!
344634
Use shinny things. When i go to the rivers or small lakes, i like to us my small silver spinner. Get one that has a contrasting color on it. Mine has a pink strip. But i have found orange, gold, and yellow work just as well. Try to keep it bright so the fish can see the bait. Good Luck!
1165463
i know for the white bass and large mouth and walleye if any!!! id for sure try a bullet blade (there called alot of different things... the ones i got were called Zonars) !!! ,,,  http://www.in-fisherman.com/reference/weekly_tip/IFD_tip_FreshwaterDrumA.jpg  ... in the picture its the lure on the top left looks just like the pic pretty much... i was just introduced to those this year by a random fisherman who was pulling them out left and right using one... and saw i was having no luck... i was using twisters.. rapalas.. live bait... all of the above.. and i finally ran over to the bait shop and picked up a few of these and nailed white bass and large mouth in the same spot i wasnt catching them B4..but the picture is what they look like not sure what there called in ur local bait shop.. but they were killer... Ive found out that white bass LOVE Silver!!!
292989
A small "Rooster-tail" in white and black with a silver blade.Also, downsize your line test. Use Berkley "Fire-Line" in "smoke" color. That line tests at 10lbs and has a dia. of 4lb. Small "Rattle-Trap" type baits work as well, in the 1/8 and 1/4 size.Small "black" or "white" jigs in the 1/8 oz. and 1/4 oz. works well too. Spray all of your lures with some type of attractant.
452189
small and gold would be best but it's really a poor trout lure....use a trout worm or nightcrawler on a number 8 hook with a small splitshot about 8-10inches from it or a small mepps spinner would be better. Have Luck!
316415
I used a small spinner for large mouth bass. It is tricky though. You can get caught up on the lilly pads. After a few times though you learn to stay away from them. I also like to use little neon plastic worms, the fish are attracted to them on bright sunny days. Well good luck.
427728
I lived in Jacksonville, Florida all my life. My bass-club had a tournament out of Talquin in the late 90's. \n\nI think you should be throwing 7 inch Berkley "Power-worms" in "Red Shad/Green Glitter" or "Camo" colors.\n\nTry a 1/4 OZ "Titanium" spinner bait with "GOLD" willow-leaf blades and a "red/chartreuse" skirt. \n\n"Hank Parker's" "Classic" spinner-bait works TOO!\n\nThe guy who won that particular tourney put his trolling motor on at a brisk pace, threw spinner-baits until he found fish, then slowed down and thoroughly worked the area with "Power-worms",( he ended up wining over $600).\n\nAlso, try the new "Senko" 5" stick bait in "cinnamon/black/Merthiolate tip" color. I have heard this bait works VERY well "walked" across weed tops and weed-lines.\n\nIf all else fails, try "downsizing" your line diameter("Berkly Fireline" size 4/10), using a "spinning" reel, and throw 1/8 & 1/4 OZ, "Beetle-spins" with curly-tailed bodys in "Black body/silver blade" or "Chartruese body/ gold blade". \n\nIf you find a concentration of "spooky" Bass, try throwing a "Yum" "Zellamander"(no weight), Texas-style rigged, "water melon/red-flake" color.  \n\nCast to wood! Cast along weedlines! GOOD LUCK!
476929
the best bait is to ask the local fisherman what they use.use that.use the same technique anywhere you fish fresh and salt water .eventually you will learn .always ask the locals and you will groww as a fishermen
542899
D Pole,\n\nI don't know exactly how to answer this question.  I've been an avid bass fisherman my entire life.  I think the best thing for you to do is to repost w/ a little more detail.  What is the clarity of the water?  What is the temperature of the water?  Are you fishing on a lake or in a pond?  Is there a lot of cover or are you fishing underwater structure?  Those are just a few of the things needed in order to accurately answer your question.\n\nHowever, if you're just looking to go out and try to catch a bass, I suggest a few lures.\n\nFirst, The plastic worm.  I'm fond of solid black, june bug, and tomato.  I always use ZOOM trick worms and finesse worms, but you are more than welcome to choose whichever one you feel best with.  To go a little more in depth, I'd texas rig it this time of year.  That is where you put a bullet weight right above the hook (I'd use a 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG Worm Hook).  Then you put the worm on the hook and cast into cover and just pop it along the bottom.  When you feel the fish hit initially, give him slack and when he starts to swim off w/ the bait, set the hook and enjoy.\n\nNext, the spinnerbait.  White or Chartruese or any combination of the two are deadly.  There are many different types of blade combinations you can choose, but that's another story.  Cast the spinnerbait near trees, underwater points, secondary points, pretty much anywhere.  You can slow roll it (steady reel) or do a stop/go method.  You can choose heavier spinner baits to cast farther and run it deeper through the water.  Lighter lures can be used to run inches below the surface of the water to catch bass when they've moved up in warmer water and are feeding heavily in the pre spawn period.\n\nIf you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask.
622515
you might want to try dawn or dusk hours depending on the heat. soft plastics minnows or crankbaits for bass and spinners or live bait for trout.....try a slip sinker about 16 inches from you hook with a small split shot to hold it from sliding down then use half a mini marshmallow twords the eye of the hook then tip it with about 8 to 12 maggots might want to use a size 6 hook.. the marshmallow keeps the maggots up and out of the vegitation you can chage your depths with the small split shot. it also works with meal worms..