How to choose fishing bait is a common question from novice anglers. When learning to fish, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the bait options available. There are scores of enticements from which to choose, but you need to narrow the selection to just a few for each fishing trip. No bait works every time, but the more you learn about using each one, the more fish you’ll catch. Let’s start you on the road to success by discussing some pointers for popular choices for fishing bait that works. Live baits Live baits include many forage animals that comprise the natural diets of our sportfish. Some like worms, minnows and crickets can be purchased in bait shops. Others like shad (small bait fish) or frogs aren’t often sold but can be collected outdoors if you have the proper gear and adequate time. Sponsored Links Getting A Fully Funded Degree From The USA May Be Easier Than You Think Scholarship In USA | Search Ads A decision on which to use often comes down to availability. Can I purchase this bait from my local bait dealer, or will I need to spend valuable time catching the bait before I start fishing? The answer may determine what works best for you. Unless you fish with the bait right away, you’ll also need to utilize various methods for keeping it alive. Dead, stiff or glassy-eyed fish baits seldom are as enticing as those that swim, hop and wiggle. Some baits like nightcrawlers (big earthworms) and insect nymphs are easily kept in your refrigerator or a cooler until you go fishing. But others such as minnows and shad may require specialized items like aerators to oxygenate the water or bait tanks for proper care. Use only those baits you know you can keep healthy until you reach your fishing hole. You’ll also want to be sure you know all regulations governing the collection and use of live baits where you’ll be fishing. These often are extensive, and you’ll want to make bait selections based on what the law allows. For example, some states limit the use of baitfish to certain “Green List” species to help prevent the accidental introduction of unwanted types. Stick with legal varieties so you aren’t part of the problem. Finally, you’ll want to match the bait you’ll use to the type of fish you’re hoping to catch. For example, you wouldn’t want to bait your hook with a frog if you’re hoping to catch bluegills because bluegills seldom eat frogs. In this case, crickets, a bluegill favorite, will work better. Those same crickets won’t work well for coaxing walleyes, but a fat night crawler or leech will prove irresistible every time. Good live baits and fish they catch include: Worms: bluegills and other sunfish, trout, black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted), catfish, walleyes, carp Minnows: crappie, black bass, catfish, walleye, trout, saugers, pickerel, white bass, salmon Crayfish: black bass, catfish, trout, rock bass Crickets/grasshoppers: bluegills/sunfish, crappie, trout Shad/herring: catfish, stripers, hybrid stripers, largemouth bass Frogs: black bass, catfish, pickerel, walleyes Leeches: walleyes, black bass, sunfish, catfish, trout Insect larvae (hellgrammites, mealworms, waxworms, dragonfly nymphs, catalpa worms and more): trout, sunfish, rock bass, black bass, walleyes, catfish, crappie Crabs/shrimp: saltwater sportfish such as redfish, black drum, tarpon, sheepshead, permit, jack crevalle, bonefish, cobia, pompano Bloodworms: bluefish, seatrout, striped bass, whiting, flounder, porgy, croaker, perch Sand fleas: pompano, whiting, blackfish, redfish, striped bass, black drum, croakers Eels: striped bass, tuna fish and frog Many bait can be purchased from sporting goods dealers or bait shops, but some, like frogs, must be caught by the angler (Image credit: K Sutton) How to plan a fishing trip: all you need to know before you go How to go night fishing: all you need for a successful catch under the stars 10 of the best baits for winter fishing so you catch more when it's cold Grocery baits If you enjoy fishing for catfish and fresh live baits aren’t available, a trip to the supermarket could turn up some good enticements. We call these grocery baits. Good ones to try include: Hot dogs: especially cheap brands. Chicken liver: Fresh works better than frozen, the bloodier the better. Cheese: especially smelly varieties like Limburger. Hormel Spam: Trophy catfish relish this canned meat. Canned sweetcorn: lots of fish love this bright and easy-to-use bait. Shrimp/squid: Fresh and frozen both work great. grocery fishing bait Many useful baits, especially those used for catfishing, can be purchased simply by visiting the local grocery store. (Image credit: K Sutton) Commercial baits For several decades now, manufacturers have been experimenting with secret mixtures of special ingredients that fish will eat as readily as natural baits. The result is a unique class of manmade enticements you can purchase online or at bait shops and discount stores. Most contain scents or other additives formulated to stimulate a fish’s senses of taste or smell. They usually store well at moderate temperatures and can be kept in a tackle box for ready use at any time. Many of these baits are made especially for anglers targeting catfish. These include dip baits, dough baits, chunk baits, punch baits and tube baits in dozens of flavors and scents. Other commercial baits rely on special ingredients to attract panfish, trout, bass and other fish. These often are molded to resemble worms, baitfish or other natural baits, and while they don’t often work as well as their natural counterparts, they will catch fish in many situations and are especially useful in combination with lures and live baits. Those in Berkley’s Gulp! and PowerBait lines are especially popular and well known. Summary The main lesson is to work out what bait is best suited to the fish you’re trying to catch – as the old adage goes: "match the hatch". Once you’ve worked out this element of learning how to fish, your catches will undoubtedly increase dramatically.

Lake fishing floats differ from river patterns in that most of them are attached bottom end only. Two thirds of the shotting capacity is often used to lock the float on the line, leaving a slight gap so it folds neatly on the strike. Straight wagglers made from ultra buoyant materials are perhaps the most versatile of lake float patterns. These are really good for both fishing at distance and flicking out to fish holding features. A decent-sized straight waggler should hold its position over a baited area in wind, surface drift and undertow, provided you sink the line. Wagglers with slender insert tips are better in calmer conditions as they register even the most subtle of bites and are a good choice in the winter months for shy-biters. Bigger floats for bigger jobs For float fishing at distance or in very deep water, a large bodied waggler is the better option. Bodied wagglers tend to be larger than other patterns, requiring plenty of shot, so they cast surprisingly long distances and offer a stable presentation. Lock them at the correct depth, as with standard wagglers. Or use a sliding stop knot if the swim you intend to fish in has depths which exceed the length of your rod. Large floats requiring plenty of split shot aren’t always necessary for close in work or lowering baits along margin hotspots. Lake fishing floats for more finesse For rigs that don’t require much in the way of casting, opt for a pole float. They are great for stalking and offer superior bite indication. Slender, delicate insert wagglers do the same job too and are well worth using for those shy biters. It’s great that traditional stillwater float fishing for species other than carp is making a well deserved comeback. You’ll need a variety of stillwater patterns to deal with all situations, be it weather conditions, depth or reaching distant catching zones. These straight wagglers are the most versatile stillwater pattern. They are usually made from peacock quill, reed and hollow plastic with crystal varieties being the most discreet for clear water conditions. Attached bottom end only, they offer far greater stability than top and bottom floats – and cast better too. Bodied wagglers require plenty of weight to cock them and are the preferred choice for thumping out baits at distance. They’re also suited for fishing at depth and offer enhanced stability, especially when wind, surface and undertow are a problem. Use an insert waggler on calm days. They are more sensitive than straight patterns and indicate the really shy bites. They can be shotted down to a mere pimple on the surface for those ultra shy feeders, such as large roach and canny perch. Little darts and canal insert wagglers are tops for close-in work, using ultra fine gear and small baits. These delicate stillwater floats are only suitable for calm conditions as any surface chop is enough to drag the float under. Pole floats don’t have to be used exclusively with poles – they work very well on a running line too. Attached top and bottom, these floats are excellent for gently lowering rigs in the margins to intercept kerb crawling carp and tench. Some insert wagglers are provided with interchangeable tips for differing light levels, but carrying a pot of correction fluid and a black permanent pen allows you to quickly change the colour as soon as the conditions change.

Before we get onto how to choose groundbait, let's start with what you'll need... In order to prepare groundbait correctly the first thing you need is a decent mixing bowl. In fact, if you want to take groundbaiting seriously it’s a good idea to invest in a set of two or three bowls, so you can experiment with different mixes. An atomiser spray is very useful for fine tuning mixes, along with a container of water (lake or river rather than a tap) so you can mix moisture in more precisely. Having a selection of liquid flavourings on hand is a good idea too, so that bland mixes can quickly be revitalised.

Rather than knocking up groundbait without any thought, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of timing your mixes. This way you can recreate a particularly good groundbait mix time and time again. After initial mixing with water, allow a short standing period to let the moisture fully absorb. Normally a second application of moisture will be required to plump the feed up even more.

When it comes to learning how to choose groundbait, black and dark groundbaits work well in clear water. They don’t stand out on the bottom, which prevents attracting unwanted attention from diving birds. Also, potential prey fish don’t like hovering over light groundbait patches on the bottom in clear water, because this makes them stand out to predators. You can buy special groundbait dyes if you need to tone down a favourite light coloured mix.

Red groundbait is very popular too, being a big favourite for carp, bream and tench. Red groundbait tends to works well in the summer months in heavily coloured lakes, tying in well with red maggots, worms and red sweetcorn. Red feed is also worth considering in clear, cold water because in similar fashion to black groundbaits it doesn’t produce a light backdrop that makes prey fish stand out to predators.

Mixed groundbait might feel and look okay but it will perform even better if you riddle it. Apart from removing any lumps and large particles, this process also aerates the feed into a nice fluffy texture. This helps it to bind better so it won’t break up in flight, but doesn’t make the groundbait so hard it won’t break down in water. Riddled groundbait also tends to be more active.

Crushed hemp seed is a top ingredient for making groundbaits more active. This additive sends off an attractive oily slick, helping to burst groundbait out of open-end feeders in an enticing cloud of particles. Tinned hemp is another great fish attractor when mixed with groundbait. This gear is pressure cooked, so it holds in all its flavour and oils, which helps to turn groundbait extremely active, sending an impressive fizz of bubbles to the surface.

Method mix groundbaits are deliberately binding in nature so that fish have to attack them hard to get at the bait, and to prevent them from breaking away from method feeders too quickly. You need to mix this type of groundbait very carefully, otherwise you will end up with a gooey mess! Add water in very small amounts and stir the groundbait vigorously. These binding mixes compress better when mixed slightly on the dry side.

Molasses is a great groundbait ingredient for sweet-toothed bream. It ties in particularly well with baits like sweetcorn and fruit flavoured pellets or boilies. Some groundbait mixes contain molasses in dry form, while it’s also available as a thick treacly liquid additive. In the latter form, be careful to add the molasses to water as you mix the groundbait, because pouring it on neat makes for a very sticky concoction!

Brown breadcrumb is a superb and relatively cheap bulking agent for most types of groundbait. It doesn’t detract from the flavour and also makes the groundbait into a better consistency to work with. White breadcrumb tends to be more binding in nature, normally being used on its own when fishing with various types of bread hook baits. White crumb breaks down quicker if you mix it on the dry side, or dilute it with some brown crumb.

Punch crumb is a coarser white breadcrumb that has been freeze dried. This process stops the white crumb from being too sticky, but even then careful mixing is required to prevent stodgy mixes. A good trick is to mix prepared punch crumb with liquidised bread. This creates a fluffy textured, soft groundbait, also adding a bit of weight to the liquidised bread so it sinks better.

Crushed sweetcorn powder is a relatively new groundbait ingredient. Sweetcorn in its natural and dyed state is very popular bait, so it makes sense to utilise this fish attractor in groundbait too. Sweetcorn based groundbaits work well for carp, bream, barbel, chub, big roach and tench. Some anglers even liquidise sweetcorn and then add it to groundbait, but this needs to be done in moderation, otherwise the feed turns very mushy.

There are many different types of jigs in hundreds of colors and shapes so it can be confusing to pick the best one for the job, but let’s narrow it down to two types to carry in your tackle box: a jig you can drag on the bottom, and a jig you can flip into structure. The dragging jig is often called a football jig due to the football-shaped head. This shape of jig will help the bait navigate through rock and cover and not get hung up due to its streamline shape. A favorite jig in this style is the Molix MF Football Jig - this is the bait Carl used to win the Elite Series event at Lake Tenkiler in 2019. The unique head shape glides through structure easily and the hand tied skirt will get you the bites. Try a 3/4oz for your deep water bass fishing and 1/2oz for everything else. A good choice for a flipping jig – one used for targeting heavy structure – is going to have a few slightly different attributes and the Molix Kento Jig is a great choice because it has a smaller profile and different head shape. This is great for targeting bass wherever you can think of; docks, laydowns, stumps and rocks, it will do the job. The main size is 1/2oz for this application but you can drop down to 3/8oz for super shallow water fishing. Both types of jigs are weedless, which means they have a small bunch of soft plastic bristles guarding the hook point. They’re positioned in such a way that the jig won’t get hooked onto structure or weeds when retrieving, but fold under pressure from the bass biting the lure, thus hooking the fish. Using a weedless-style bass lure allows you to fish into dense cover and structure, where big bass love spending time, without getting snagged or hung up.

By far our favorite way to catch a bass is casting over heavy cover and watching a giant largemouth blow through a thick mat of grass to eat a frog imitation lure – this is as good as it gets! Obviously, to do this you’ll need a good frog lure to replicate the amphibians bass like to eat in your area, so here are two main baits that seem to work all over the country. If they are on frogs, they will eat these. One of the most successful designs is the Molix Super Nato Frog, a versatile hybrid style of bait. It has toad-style back legs with lots of movement so you can simply wind it back and get bites. But our favorite way to fish this frog is to skip it under docks and overhanging trees, and give it short sharp twitches. The bass will eat it on the pause most times, when it gets out of the strike zone simply wind it back and you may get a bite on the way back to the boat. There are many different colors and they all work great depending on your local conditions and frog colorations. The other is a walk bait or popping frog, which is a combination of the topwater baits we talked about first of all in this article and the more traditional frog baits. These are the most popular amongst frog anglers and work great with their concave nose creating a ton of bass-attracting disturbance. Again, we like the Molix range as they have a Sneaky Frog and a Pop Frog – both are proven bass-catching baits.