| There are many anglers out there that fish with live | | | | -Carrying Live Bait - There are many ways to carry |
| bait, including myself. There are some tips and | | | | live bait and with baits such as minnows, leeches, and |
| techniques that can help the average angler use live | | | | other water dwelling live bait a minnow bucket is |
| bait more effectively. I'm going to discuss those tips | | | | your best bet. If you're out fishing for a long period |
| and techniques which will help you become a much | | | | of time you're going to need an aerator or you're |
| more successful live bait angler. Fishing with live bait | | | | going to have to change the water frequently. |
| obviously includes bait that is living. The category of | | | | Remember the "live" part of the bait is the most |
| live bait includes, but is not limited to, minnows, | | | | important part. Dead bait usually isn't nearly as |
| crickets, grasshoppers, leeches, hellgrammites, | | | | effective. For worms, maggots, and grubs I would |
| maggots, grubs, and of course worms. Let's discuss | | | | suggest a bait bag for carrying your live bait. A bait |
| some of the tips and techniques for fishing with live | | | | Bag is much more effective than carrying those bulky |
| bait: | | | | Styrofoam containers around. |
| -Fishes Sense of Smell - Many people don't realize | | | | - Hook Size - While fishing with live bait, you want |
| how sensitive a fishes sense of smell is. If you have | | | | your hooks to be as small as possible. Remember, |
| engaged in an activity (such as smoking) that makes | | | | we want our bait to look natural. A great way to |
| your hands smell, it will affect your catch. Use a hand | | | | employ small hooks and still get effective hook sets |
| sanitizer or at least grab a handful of grass and rubs | | | | is again a set of gang hooks. I personally use gang |
| it in your hands to remove any unnatural smells. This | | | | hooks tied with size 10 hooks. For those of you who |
| may sound strange, but it's true. I always grab | | | | don't know, size 10 hooks are quite small. The |
| handfuls of grass or dirt periodically during my fishing | | | | bottom line is that when fishing with live bait you |
| trips and rub my hands. This helps remove all of | | | | want your hook or hooks to be as small as possible |
| those unnatural smells. | | | | so they are less visible. |
| -Natural Presentation - When fishing with live bait, | | | | Start employing one or all of these tips and you will |
| natural presentation is a key. You want your bait to | | | | become a more effective live bait angler. Fishing with |
| look as natural as possible in the water. A set of | | | | live bait is a fun and effective way to fish, and can |
| gang hooks is perfect for helping to present bait as | | | | be taken more seriously than a twelve year old at |
| naturally as possible. The bottom line is that if the live | | | | the Bluegill pond. Just threading a worm onto a hook |
| bait doesn't look like what the fish is used to eating, | | | | isn't good enough if you really want to start catching |
| it will affect your catch; it's as simple as that. | | | | fish. |