Posted by S.I.BassMan on 2002 AM:
Opinions on live bait
When I first got
interested in Bass Fishing, I read alot of the bass internet sites for tips,
etc. I recall many sites saying NEVER USE LIVE BAIT FOR CATCH AND RELEASE
FISHING! I guess the bass swallow the live bait easier than an artificial lure,
and that increases the chances of killing the bass. Am I correct? Is there
anyone out there that uses live bait while fishing catch and release or those
that are vehemently opposed to it? I would be interested in some opinions.
After reading those articles, I have never used live bait and only use
artificial lures.
Posted by Mark G on 2002 PM:
I don't think there is
anything wrong with live bait. I don't use it in fresh water much personally,
but that is because I don't enjoy that type of fishing as much as using lures
that make you impart action to the bait. I do use live bait when salt-water
fishing, so I guess I'm inconsistant in my preferences.
As for the increased chance of mortality, one thing you can do is try a circle
hook. They are specially designed for live bait fishing for species that inhale
and often swallow baits whole. These inlude bass, catfish, crappie, etc. as oppsed
to bluegill, bluefish, etc. that pick or shred baits. They allow the hook to
slip out of the gullet and catch in the corner of the mouth rather than hooking
the fish deep, causing damage.
Circle hooks work well with senkos that are wack rigged as well, and come to
think of it, a lot of baits that people use on this board, like senkos and snoozer
tubes are often swallowed like live bait. I guess that's part of fishing...
Posted by S.I.BassMan on 2002 PM:
Thanks for the info on the circle hooks. I also use live bait when saltwater fishing also but have never used it for freshwater bass fishing.
Posted by bobn on 2002 PM:
i have no problem with live bait-worms have been catching fish forever-thank goodness that the bass' mouth is such that there is no real risk of injury when handling and you have enough room to work out the hook-i would rather cut the hook than try to get a deeply imbedded hook out-this can happen with artificials as well as live bait-bobn
Posted by dodgeguy on 2002 PM:
the only reason i won't
use live bait is that i get absolutely no sense of accomplishment from it!!!
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Posted by Pete L on 2002 PM:
Gotta agree with Dodge!!!
I f i were fishing for food , or saltwater fishing --- OK , but not Bass
fishing!!!!!!
Have nothing against anyone that does , but to me it takes away the FUN.
Pete
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Posted by S.I.BassMan on 2002 PM:
Any idea then why so many internet sites would be so vehemently opposed to using live bait for catch and release bass fishin'?
Posted by Pete L on 2002 PM:
There are alot of guy`s
on here , that feel the same way.
We went thru this discussion once before , and decided that on this board ---
It would be live and let live!!!!
Pete
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and
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Posted by Gregg on 2002 PM:
I would think the
vehemently opposed feel to many gut hooked fish. Now am not a live bait fisherman
but I'll tell you using live bait is NO giv'me it's a learned art just like
lures and the guys who are good at it probably don't gut hook that many.
Another reason "lure" fisherman look down on live bait is because it
the bait of choise of the meat hunters who could care less if they gut hook
because that fish isn't going back!
Have to agree with the other guys much more sense of accomplishment using
lures.
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Posted by Paul Mattie on 2002 AM:
The artificial/bait debate will go on just as the bed fishing debate will rage on with no answer in sight. If you like using bait it can be very fun and challenging even for bass fishing. Sometimes the artificial only guys "look down" upon bait fishermen ,but don't worry they have the flyfishermen "looking down" on them.
Posted by Max10 on 2002 AM:
I certainly agree with
the folks who support the circle hooks and the required technique one must
learn and perfect. Gut hooking, however is also a problem when fishing soft
plastics which is another well discussed topic.
Mashing the barbs on single hooks helps a great deal when this occurs and using
a shorter shanked hook allows you to pivot the barbless hook in the bass's
internal spaces as well. I don't like to use anything larger than a 3/0 and
lately have been having some good results on the Extra Wide Gap hooks with the
barbs mashed. I also bend the hook point out a touch and to the side a touch as
well.
I know what the folks mean about not being quite as personally gratifying in
the use of live bait, but it still takes a good deal of personal knowledge and
skill to consistently take bass with live bait as well. I personally don't see
much difference, and again, I respect those who may.
Good fishing, Mac
Posted by BobbyBass on 2002 AM:
and my take on this is that........... id rather fool them than feed em................
Posted by ChrisChance on 2002 AM:
Artificials are just more fun. Something about the trickery I suppose. My kid uses worms, somedays he gets more LMB than me.
Posted by JOHN G on 2002 PM:
Staten: one of the keys to avoid gut hooking with live bait, is to pay attention to your rigs, do not have more than 2 in the water at a time, and do not allow the fish to run forever with it before you set the hook...... I have used live bait extensively in the past and I can tell you that the only time I ever deep hooked a fish is when I was busy throwing some lure on the other side of the boat and wasn't paying attention when the fish took the live bait... JOHN G
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Posted by HugeFish4 on 2002 PM:
Sometimes I wonder how some get a bigger feeling of accomplishment from deadsticking a senko or drifting a tube or plastic worm, as opposed to live bait fishing. They are one in the same in my mind.
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Posted by FISHIN' GYPSY on 2002 AM:
Once upon a time, in a
land far, far away, when I was a young man and fishing was a "fun"
thing... before the "tournament" period of my life... I too was a
"live bait" enthusiaist.
In my garage was a large refrigerator, for the sole purpose of keeping
"worms" (and a few cold refreshments) and along one wall was an
eight-foot long minnow and live bait tank, with aeration, filtering and cooling
systems.
I have used just about every live bait imaginable! Worms, Mice, Salamanders, Water Dogs,
Snakes, Minnows of every species, Leeches, Crawfish and I won't even get into
the Shrimp and other baits I have used in salt water.
IMHO... Fishing "live bait" is just as much an "Art", and
takes just as much skill and knowledge to fish... AS ANY LURE! Ad to that, the
art of catching and keeping alive aspect, and live bait intales FAR more work
and dedication than lures do. How much "accomplishment" does it take
to toss out a Senko or tube and let it lay there until something picks it up?
True... Imparting lifelike action to a lure, or having a huge fish
"crash" a top water lure is most gratifying... AND I LOVE IT!
I have "gut hooked" just as many, if not MORE fish on tubes, spider
jigs, finesse worms and other small artificials as I have EVER done with live bait.
As John G suggests... Pay attention to what you are doing! But... I advocate
using only ONE rod at a time.
Bottom line... Do what you enjoy doing and pay no attention to the nay sayers.
EVERYONE is going to "gut hook" a fish now and then, regardless of
their fishing methods... It is part of fishing! If you are THAT concerned about
hurting a little fishie... Quit fishing and buy yourself an aquarium.
THE BIGGEST REASONS I don't fish much live bait these days are...
a. Not enought time to harvest it.
b. Not enought time to care for it.
c. Too old and decrepid to harvest it.
d. Too LAZY to harvest and care for it.
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Posted by bass 64 on 2002 PM:
To quote the Spanish Fly(the
salt water fly fisherman from espn)
" I just like to do whatever it takes to put the bend in the rod." He
said this on a show where he was using live bait. Now I do agree that using
lures is very satisfying because you are fooling the bass but when the bite is
slow, live bait can be a good jumpstart.To put it this way, a bent rod= fun!
Posted by FISHIN' GYPSY on 2002 PM:
I could never figure out how most
"lure pitchers" ever got the idea that... "If the fishing is
slow, all I have to do is put on some live bait, and I can catch LOTS of
fish!" If the fishing is slow, it is usually slow for everyone. Also... If
you are such a "Hot" plug pitcher, you should be able to figure out
how to catch the same fish you would on the live bait. 
Like I said... I have fished a LOT of live bait, and I have had my slow and
"nuttin'" days with live bait too. And once you have seen a 10 or 12
pound bass "blow-up" on a live shinner, you will be hooked on
"shiner fishin'" too!
The guy is question is Jose Wjebe, of Cuban heritage, and pronounced Wa-heb-be
in English. I have shared a boat with him on many occassions and he is one of
the nuttiest and most fun people you would ever want to fish with. He also
fishes a LOT of live, and dead natural bait (called "trash" that they
get from the shrimp boats) and does a LOT of fly casting too. 
ACTUALLY... When you get to be my age... ANY KIND of fishing is more fun
than...
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Posted by bass 64 on 2002 PM:
GYPSY
I WASN'T SAYING THAT LIVE BAIT IS A SURE THING AND I KNOW LIVE BAIT DAYS CAN BE VERY SLOW AS WELL BUT I THINK IF BASS DON'T TAKE A LIVE BAIT THERE US A GOOD CHANCE THEY WONT TAKE YOUR LURE AS WELL.
Posted by ADKBass on 2002 AM:
I happen to agree with
many of the comments on this interesting subject.
Personally, I get an increased amount of accomplishment from using artificials.
However, I am certainly not adverse to using live bait in certain cases. In
fact, sometimes I have gone out with the specific intention of using both
weapons.
One of my fishing partners is a serious live bait fisherman and it is a
skillful art, in MHO, to watch this guy work.
Have used live and "junk" bait for saltwater and found that, for me
at least, I have produced significantly more.
In regard to bass, I will overwhelmingly use lures. But, depending on who I am
fishing with, I may use live bait.
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Posted by Frank Pugliese on 2002 AM:
I used to fish Kensico Res
years ago and couldn't catch a cold out there with artificials. I hated it. I
don't have the patience to sit still that long. I'd rather keep active. I've
since fished other smaller lakes and ponds and done well with them. Now I'm
strictly using artificial.
For those that have a boat and fish minnows I have something that worked well
for me. Hook the little guy through the back. Hold him on top of the water. Half
in half out, just enough for him to cause a little ruckus on the surface. Then
let him drop. BANG!
If there's anything nearby they'll slam him.
Caught a few nice smallies like that.
Peace.
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