I know it's against the "rules" but I am dying to try some live bream and crawfish (where legal) for bass.
Anyone ever do it?
Anyone ever do it?
Live bait for bass
- Thread starter RUGER
- Start date
gecko7
Well-Known Member
I've had great success with both live bream and crayfish for bass. It is amazing just how large of a bream a largemouth will hit. Smallmouth love crayfish. Sometimes it is just fun to "break the rules."
Stykbow
Well-Known Member
It's been years, but a friend and I used to love spring bass fishing with live spring lizards. Man we had a blast!
If you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough!
If you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough!
campers down at the lake wear em out at night on big minnows. they eat them.
It may be against the "bassholes" rules but it ain't against fishermens rules. At least not in my book. I drift yellowtail shad below Wheeler dam in Alabama every spring and fall. Catch lots of great largemouth and smallmouth.
chimneyman
Well-Known Member
Used to use salamanders (spring lizards) all bass love em and it's about as much fun catching them as it is to catch a fish
catman529
Well-Known Member
I used to catch pond bass with live bream, it's awesome watching them chase down your bluegill and then your line takes off. I also will occasionally fish with live stonerollers for smallmouth in creek, that's even better, but you run the risk of throat hooking a lot of fish. Got to be careful with that. But a stoneroller will catch some of the biggest smallmouth in the creek.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
On this end of the state a bluegill may catch a big bass or rockfish when fishing humps off shore, you will catch bigger bass if you can find the humps with scanners, everybody think bass are on the banks, some maybe but a lot hang out in the middle of the lake,floating a shiner along about 20' deep over the humps can be more fun than flogging the bank.
Cottontop
Well-Known Member
Small mouth LOVE big night crawlers!!!!
cowhunter71
Well-Known Member
BIG live baits will catch more BIG fish than any other baits, period. 
That goes for ANY species of fish
That goes for ANY species of fish
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
RUGER":1134tatz said:
From what I see in the guide, any legal fish can be used for bait and up to days limit. Meaning if a 15" bass is legal to keep and the limit is 5, you could catch 5 and use them for bait.
Bluegill, no limit, but it is not legal to net bluegill, still have to them with rod and reel even when using for bait.
Headhunter":zgtv7xkw said:
I think he means for bass tournaments, he was just applying that to recreational fishing kinda tongue and cheek.
larry ipock
Well-Known Member
When you get right down to it, can't beat live bait for any species. When we could get them, used to use creek minnows for smallmouth during the coldest part of winter on Norris. I find myself wanting to go back to live bait, as I'm getting to old and lazy for the all day chunk and wind. LOL
I won't hesitate to use minners for crappie or crickets for bream, but have no desire to catch a bass on live bait. Even though I rarely fish tournaments anymore, I love to see a new technique on YouTube or TV, learn to do it, and go catch fish on it. Live bait for bass is for women and children. Or maybe I'm a "basshole". [emoji16]
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Spurhunter":3j2dslth said:
I am not casting stones and in NO WAY would I consider you a "basshole." I am just honestly fascinated by the psychology.
Crappie are just as well caught on artificial lures as they are minnows, in some situations it's even better with artificial lures. The same can actually be true of bluegill.
So why do you feel OK fishing minnows for crappie, but not live bait for bass?
I'm NOT saying it is wrong to feel that way. It is absolutely fine. I would simply like to hear more about why you feel that way?
I have one friend who wouldn't be caught dead fishing "minners" for crappie and he routinely chastises me (in fun) for trolling. Some anglers won't fish for any species with anything other than a flyrod. Some people can't fathom rifle hunting for deer and will never go to the woods with anything but a bow. Some think it is taboo to shoot squirrels with shotguns and say a .22 is the only sporting way to squirrel hunt. The various "morals" and preferences of different outdoors-persons has always fascinated me. I don't believe any of them are right or wrong, provided it's legal. More power to anyone who wants to pursue their own preferred methodology for hunting or hunting. I just like to hear their innermost thoughts and rational of the reasons why.
Would you enlighten me on your please.
Lol......could be[emoji3]. Hope not.Spurhunter":2f5q211y said:
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
rsimms":3lcpry22 said:
As far as crappie go I much prefer artificial since live bait is a PITA. I despise dealing with minnows and will use jigs over minnows if I think there is a good chance I can catch as many or almost as many.
I don't know why using live bait for bass has absolutely never been an option for me. I think it's a combination of things. Growing up fishing with my Dad we never used live bait for bass. Then when I got grown and started fishing tournaments I was always pre-fishing or trying to learn something that would help me in a tournament at some point. Even though I rarely fish a tournament anymore I still crave knowledge and enjoy learning something like a new technique or new application for an old technique. Even though I've never tried it, I feel like using live bait for bass isn't going to be a learning experience. Just throw it out and let the bait do the work. Another factor is what I do with the fish I think. Black bass are almost always released and are a sport fish where bream and crappie are a meat fish that gets filleted.
All that probably makes no logical sense whatsoever but that's just how I feel. I have no problem with somebody else using live bait for bass.
catman529
Well-Known Member
bass are some of the dumbest and easiest fish to catch... [emoji1] they're in the same family as crappie and bream and they're everywhereSpurhunter":cvjrey9l said:
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
