The most effective types of bait to use when fishing in fresh water

November 3, 2015

Freshwater fish each have their own preferences when it comes to fishing bait. The general rule is to use something alive and moving, because this appeals to nearly all fish. Here are some of the best types of bait to use when fishing in freshwater.

The most effective types of bait to use when fishing in fresh water

Worms

  • Live worms, earthworms, grubs and other worms are usually a great type of bait to use.
  • Most fish will be interested in them because they are easy to see and will be moving in the water, which attracts most fish.
  • If you can't get your hands on the real thing, many larger game fish will go after plastic worms, too.

Small fish

  • A lot of larger fish tend to feed on the smaller fish in the pond.
  • Minnows, shad, and small crappie and carp are usually good choice for attracting big game fish like bass.

Insects

  • Bugs are a great bait for freshwater fish, too. If you can manage to hook them onto your line, flies, grasshoppers, butterflies, and other small bugs tend to attract fish.
  • Live bugs are the best, but even the soft plastic ones are good if you cast the line well and create movement underwater.

Artificial lures

  1. There are hundreds of types of artificial lures and it can be hard to tell which ones work well and which don't.
  2. Usually, however, you can count on spinner baits and crankbaits to be effective with most fish because they appear to be moving underwater.

Stink baits

  • If you're fishing for catfish, stink baits are a good choice to use.
  • They are usually made from aged chicken livers or other smelly food items and can be rolled into a dough ball in order to be pressed onto a big hook.
  • The smell of the food attracts the catfish and some other fish to it even though it's not moving.

Bread

  • Bread is actually a great bait for catfish and carp as well. Sometimes getting bread on a hook can be difficult so you might want to try a thicker, more dense bread.
  • However, even if the bread doesn't stay on the hook, many fishermen use it in the water as a way to draw fish to the area and then use other baits on their hooks to actually catch the fish.
The material on this website is provided for entertainment, informational and educational purposes only and should never act as a substitute to the advice of an applicable professional. Use of this website is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Close menu