Guide To Live Bait vs Artificial

Do you need crankbait, live bait, or some other kind of bait? This is a question that may keep you up at night (or not, if you remembered to take your Ambien). Once you’ve searched for “bait and tackle near me” and found a good bait shop, you may be overwhelmed by all the options. Crankbaits come in an overwhelming amount of varieties, which may leave you shaking your head and just grabbing the first thing on the shelf.

Don’t make that mistake, though. I’ve put together a handy guide to how to choose the right type of bait. With a little thought, and maybe a quick search for “live bait near me,” you can choose the right lure and have the fishing excursion of your dreams. Or at least, have a pleasant time over a few crisp brewskis. Here’s how to pick the right bait for the job!

1Identify the Species You’re Targeting

Do you need some fancy swimbait? Or will a more basic crankbait do you just fine? It’s hard to know what to get until you decide what you’re planning to catch. If you know you want to snag a catfish, then you need the best catfish bait, right?

Some lures are real workhorses, and they’ll attract a variety of species. Others are a bit more specialized, and may require some special handling. Give some thought to your preferred catch, including how it likes to eat, where it feeds and how it acts at different times of the day.

Try to put yourself in the fish’s shoes – or fins, perhaps. A few time-tested options I’ve found include:

Plastic worms work great for largemouth bass in a variety of rigs. Bass also tend to go after skirted jigs year-round.
Flies are the go-to bait for fishing trout. These lures usually have a single hook with a skirt made of hair, feathers or other natural materials. Powerbait can be another successful bait for trout.
Spinnerbait works well for bass and any other species that like to hang out in the weeds, since they’re unlikely to get tangled up in debris or laydowns.

Once you’ve searched for “fishing bait near me,” you may be able to find a local shop that can give you the lay of the land (or water) for fish in your area. Keep in mind, though, that anglers are an opinionated bunch (myself included).

There are many tried-and-true baits for popular species, such as bass or trout, but your choices may be less clear for other types of fish. For example, if you’re looking for the best catfish bait, you’ll quickly notice every angler has a different recommendation (and every angler is sure his preference is the best).

2Rely on the Water Temperature and Condition

Before you get drawn into yet another live bait vs artificial bait argument, you may want to consider a few other factors that will influence your catch: the weather, the season and the type of water body in which you’re fishing. You know how you’re a bit sluggish on cold mornings? You just want to hit snooze and sleep in for a while under your nice, cozy covers? Fish are basically the same, but without the blankets. Or responsibilities.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that warmer waters mean faster-moving fish (and fast-moving baits). In warmer waters, you may want to try crankbait or spinnerbait. In colder water, consider something that’s a bit slower, like a Texas rig.

If you’re a newbie to the sport, take some time to brush up on our novice tips and tricks – we won’t judge!

3Choose the Right Lure Color

You’ve searched for “fishing bait near me.” You know what kind of bait you have in mind. The next question is, what color? Although you might really want that totally ‘80s neon bait, will your fish? Chances are, you’ll want swimbait or another type of lure that’s in a color that fits into the natural environment of your potential catch. If you’re not sure, go with a green or gray that blends into your fish’s habitat.

Tip:

If you’d like a little more guidance when it comes to crankbait colors, ask at your local bait shop which colors are recommended. You can also ask other anglers in your area what’s worked best for them.

4Consider Trying Live Bait

Live bait may not be as enjoyable to work with as artificial bait, but it may give you the best results. After all, with live bait, you’re catching fish with the stuff they actually like to eat. I’m sure they find worms much tastier than plastic.

When you think of this type of bait, you may think of worms. Although this may come as a shocker, live bait can also come in the forms of:

Minnows
Baitfish
Leeches
Insects

If you want to really get crazy, try catching your own insects. You might as well do something useful with those pesky things.

Once you know where you’re fishing, look for a bait shop that’s nearby. You want to keep your live bait as fresh as possible. Get it right before you hit the water, and store it in a cooler. Maybe not next to your beers, though.

Did You Know?

Other states may permit the use of natural baits, as long as you use approved species or obtain the bait from inside the state where you’re fishing. Depending on the species you’re after, power baits could be a good back-up plan if you can’t use live bait.

If you want to improve your angling skills, or learn about new methods of catching fish, download this guide on mastering fishing.

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