Sunday, November 11, 2007

Live Fishing Bait

Many of Americas anglers choose to use live fishing bait. Not only do they choose to use live fishing bait, but they choose to use one particular bait more than all the others. This variety of live bait is called the worm. There are different species of worms, but the point is that when it comes to live fishing bait many anglers automatically think of the worm. And rightly so, seeing as how fish of all kinds like to eat worms and therefore bite worms. As a matter of fact, you would be hard pressed to find a freshwater fish that doesn't eat live worms.

The interesting thing about using live worms as fishing bait is that most people use the same techniques that they did when they were children. For example, take the act of carrying your worms while fishing. Most anglers but a container of worms and then carry that container with them while fishing. This is fine, but not very efficient, and leads to worm containers being left all along our rivers and streams. Nowadays a bait bag can be employed to carry your live fishing bait (worms) while fishing. The angler simply removes the worms from their container and places them into the bait bag. Now the worms are literally at their fingertips and the need to carry containers is gone. A bait bag is a beautiful system for anyone that uses live fishing bait, especially worms. As a matter of fact a bait bag could easily be called a worm bag.

What about the act of actually fishing with worms? For many anglers this doesn't change as they gain experience either. Most people grab a worm and thread it onto a large hook or the hook a worm over and over again, thus creating what a like to call a worm ball. This is the technique that most anglers use for fishing a live worm. And because fish like worms, it works for catching small inexperienced fish. But to present a worm in a completely natural way, not only means more fish, but also means catching bigger more experienced fish as well. How does one go about presenting a live worm in a natural manner? By using a set of gang hooks. Gang Hooks are simply two small hooks tied in tandem, and are the only way to present a live worm, as well as other live bait. Because the hooks are smaller, they are less visible to the fish, and therefore result in more bites.

If you use live fishing bait (especially worms), a set of pre-tied gang hooks should be employed. Gone are the days of simply threading a worm onto a hook or creating a worm ball. Not only do worm containers not need to be left along the banks of our waterways anymore, the act of using large hooks and threading a worm onto them for bait isn't necessary either. One of the best quotes that I ever heard about fishing was this, "anyone who does not know how to catch a fish, should not be able to disgrace a fish by catching it." This quote goes for live fishing bait as much as it does about any fishing technique.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

This Is How To Carry Live Fishing Worms... - http://www.jrwfishing.com/Bait_pouch.asp

Fishing Live Bait

Who among us doesn't or hasn't fished with live bait? I would venture a guess that almost anyone reading this article learned how to fish with live bait. Well, didn't really learn how to fish live bait, but caught their first fish while using live bait. And not only live bait, but more than likely worms. Am I right? Live worms have long been seen as what people use to catch fish. What's perplexing about live worms and using live worms as bait, is that the techniques that anglers use hasn't changed much since the first hook was introduced to the marketplace. Most anglers buy a container of worms, some hooks and sinkers, maybe mix in a bobber, and go fishing. When they get to the water they intend to fish, they thread a worm onto the hook or create the popular "worm ball", cast it out and wait. This is how many anglers fish live bait, and especially worms.

This is all fine and dandy when were eight years old, but there are much more effective ways to fish with live bait, and especially worms. When we're using live bait, our goal is obviously to present an offering to the fish that they would normally eat anyway. The only difference is that when we fish we have a hook in the bait to attempt to catch a fish. The bottom line is that when we fish with live bait we want it to appear as natural as possible. This can be a difficult task with a live worm.

Sure, it's easy to just thread a worm onto a size 4 hook, but how natural does it look? Not very natural at all. When fishing with live bait, especially worms, a set of gang hooks should be employed. What's a set of gang hooks? A set of gang hooks is simply two small hooks tied in tandem. This enables the angler to present a worm in an outstretched and natural manner. A set of gang hooks eliminates the need to thread a worm onto a hook or simply hooking a worm over and over again, thus creating the 'worm ball'. With a set of gang hooks, the angler simply hooks the head of the worm with the top hook, and then hooks the second hook into the body of the worm. This presentation makes the live worm look completely natural.

With practice, the angler can then cast this worm into the moving current of a river and have it bounce along the bottom as the worm travels downstream. Obviously split shot sinkers are used to keep contact with the bottom on the drift. As you can imagine, this natural presentation is deadly for fishing in moving water, and it can't be accomplished without the help of a set of pre-tied gang hooks. Gang hooks are also effective for other types of live bait such as: minnows, leeches, hellgrammites, and they're even great for power bait. The bottom line is that fishing live bait is every bit the art form that flea flickers claim their technique to be, it's just that most anglers don't fish live bait properly.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Fishing With Live Bait

There are many anglers out there that fish with live bait, including myself. There are some tips and techniques that can help the average angler use live bait more effectively. I'm going to discuss those tips and techniques which will help you become a much more successful live bait angler. Fishing with live bait obviously includes bait that is living. The category of live bait includes, but is not limited to, minnows, crickets, grasshoppers, leeches, hellgrammites, maggots, grubs, and of course worms. Let's discuss some of the tips and techniques for fishing with live bait:

-Fishes Sense of Smell - Many people don't realize how sensitive a fishes sense of smell is. If you have engaged in an activity (such as smoking) that makes your hands smell, it will affect your catch. Use a hand sanitizer or at least grab a handful of grass and rubs it in your hands to remove any unnatural smells. This may sound strange, but it's true. I always grab handfuls of grass or dirt periodically during my fishing trips and rub my hands. This helps remove all of those unnatural smells.

-Natural Presentation - When fishing with live bait, natural presentation is a key. You want your bait to look as natural as possible in the water. A set of gang hooks is perfect for helping to present bait as naturally as possible. The bottom line is that if the live bait doesn't look like what the fish is used to eating, it will affect your catch; it's as simple as that.

-Carrying Live Bait - There are many ways to carry live bait and with baits such as minnows, leeches, and other water dwelling live bait a minnow bucket is your best bet. If you're out fishing for a long period of time you're going to need an aerator or you're going to have to change the water frequently. Remember the "live" part of the bait is the most important part. Dead bait usually isn't nearly as effective. For worms, maggots, and grubs I would suggest a bait bag for carrying your live bait. A bait Bag is much more effective than carrying those bulky Styrofoam containers around.

- Hook Size - While fishing with live bait, you want your hooks to be as small as possible. Remember, we want our bait to look natural. A great way to employ small hooks and still get effective hook sets is again a set of gang hooks. I personally use gang hooks tied with size 10 hooks. For those of you who don't know, size 10 hooks are quite small. The bottom line is that when fishing with live bait you want your hook or hooks to be as small as possible so they are less visible.

Start employing one or all of these tips and you will become a more effective live bait angler. Fishing with live bait is a fun and effective way to fish, and can be taken more seriously than a twelve year old at the Bluegill pond. Just threading a worm onto a hook isn't good enough if you really want to start catching fish.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

http://www.jrwfishing.com/bait_pouch.asp - This Is How To Carry Your Worms!

What Is Fishing Bait?

There is such an assortment of bait that it is difficult to recommend any particular color, size, or type as the best. There are more than a thousand good baits on the market. All will catch fish at some time or another.

Fishing baits usually weigh from ¼ to an ounce to three ounces. The most popular weight preferred by the majority of bait casters is the 5/8-ounce bait, while the average is between ½ and 3 quarters of an ounce. Baits can either be used as a whole or cut into chunks. Anglers can also use dead or live baits.

The Different Types of Bait

There is a wide array of organisms being used as fishing baits. Among the different types used in fishing, the commonly used are the small fishes. These consist of widely used fishing baits such as herring, anchovies, menhaden, and some others that are inborn to certain local waters. Larger fishes are usually used as chunk baits.

Fishing baits can be used whole, chunk, and strips, based on the activities of the type of fishes being chased. The size of the fishing bait is usually well matched with the size of the fish being hunted. Other common organisms used for bait fishing are crabs, worms, shrimps, crabs, clams, sand fleas, eels, and squid. Among all of the organisms mentioned, the crabs and the shrimps are the well-liked organisms to be used as fishing baits.

Shrimp are favorably used as fishing bait and are considered to be very valuable bait for a huge number of saltwater fish, especially those that are considered “inshore fish” like redfish, speckled trout, shook, and a lot more.

Whereas, various crab species, especially the fiddler crab, sand flea, and the blue crab, are perfect fishing baits for many varieties of “inshore fishes” and “bottom fish.” These crabs are usually clasped through their shell, usually on either the right or left of the head.

How to Acquire Fishing Bait?

Fishermen can acquire fishing bait either buying them in bait shops or simply by capturing it themselves.

The advantage of buying fishing bait is convenience, while catching live fishing bait is less expensive and can be more effective in luring fish. Digging for earthworms is another activity. Earthworms make an excellent bait.

Indeed, when it comes to bait fishing, using the proper fishing bait are important and imperative to the success of fishing. Hence, anglers should know the basics of choosing fishing baits in order to save time and money.

About the Author:

Travis Clemens is a life time fisherman and he knows the ins and outs of gettinem on the hook! You too can gettem on the hook with Travis as your guide! http://www.best-fishing-tips.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

More Live Bait Fishing Tips

Here are some more useful live bait fishing tips; some of which were rather important that I overlooked them a few days ago when I gave out my first round of live bait fishing tips.

When handling live fishing bait, make sure your hands are wet so as not to remove the bait's slime coat or scales and damaging them in any way that would make them less effective, or attractive to your prize.

Do not hook your bait through the eyes; besides the fact that it is not a strong enough portion to hold them, you want them to see its predator coming in that would excite them and get them swimming erratically; this normal evasive instinct also excited the predator causing it to be more aggressive.

Mix up your bait sizes so you also get bites from fish of varying sizes.

The best baits are fresh and frisky, the friskier the better... you want these guys looking alive and normal to attract bites.

Thanks for checking out my live bait fishing tips.

More for you when I return from my next expedition in live bait fishing.

Live Bait Fishing Tips

Welcome to live bait fishing tips.

Live bait may sound pretty obvious but if you need a description, it is simply a living organism used to catch fish.

Fishing using live bait is one of the most effective ways of catching fish and I personally use this method all the time. I have found using live bait for fishing to be better because of the characteristics that the live bait possesses which an object cannot mimic; like the physical likeness, it's actions and the odor.

The bigger the fish you are trying to catch, the bigger your fishing live bait should be; plus the type of bait to use also depends on where you are fishing. If you are fishing for freshwater fish, the smaller ones go for small bait like worms, and small critters like grasshoppers and crickets, while larger freshwater fish go for bigger live bait and I personally like to use crayfish. I have heard of others using frogs but I never tried it.

If you like to catch big fish in the ocean, live bait is best.

Live Bait Fishing Tips

Fresh bait does the job. However there are times when everyone seems to be out fishing and you can't find any bait to buy, you can get it the night before or a few days before you go fishing, and just keep them alive. Be sure to keep them in an environment with water temperature close to their natural habitat and keep the temperature constant, avoid exposing them to direct sunlight, aerate the tank with a small bubbler and not an air gushing turbulence causing contraption that tires out your fish.

For small bait like, three inches long, use a three ought or smaller; the bigger ones at 8 to 10 will do well with a 5/0 or 6/0.

Balloons and bobbers are best when small and camouflaged.

The thing about live bait fishing is, you cannot tell the bait what to do, so when it is in the water it will pretty much act like a fish and try to swim or fight; this could be confusing at times and you have to pay attention because sometimes when it struggles and tries to swim away it could be a sign that a bigger fish is moving in to strike. When that happens, when it does feel like a strike, let the line straighten then set hook. That allows enough time for the bait to be completely in the fish's mouth.

I hope you enjoyed this post, more to come later on live bait fishing!

Live Bait Fishing Blog

Welcome to my blog on live bait fishing!

This is a blog for one my favorite hobbies, which is obviously fishing; in fact I enjoyed fishing so much that there was a time I even went into the fishing business.

There are several methods of fishing and well, equally as numerous are the types of bait to use to lure in those elusive fish, and most of the time I used live bait.

I would like to share with fellow fishing hobbyists what I know about live bait fishing, and I hope the information I provide here about live bait fishing would be most useful, and hopefully help you be more successful in fishing.

Once again, thanks for stopping by live bait fishing!