The Best Bait For Smallmouth Bass

When it comes to fishing for smallmouth bass there are many different types of bait available. As a matter of fact there are thousands of different baits that can be used to catch smallmouth bass. In this article I'm going to explore some of the most effective baits to use when fishing for these bronze colored beauties.
The 'best bait' is most certainly hard to determine, and is largely up to personal preference, but the baits listed in this article are among the best and most effective baits that can be used to catch smallmouth bass. The final decision as to the best bait for smallmouth bass is up to you, and the only way to find out for yourself which is your favorite is to get out on the water and put these baits into practice.
So, let's get down to business, shall we?

1. Crawdads - Live and synthetic crawdads are arguably the most effective bait for smallmouth bass. As an angler there are two choices: Use lures that mimic crawdads or use live crawdads. Live crawdads are an extremely effective smallmouth bait, but can be difficult to fish with. Crawdad imitations are not as effective as their live cousins, but work very well nonetheless. The bottom line is that these fish love "freshwater lobsters", and they are among the best baits for these bass.
2. Hellgrammites - If you've never seen a hellgrammite it looks like something out of an alien movie, but is an incredibly effective bass bait. The problem is that these little buggers are hard to find. Artificial versions are hard to find as well, unless of course you're a fly fisherman. The bottom line is that hellgrammites are an extremely bait for smallmouth bass.
3. Bait Fish - Bait fish such as minnows, shad, and sculpins are very effective baits for bronze backs. Just as with crawdads, bait fish can be used live or as artificial lures. Live are more effective, but more difficult to use. Artificial bait fish (lures) are much easier to use. When it comes to the best bait for smallmouth the KickTail minnow is as realistic a fishing lure as I've ever seen. Some others would include the Rapala, the Zara Spook, and the Wally Diver.
4. Worms - Worms are one of the most popular and effective baits for all fish and smallmouth bass are included in this list. Live worms, when rigged on a set of gang hooks, are amazingly effective as a smallmouth bait. Artificial and synthetic worms are also very effective. Berkley's "Gulp" and "Power" products are every bit as effective as live worms when fishing for smallmouth bass. These worms can be rigged on gang hooks just like live worms, and the natural presentation is hard for the bass to resist.

The best bait for smallmouth bass is among the four just mentioned. Now it's up to you to get out there and figure out the most effective for you. Any or all of the above baits will serve you well in you smallmouth bass endeavors.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler 

See my previous post:The Best Catfish Bait For Big Cats
 

The Best Catfish Bait For Big Cats

The next time you go catfish fishing be sure to take a casting net. It is how I get the best catfish bait for big cats. If you don't know how to throw one don't worry about. You can pick it up in an hour or two of practice. Once you have it down you won't forget it.

Why do you need a casting net to get the best catfish bait for big cats? Because you want fresh live bait. Just about any species will do but be sure to check your states regulations on live bait. My favorites are bluegill and shad but bluegill are illegal in some states. Both are abundant in just about any waterway. Also don't rule out bullhead catfish as Flatheads and Blues don't seem to have a problem eating their own species. In fact, Flatheads will often times prefer Bullhead over Shad.
Now that you have your live bait let's make sure that your rig is set up right. You should have a medium to heavy rod with at least 20# test line, I use 50# spider wire, with a 20# leader and numbers 2 - 6 circle hooks depending on how big a cat you are after. Slip a slip sinker on the line, and then tie on a good swivel, a 12-18 inch leader and your hook. Don't go cheap on the swivel. Cats like to roll when hooked and a big cat will tear a cheap brass swivel up. Fish your bait on the bottom with an open bail. Be sure to set the hook hard when the cat makes a run with your bait.

The big cats Flathead and Blue when mature prefer live bait. They will occasionally go after cut baits but if you want the best bait for big cats you will want live bait. Live bait can be hooked behind the dorsal fin below the spine, at the end of the tail, or up through the lower jaw and up through the nostrils. Don't be afraid to choose a bait fish 6-12 inches in length if you want that monster cat.

You may be thinking you won't catch many fish with bait that size and your right. But if you are looking for the big catfish I am assuming you don't care about the 1 and 2 pounders you can catch with chicken liver then live bait is the way to go. You can always use smaller baitfish or even cut bait if you run out of patience but your chances of landing a 20 plus pound cat are less. The best bait for big cats will always be live bait.

If you would like more tips for catching all types of catfish visit Catfish Fishing. For a catfish bait recipe book designed mainly to catch channel catfish visit Easy Catfish Bait Recipes
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Douglas_Burns

See my previous post:The Best Bait For Trout Fishing

The Best Bait For Trout Fishing

In this article I'm going to discuss some of the most effective baits to use while fishing for trout in order to determine the best bait for trout fishing. Is this possible? Is it possible that there's a "best" bait for trout fishing? I'm not entirely sure, but after fishing for these wonderful fish for more than 25 years I can honestly say that some are certainly better than others, and one in particular is certainly my favorite.
Before I get into the trout baits themselves, it's important to know the type of trout that you're attempting to catch. Not the species of fish, but the kind of trout. There are two basic kinds. Stocked (or planted) and native. Stocked trout are placed into the river or lake by the governments' fish & game department. Native trout on the other hand were born and live in the water in which they reside. Actually stocked trout can become native after living in said body of water for an extended period of time (2 or more years).

Why do I mention stocked and native? Simply because both manners of trout tend to eat different kinds of bait, and as an angler you should be aware of this fact. Stocked trout eat baits such as corn, marshmallows, dough baits, and cheese. Native trout, on the other hand, tend to shy away from such baits, and tend to eat "live" baits such as worms, minnows, and crayfish. Basically, native trout are much more savvy (and more challenging) to catch than stocked trout.
One of the most popular (and effective) baits for trout fishing are synthetic baits that are shaped into live bait shapes. These baits are shaped like worms, minnows and crayfish (to name a few) and are impregnated with fish catching scents. The most popular manufacturers of these trout baits is Berkley, and are named Powerbait and Gulp. These baits, rigged on a set of gang hooks can be extremely effective.
Another popular bait is small spinners and spoons, such as Rooster Tails and Phoebe Minnows. Both native and stocked trout will bite these lures. These baits are effective in both the flowing water of rivers and streams and still the water of lakes. The important thing to remember in regards to these types of lures is to keep them small. 1/8 to 1/3 ounce will usually suffice.
The last bait that I want to touch on for trout fishing is the old standby live bait. This may indeed be the best bait for trout fishing. Live crayfish, for example, are probably the best bait for large trout. I live crayfish that's allowed to flow naturally with the current of a small trout river is a great large trout bait. Live worms are extremely effective for trout fishing as well. As a matter of fact a live worm rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current of a small river or stream is a great "all around" trout bait, and could very well be the best.
Does this article give you an answer to the best bait for trout fishing? Not one single answer, but it certainly gives you the best options that are available. Now you can go out, give these baits a try, and determine for yourself which is the best.
In my experience live worms are hard to beat when trout fishing (especially in rivers and streams), but for you it may be different? The cool thing about fishing is that there's only one way to find out. Get out on the water and figure out your best bait for trout fishing.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler 

See my previous post:The Best Bait For Bass Fishing
 

The Best Bait For Bass Fishing

The best bait for bass fishing is a good question. Especially around this time of the year. Oh yes! It's that time of the year again, the birds are chirping, the weather is warm, and the bass are jumping. I love the spring!
Spring is the time of the year when bass are spawning, making it much easier to find them. They can be found in the shallow areas of a lake or pond. Any structure in the shallow parts is also a plus. For example around docks and fallen trees.
Now that the hardest part of catching big bass is taken care of, finding the location of them that is. But another tricky part, which is where most 90% of Anglers fail to do correctly is catch them. They can see them, but they just can't catch them.
So how exactly do you catch bass? With bait of course...but which baits to use is another question.
The Best Baits for Bass Fishing are:-Live Bait - Because lets face it, they can't fool bass
1) Worms - Without a question, worms are the most popular bait to use, when fishing for bass. There is a reason for it too, Bass LOVE them and they sure are hard to resist when you are a bass in the water. Great to use because they are easily stored and use them anywhere.
2) Minnows - Another popular live bait for bass fishing. Bass love them too, but they take more effort to keep. Unlike worms, minnows must be contained in a container with and air tank. If you have a boat, then minnows are excellent choice of bait, but if you fin yourself on foot, they are not the best option.
- Artificial Lures - Bass are not that smart, but presentation is key!
1) Plastic worms - Absolutely love to use them, using them with a drop shot technique is very effective. Many choices in colors and types.
2) Spinner Baits - A great lure and a very adjustable one at that for bass fishing. Easily changeable blades and skirts. Make the perfect spinner bait for the water your fishing. They are a great trolling bait, which is an excellent way to cover the most area of water for bass.
3) Crank BaitsAction looks good to a hungry bass. Another plus is that there are a variety of different lip sizes. The lip size is what causes the crank to go deep or shallow. The large the lip, the deeper the crank bait goes. The speed is another factor that determines life like presentation and depth.

Knowing the best baits for bass fishing and the locations of the bass are extremely important to know when trying to catch bass, especially big bass. I struggled for a long time because I only knew the basics of bass fishing. Until I read CatchBassGuide.com. I learned the techniques and secrets of the pros, and just like it says, my friends DO call me the "Bass master". Yea a little cliche, but I think it's cool.
Read more of my story to catch big bass .
Good Luck catchin' that hog!
Ryan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Hubert 

See my previous post:The Best Trout Bait?
 

The Best Trout Bait?

What is the best trout bait? There are so many possibilities that it's difficult to pin down one as the best. There's corn, cheese, and marshmallows but those seem weird to me. To me they simply don't seem like something that fish, especially the trout I love so much, should eat. In reality they don't, stocked trout do. To me stocked trout are kind of like those goldfish in the pet store. I simply don't like the fact that stocked trout are raised in an aquarium, and then released so that we can "catch" them. But I suppose the point is that they do eat those 3 baits. The other point is that no matter what I think about stocked trout, when the rivers are too high to fish, I go to my local lake and catch them. So I suppose when it comes to stocked trout, I'm a bit of a hypocrite.
After these three baits, we have the synthetic baits. These are the trout bait that come in little jars. I'm sure you know what I'm referring to? The most popular type is probably Berkley Powerbait. For these stocked trout that I was just railing against, these baits work great! Powerbait, still fished on a set of gang hooks, is a deadly combination for catching trout in a lake that has been stocked. For stocked trout, which most trout in lakes, synthetic trout baits are hard to beat. My friends and I have joked that they must feed the trout this stuff in the hatcheries, because they freakin' love it!There are also the live baits. Trout baits such as mealworms, maggots, crickets, grasshoppers, and of course the grand daddy of them all, the worm. A live worm is probably the best trout bait that God ever created. I've personally caught more trout using a live worm rigged on a set of gang hooks than I care to remember. The combination is truly deadly. Especially when drifted down the current of a flowing river. In my mind a live worm rigged on a set of pre-tied gang hooks and then bounced off the bottom of a flowing river or stream is, hands down, the best trout bait.
All of the trout baits mentioned in this article are effective. They all have their time and place, but if you put a gun to my head and made me choose just one trout bait it would be the good old American worm!

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
Get Fishing Tips & Techniques Twice A Month For FREE - http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler 

See my previoust post:Small Stream Fly Fishing Tips