There are several myths about utilising live bait instead of artificial bait, which are untrue. Many anglers continue to use live bait. The one reality about live bait that no one can deny is that it is frequently dirty and stinky. If you can overcome these two major concerns, you’ll be ready to try live bait on your next fishing trip.
When utilising live bait, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind. None of the live bait principles is pleasant, but you must follow them. When your hands are dry, you should never handle live bait. If your hands are dry, you risk losing the slimy covering on the outside of the bait, which is both protective and appealing to predators.
If you’re low on live bait, consider saving the bait that dies in your live well or a nearby bucket. When your live bait runs out, you may still attract fish with the newly dead bait on your hook. All you have to do now is cast your line and bob it a bit to make it look like your decoy is still alive. When using live bait, be cautious about how much weight you put on the line. If the weight is hefty, fish will notice it and will weigh down the bait. The weight or sinker you choose should be light enough to make the bait appear to float freely in the water.
Seasonal fishing can alter one’s attitude toward live bait. Summer, for example, maybe harsh, particularly in the South. When the summer months arrive, you may need to modify your thoughts and habits. In the summer, keeping the bait alive will be the most difficult challenge for any angler. To keep your bait alive, you’ll need to change the water regularly so that oxygen can reach the bait. You can’t, however, stop at changing the water.
The temperature of water surface is high and lethal to live bait, the temperature of the water is critical. Having ice on hand to place in the live well is the most effective method to keep your live bait happy until they reach the hook. During the summer, there is often a bait scarcity, mainly for shrimp and live croaker. If you call the bait shop the night before to confirm that the bait you want is available, you will save a lot of time. In the summer, shrimp are the most popular bait, but they aren’t as successful as you might expect. Because everyone uses shrimp, the fish are less enthralled by them because they can see them everywhere. Use a baitfish that isn’t as popular during the summer months to increase your chances of capturing a fish.
Another thing to remember while fishing with live bait is that you should never hook your live bait in the eyes. The rationale for this is that if the bait sees the fish approaching, it will grow more agitated, causing the fish to grab on more quickly. Also, you should add water softener salt to the water in which your live bait is kept. Your bait’s scales will get more challenging due to the salt, yet the slimy covering that attracts predators will remain intact.
Finally, before attempting to capture bait, make sure you know how to toss a casting net correctly. People frequently throw the net too forcefully or too softly, resulting in irritation and an inconsistently open net.
When you’re aiming to have a big day at sea, live bait might come in useful. Reason and logic will tell you that a fish will choose natural food over fake food. However, because live bait adds to the workload, be sure you’re ready to cope with the whole package before committing to live bait fishing.