| Nightcrawler (lumbricus terrestris) Nightcrawler is one of the common names given to this large worm. They belong to a group of worms called annelida, or segmented worms. Annelida includes earthworms, leeches, and a few others. Used by fishermen primarily because of its large size. Nightcrawlers are easily raised in worm farms and are sold in many bait and tackle shops. These worms can also be found in your backyard usually. Turn over a log, rock, or dig into rich soil and you just may find some. Fish for: bass, catfish, Sunfish, Crappie, others. Baiting: Cut into small pieces, about 1cm, and slip onto a hook much like an arm going into a sleeve. This is good for small pan fish. For larger fish, use whole worms by passing the hook first through its body, near the head, then passing at regular increments all the way down the worm's body. Leave small wriggly ends unhooked to attract fish. |
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| Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) Minnow is a general term used to describe a class of small shoaling fish that are commonly used by fishermen. The golden shiner, while not the only minnow available, is one that you are likely to find in a bait or tackle store. This fish is valued by freshwater fishermen for its silvery reflective scales. When placed onto a hook alive, in daylight, its movements cause flashes of reflected light that can bee seen by prey fish. Fish for: bass, Pike, Muskellunge, Channel catfish, Crappie (small minnows) Baiting: Live bait hooks can be threaded through the fish, paralell to it's spine. Alternatively, pass the hook once through its mid-section, side to side. |
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| Cricket (Gryllidae) Crickets are a small insect with strong back legs for jumping. These can be caught They are great bait to use for small pan fish - bluegill, crappie, and sunfish. Crickets can be purchased at your local bait and tackle shop, or they can be caught in most backyards. One method is to lay bread pieces or oats out, then cover with a sheet of newsprint, and leave overnight. Attacted by the bait, crickets will often stay under the paper and can be captured by removing the paper and picking them up. Fish for: Sunfish, mall bass, trout, Crappie Baiting: Hook through the body, just behind the head. |
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| Chicken liver Chicken liver is as the name says, the liver of a chicken. Typically sold for human consumption in grocery stores and come in small containers, frozen or fresh. Fish for: Catfish Baiting: Cut into small strips or use whole livers. Placing the hook through a grissley area of the liver can help keep it on the hook when casting. |
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| Dough ball There are many doughball ""recipes"" out there. Some are as simple as squashing a piece of bread loaf into a ball, and some are more complicated, requiring baking, etc. Also, prepared doughball baits are available from many manufacturers and can be found at your local bait shotp. The general idea is make a cornmeal or flour based dough mixture, with or without addititional ingredients (typically scents or flavored attactants), and turn pieces of it into balls that can be placed onto a hook. A small handful of oats dipped into water, then squeezed forcefully, will make a compact ball that can be put onto a hook. Fish for: Carp, catfish Baiting: Once you have your doughball prepared, push the hook directly through it's middle. After the ball is hooked, you may want to carefully press the ball around the hook to seat it more firmly. This will help keep the ball on the hook when casting. |
