Bassin' USA - Bass Fishing Forum Archives

Gentleman,
I would like as many opinions on this subject matter as possible, Do you like live bait fishing on your lakes? ie Hybrid, stripes, bass.

Thank You.........
Rodney Birditt Aka: Fishhead

No.

Not I

I haven't used live bait since I was a little kid. So I guess my answer would also be No.

Fishhead,
I am strongly against live bait fishing for bass. I believe there's a big difference in catching a fish on an artificial bait and simply feeding a fish what it normally eats.
In some cases, I will bend a little. If a person is aged, physically or mentally impaired, then I feel using live bait to catch the king of all game fish is okay. Otherwise NO!!! I once fished a bass tournament in Missouri where anglers could use live bait, artificials or both. Of course I opted for strictly artificials and ended up in second place, first place went to a minnow dunker, but I still felt as if I won. Third and fourth also went to live baiters. Thanx for the Q?? Johnnie Crain

Gentleman,
as you can tell by my icon I'm pleased with your comments. I feel live bait is destroying our sport of bass fishing and the population of young bass due to restocking of hybrid, and stripe. I feel it's time for bass fisherman to stand up and say enough is enough!!!!!!! If they want to restock lakes restock with young bass. not hybrid or stripes. HELP SAVE THE BASS!!!!


Thanks,
Rodney Birditt Aka (Fishhead)

Time for me to chime in as well...live bait is great for kids too, to keep their interest it works wonders, I have gotten a lot more patient with age, I can stare at a line for at least 35 or 40 seconds now (LOL). The fishing we do takes aptidude and dedication, not a minnow and a bobber! I agree with you Johnnie, you are the winner in my book too!

I am against live bait fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass from a sportsmans standpoint. The only exception being someone who is fishing to feed their family. Survival superseeds sportsmanship here. I personally have not livebait fished in years for any species.

Fishhead- Excellent question! As a graduate of Catch & Release, I also join you and Cancatchbass, Brendan, Jeremiah, Johnnie, 6.54BASS and MMT in answering a firm NO.

Frankly, it doesn't bother me if a new angler uses live bait. However, I am offended when a learned bass angler uses bait in the same waters as guys who always practice catch and release. We save the bass and those guys deep hook them and injure many of them seriously. They will tell you that "they swam away". Yeah, right!

Thanks to you all for standing up for what you believe in. Want to fish bait? Fish for Crappie. JoeMo

Well since my partner chimed in on this subject so will I. Live bait is good when you were younger and especially for hybrid's, stripers, and even crappie; caught alot of those in my younger days back home in Arkansas. But for me the REAL sport is finessing those big ones with artificial lures i.e worms, jigs, crankbaits, spinners etc. Leavethe live bait for the younger ones till you teach them otherwise! Good Fishing to All....MPJ