Bassin' USA - Bass Fishing Forum Archives

What do you consider to be the best natural bait for bass? shiners? Just something i was wondering if you can have an answer.

Cole, for natural bait I don't believe you can beat a crawfish. The crawfish is high in protein, fairly easy to catch, the bass doesn;t expend as much energy chasing them, and they crawl scoot around on or near the bottom where a lot of bass spend their time. Alos, most any fish will eat crawfish which ups your odds of getting bit. My vote is crawfish or as we call 'em, crawdads. Johnnie

TROUT!!!

Oh, that's not really considered bait... I forgot...

I have heard a lot of guys talk about bass needing a variety of food, so it's a tuff call. Bluegills & Sunfish have always been a big part of a bass' diet. So have shad, Alewife, crappie & reptiles...

I think their diet is determined by the size of the bass. Those big 10+ bass are looking for one big meal and don’t typically spend their day pecking away at large amounts of smaller baitfish/crawfish. They would burn too much energy to consume a small amount of food.

Trout!

I have to go with Jonnie on this one too. Crawfish! Why do you think the jig and pig catch so many bass? You quessed it crawfish.

Trout!!
I know that's what makes those California monsters so big, what I don't understand is why it doesn't work in Bull Shoals and Lake Taneycomo in Missouri which also have a lot of trout, then again, they have Northern strain bass. The bass here in the Mississippi river wouldn't know a trout if they saw one, they'd probably laugh at the pink colors. The staffers are right, big fish-big bait!!

Crawfish is one of the best choices. However, a nightcrawler, single hooked through the front, with a Circle Wide hook, and split shot can work great.

I was once told that nightcrawlers have a similar taste to crawfish. Not sure who did the taste test, but it wasn't me. If I can remember correctly, I think Dan Gapen is the person who told me.

In Bull Shoals this nightcrawler rig works well, as does hooking a minnow in the nose, which is called Ozark Shiner fishing.

Best of fishing,
Dan

Dan, the Ozark Shiner Fishing brings back fond memories of fishing with my Grandpa, That's all he'd use a minnow hooked through the nose and he ALWAYS caught fish. I like the worm rig too, but those pesky sunfish like them too. AW, the good old days when life was simple! Thanks, Dan. Johnnie