Selecting the right lure can often be a challenge for many anglers, and most will overlook a simple solution: using live bait. Why should you be using live bait? There are plenty of great advantages to using live bait, so let’s take a look at a few of them!
Overuse of Artificial Lures
First and foremost, many anglers have developed an unhealthy relationship with artificial lures. They rely too heavily on them and do not ever use live bait. By using it yourself, you can try and catch wary fish that are used to seeing artificial lures. Once they become accustomed to them, they can be much harder to catch and a simple piece of live bait can look natural enough to convince them to bite when anything else might not. By throwing out some live bait, you know the fish will eat it as it is their primary food source and you only need to get lucky and find one hungry enough to strike!
Live Bait is Cheap (or free)
One of the biggest advantages of using live bait is how inexpensive it is. You can generally buy it, whether it is minnows, crawfish, or earthworms, from the store for extremely cheap. You can’t say the same for artificial lures. Not only is live bait easy and cheap to buy, sometimes you can even get it for free by going out and catching it yourself! You can use something as simple as a shovel, net, or trap to get your own source of bait that you can use without spending anything.
Fewer Choices and Easier Decisions
Using live bait means you will have fewer lure choices. Fishing with lures can have you sitting around all day simply deciding which lure you should use, as well as how long it takes to swap out lures when one is not working. Many anglers will fall into the trap of constantly swapping out their lures, desperate to find the perfect one that the fish will love. This can kill valuable fishing time throughout the day. With live bait, you know the fish will eventually eat it when they find it and it is only a matter of time until you hook one. With fewer decisions, you can enjoy more time fishing and less time deciding!
Final Thoughts
Using live bait has many advantages, yet it is often overlooked by many anglers due to the rise and popularity of artificial baits and lures. But by using live bait, you will find you can catch much more fish and enjoy your fishing trips even more!
Interested in checking out more information about fishing bait? Look no further than our articles on:
Why Bigger Baits Trigger the Biggest Bass
Top 5 Most Attractive Trout Baits
How to Build Your Own Worm Bait Farm
For more great ideas on how to fish and hunt from the experts, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Hunting & Fishing Blog for more great tips & tricks.
