Fishing With Live Bait And A Bobber For Lazy Fisherman?

[Texas bassman]

I think so. How bout yall?

[TrapperJ]

I used to fish minnows but now, I prefer artificial over live. Just something about thinking u out smarted that fish.

[MarkH024]

No. Just a different method. Different strokes for different folks.

[Crestliner2008]

Same thing with trout fishermen. Some catch them on spinners & spoons. Some on live garden hackle and shiners. Some on flies. Whatever your cup of tea happens to be is just fine.

[Teal]

If im with young kids or just want to "beer" fish, ill do it!!

[Jrob78]

It has absolutely nothing to do with being lazy, in most cases.  That's like saying all lure fisherman are arrogant, not all of us are.

[Silas]

I wouldn't say "lazy."  Sometimes, it's pretty smart. 

 

Right now, the crappie, bream, and some bass are being caught by fishermen in boats, trolling along the banks, with a spinning outfit, or a spincast, a slip bobber set to about 1 foot, and a shiner, worm, or crappie jig.  Throwing to the sides of stumps and laydowns, popping the bobber a couple of times, and moving it a few feet.  Works well!

 

   It is the preferred method of catching fish here for about the next month.

[flyfisher]

Just another tool in the tool box. I will throw out a jumbo in the winter while I work other presentations just to up my chances.

And believe it or not, using live bait is an art all to itself and is by no means automatic success.

[wnybassman]

The only lazy thing about it is if you drop anchor and fish one spot all day whether the fish are biting or not, and there is nothing wrong with that if that fulfills what you are looking to get out of the trip.  But you can also be a proactive bobber fisherman and find the right areas and patterns like any other type of fishing.

[CoBass]

I don't consider it to be lazy at all. If you have a decent breeze going, managing 2 or 3 slip bobber rigs with live shiners on them can take just as much effort as chuckin lures. Add 2 or 3 more from a second angler and between the wind and the shiners swimming around you will spend a lot of time keeping your lines from getting tangled up together. Especially if the fish are concentrated in a fairly small area. 

[jignfule]

My personal opinion : PATHETIC

[Darren.]

If you're out to enjoy life or whatever, rock n roll!

Heck, Fish Chris uses live bait and catches lunkers.

I'll use it from time to time. No worries.

[Texas bassman]

I only used live bait when I was a kid. I'm in northern Illinois still have pretty cold water. I was fishing with my kvd 1.5 and kvd slash bait. Some old man caught 2 small 1lbers on minnows. I'm not jealous it was a good day of practice. Lol.

[Hyrule Bass]

its not lazy at all, it can require just as much patience as fishing artificials. and it doesnt always guarantee fish either, ive got skunked on live bait. theres times i had bought 2-3 dozen minnows and barely used any, same with nightcrawlers, chicken livers and shrimps.

 

i just wonder why some people take on an elitist attitude over live bait vs artificial. i love using both personally.

[BigBassBarry]

I used to fish minnows but now, I prefer artificial over live. Just something about thinking u out smarted that fish.

I agree.  Anyone can catch a fish by using what they naturally eat.  But if you can use artificial and trick the fish it is more of a sport.  Not faulting those who do use live bait, its just not as challenging in my opinion.  

[5fishlimit]

If im with young kids or just want to "beer" fish, ill do it!!

x2

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Funny how live bait is frowned upon by bass fisherman yet used pretty regularly in the walleye world. I don't throw live bait fishing for bass, but I will use a crawler harness for walleye. I also use night crawlers when teaching kids to fish. There's nothing wrong with it in my opinion. As for serious sport fishing, I don't think live bait is appropriate. But for sustenance fishing or just having fun on the water, it's not a bad option for some folks.

[38 Super Fan]

I don't like to live bait much, but sometimes it's the best way to catch them, sometimes in Winter, it can be virtually the only way.  

[Missourifishin]

Nothin wrong with it.

[Scorcher214]

To be honest, some days I rather just sit and watch a bobber.

[HeavyDluxe]

If fishing live bait is lazy, then so is fishing any tactic with artificials that closely mimic things happening in nature. So, put away your Alabama Rigs, craws, top-water hollowbody frogs, and swimbaits.  Fish only neon, wild-colored senkos with no salt/scent and embrace the challenge.

[SirSnookalot]

Time and and a place for everything and the species dictates the course of action for me.  Under no circumstances will I fish any kind of live or cut bait for freshwater or inshore fishing, it just does not appeal to me. I don't care to take the time to use a sabiki or throw a cast net.  On the very rare times when I have used bait, the success rate is night and day.  When  I'm fishing offshore I will always try and catch some live bait, or use bonita strips (I gotta catch the bonita first), I won't buy bait except squid or frozen sardines, live goggle eyes are 10 bucks apiece.

[Texas bassman]

Yea I agree. I catch more on artificial lures most time of the yr. Lakes were still covered in ice one week ago.

[Dyerbassman]

In some of the lakes that I fish, there are some monster bluegill along with the bass. Sometimes I will drop shot a nightcrawler with a bobber over the side of the boat that I'm not working for bass and let it sit out there. There have been a bunch of times that I glance over, see the bobber down, and pull in a nice one, bluegill and bass. It just adds a bit to the day.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Why does it matter how someone catches their fish?

 

If they pay their license fees and obey the rules, then why is it any concern of yours?