More Or Equal

[Squirmin Wormin]

When it comes down to it , would you say that live baits or artificial baits have both the same edge , or does one have more than the other,if so which one?

[porkleaker]

Good question. I've done far better this summer with live bait rather than artificial. It's gotten to the point where I'm questioning if I even know what I'm doing with them. Yet, every time I throw out a minnow I seem to nail 'em. It's not you, it's me - says the bass.

[SirSnookalot]

Live bait almost always out performs artificial.  

[F14A-B]

Live Bait, easily Wins this Decision...

[roadwarrior]

Live bait almost always out performs artificial.  

 

That's just the way it is.

[Dwight Hottle]

No artificial replicates live bait like live bait does.

[K_Mac]

There are certainly times when live bait is superior, but I will take something artificial in heavy cover every time. Truth is I will take something artificial in almost every case. I enjoy the hunt and the deception involved with artificials and am ok with catching less or nothing at all if that is my choice.

[ABW]

Why do you think the pros can't use live bait in tournaments?

[Jar11591]

I definitely think live bait works better, but for me its so much more satisfying to catch a bass on a piece of plastic or metal rather than something alive. There is something about fooling a fish you can't even see into biting something that isn't real.

[frogflogger]

Last month I fished with two old friends who use live bait - one used night crawlers the other minnows. I threw a ned rig - my rig outfished them 10 to 1. I was covering more water and a wider depth range - that said there are days when the live bait guy is going to be much more successful.

[Catch and Grease]

Put a crawfish on a weightless hook and no bobber and toss him out there allowing him to crawl around, give it a few tugs every now and then to get him out from under junk...

Doing that almost replicates a crawfish as good as the rage craw....

[LunkerFisher]

I use artificial baits because I hate bluegill messing with my nightcrawlers, and I am horrible at caring for minnows.

[SirSnookalot]

Some fish are quite difficult to catch with artificial, for those species I do use live or cut bait.  The majority of what I fish for I won't use anything but a lure, I don't consider a bass, snook, tarpon and many others caught with bait as a legitimate catch, guess I'm a snob in that regard.  While talking live bait I don't think cut bait should be left without a comment.  IMO fish are easier to catch with cut bait than artificial too, must be the scent as there is no movement.  If smell is one of the contributing factors to a strike, then the use an aftermarket rub or spray on scent, would be as blasphemous as the use of live bait to me.

[lmbfisherman]

There are certainly times when live bait is superior, but I will take something artificial in heavy cover every time. Truth is I will take something artificial in almost every case. I enjoy the hunt and the deception involved with artificials and am ok with catching less or nothing at all if that is my choice.

Yes this.

 

Live bait will catch fish in numbers and different species more than artificial too.  For instance a worm appeals to all types and I don't want to just catch pan fish most of the time.  Why I like artificial more, less chance of that sunfish taking your jig and plastics, or that buzzbait. 

[Catch and Grease]

Some fish are quite difficult to catch with artificial, for those species I do use live or cut bait. The majority of what I fish for I won't use anything but a lure, I don't consider a bass, snook, tarpon and many others caught with bait as a legitimate catch, guess I'm a snob in that regard. While talking live bait I don't think cut bait should be left without a comment. IMO fish are easier to catch with cut bait than artificial too, must be the scent as there is no movement. If smell is one of the contributing factors to a strike, then the use an aftermarket rub or spray on scent, would be as blasphemous as the use of live bait to me.

Many, many bait company's have scents on the baits in the package, like the coffee scent on rage tail products.

Does that mean fish caught on rage tail's aren't legitimate? Are power bait lures not legitimate?

You mention "aftermarket" scents but what's the difference between a bait that comes with scent and a bait you put a scent on?

[Fishing Cop]

Why do you think the pros can't use live bait in tournaments?

 

That is why they are called "pros". 

[SirSnookalot]

Many, many bait company's have scents on the baits in the package, like the coffee scent on rage tail products.

Does that mean fish caught on rage tail's aren't legitimate? Are power bait lures not legitimate?

You mention "aftermarket" scents but what's the difference between a bait that comes with scent and a bait you put a scent on?

Not exactly what I said.  I've fished live bait for bass and snook, never tarpon, it's "bait and wait", not the same as repetitive casting IMO.  Would you compare the accomplishment of catching a 10# bass on store bought shiners (I'll give a slight nod for catching your own bait, not that it's tough either) to a person sight casting or better yet catching one on a fly?  Right, catching bass, snook, tarpon on bait is something I don't give much credence to.

 

The issue of using an aftermarket enhancement isn't in the realm of consideration for me, I'm not looking for an magic bullets.

[ABW]

That is why they are called "pros". 

 

No, its because live bait is too easy

[J Francho]

I have control issues, and live bait doesn't really play well with this personality defect, lol.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

I just think it is more satisfying to catch a fish on an artificial because you have actually outsmarted the fish as opposed to using live bait. The way I see it is when using an artificial, you have caught the fish, using live bait, the bait has caught the fish. Nothing against people using it, I'm sure it works great but I have never actually used it. Less rewarding and a pain in the butt to care for.

[iceintheveins]

Natural bait works best by far in tough conditions, like really cold weather, very heavily pressured fisheries, and lethargic bass. Sometimes it badly out fishes anything else. All that being said, there are plenty of times when a well presented artificial will outproduce live bait. The factors in that are more about the angler being more in control of the depth and speed of the presentation, as well as covering more water. But it's awfully hard to beat a live baitfish for bass when they've seen it all. A big, 10" - 12" shad or shiner will have every 4 pound plus bass in the lake salivating, and in some of those trophy fisheries (especially in florida) you're more likely to bust a double digit fish using a big live minnow. Those fish can still be taken on just about any lure though, it's all a matter of the conditions being right for what you are using. That fish would run or hide from a flashy spinnerbait when it's high and calm. Bring it over her head though suddenly when she's active and there's a 20 mph breeze and she has a good chance to nail it.

[J Francho]

I'll add that one of the reasons live bait isn't allowed in competition is that it levels the playing field, and it's an easy variable to control.