What is the best live bait for large mouth bass?

[Fishthunder]

I have never used live bait for bass fishing. When I was younger I heard that goldfish was the best but it was not legal. I was at one of the lakes I go to and I asked someone and that person talked about goldfish. One day someone brought some shad. My cousin mentioned shiners one time and I have seen people use bluegill as bait on YouTube. What is the best live bait for large mouth bass?

[Pat Brown]

I think it really depends but it's gonna be hard to beat a live crawdad if you're after a big one.

 

Live bait from the water you're fishing would also be hard to beat if you have a cast net or know how to catch panfish.

[gim]

Probably a big shiner.  I don't know where you're located but different states have different rules on what live bait can be used.

 

I personally don't care for it.  Trying to keep it alive, stopping and buying it at a bait shop, etc.  I'd much rather just use artificial lures.  But that's just me.

[WRB]

Welcome to BR.

Live bait is a controversial topic among bass anglers who tend to be lure anglers and catch & release.

Where are you located regionally makes a difference on what live bait is legal and effective. My advice is Utube can be a misleading source of bass fishing information.

What type of tackle do you plane to use? Finish your member info, it helps to answer questions.

Tom

[DaubsNU1]

Back in the mid 1990's, a bunch of buddies and I made the trip to Lake Fork in Texas. One of our friends was from there, invited us down.

 

We pounded the water relentlessly for two days and caught nothing. Were are our wits end...and just wanted to catch some fish.

 

Talked to some locals and they recommended getting some BIG shiners, rigging up slip bobbers, and fishing the flooded timber. We did, and had a BLAST! One guy boated an eight pound largemouth. Bunch of bass in the 3-4 pound range. My previous boat didn't have a live-well...but new boat does. I may get some live-bait and give it a try.

 

My brother can't stand and fish for long periods of time, so he likes to run bottom-bouncers with worms or minnows for walleye. He will catch bass, pike and panfish as well.

 

Watch the local rules and regulations. There are a few lakes around here that prohibit live-bait.

[Kirtley Howe]

As others said, be sure to check local regulations, but assuming it is legal, the best baits in my opinion are:

1) Hellgrammites

2) Minnows

3) Leaches

4) Worms (nightcrawlers)

5) Crayfish (crawfish) 

[casts_by_fly]

A 4-6” shiner if you’re talking largemouth. Smallies in a creek?  Crayfish (soft shell if you can get them) or small minnows. 

[JediAmoeba]

Depends what that natural forage is - but for the biggest bass:

 

1. Bluegill/Perch 6"+

2. Large Golden Shiner 8"+

3. Large Sucker 8"+

4. Goby 6"+

5. Hellgramites(especially if smallie hunting)

6. Large Night Crawlers 

 

 

Although, last week I was fishing an 8" glide bait and a 12-15" Pickerel was following it. A huge bass, I would estimate it was at least 8#, came up and ate the Pickerel coming straight up from underneath and eating it sideways. Really cool to see but why couldn't she hit my 8" bone glide???

[crypt]

in Florida, shiners. that's it. 

[detroit1]

Wrong color.     j/k     🕺🐻🐖   

[Mobasser]

Get a large nightcrawler, and inflate it with a small shot of air. 1/0 hook, and split shot 12"- 15" on the line.  Hook the crawler once or twice and let it dangle on the hook.                                                  Cast near any cover and fish it with a slow stitching retrieve.

You can get a worm blower online or at any good tackle shop.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Depends what that natural forage is - but for the biggest bass:

 

1. Bluegill/Perch 6"+

2. Large Golden Shiner 8"+

3. Large Sucker 8"+

4. Goby 6"+

5. Hellgramites(especially if smallie hunting)

6. Large Night Crawlers 

 

 

Although, last week I was fishing an 8" glide bait and a 12-15" Pickerel was following it. A huge bass, I would estimate it was at least 8#, came up and ate the Pickerel coming straight up from underneath and eating it sideways. Really cool to see but why couldn't she hit my 8" bone glide???

not big enough…

[king fisher]

I have never fished, them, but I know a guy that catches big bass with live waterdogs.  

[hunterPRO1]

golden shiner

[WRB]

The reason I ask the OP questions is to determine where he is located and type of tackle.

Each State has their own regulations regarding the use of live bait. Californians currently very strict, you can’t transport live bait from lake to lake and only use live baitfish netted using a hoop net. The only live bait I know of that can be purchased today is Canadian night crawlers. Bluegill or any other sunfish are considered game fish and illegal to use. Crawdads can not be transported, Tiger salamanders (water dogs) are illegal. Some lakes have different regulations, it’s a complex issue.

1st choice would be Canadian night crawlers fly line(no weight) nose or tail hooked are allowed everywhere.

2nd would be live 3” Crawdads fly line, nose or tail hooked.

Tom 

[TnRiver46]

Shad, stone-rollers, bluegill, alewives, but one of the most magical baits I’ve used is a 4-5” rainbow trout. Eat your heart out cali, it’s legal here 

[Fishthunder]

13 hours ago, gimruis said:

Probably a big shiner.  I don't know where you're located but different states have different rules on what live bait can be used.

 

I personally don't care for it.  Trying to keep it alive, stopping and buying it at a bait shop, etc.  I'd much rather just use artificial lures.  But that's just me.

 

12 hours ago, WRB said:

Welcome to BR.

Live bait is a controversial topic among bass anglers who tend to be lure anglers and catch & release.

Where are you located regionally makes a difference on what live bait is legal and effective. My advice is Utube can be a misleading source of bass fishing information.

What type of tackle do you plane to use? Finish your member info, it helps to answer questions.

Tom

 

I live in Georgia. Near Dublin.

[Captain Phil]

The best largemouth bass live bait in the South are live native shiners.  These are not the little silver farm raised shiners, they are locally caught golden shiners.  They are expensive and often hard to find.   You can catch your own with tiny hooks and white bread balls. If you want to fish for only large bass, go with 8"-10" shiners.  I don't fish live bait myself.  It injures too many fish. 

[Pat Brown]

Main reason I don't live bait fish is I find it's easier to just use artificial lures to catch  largemouth bass and more fun!  I respect folks who are sportsmanlike about live bait fishing.  It's an art form of it's own but I enjoy the hunt/strategy/figuring out the patterns on my lakes and catching giant bass that way personally.  To each their own!  My son live bait fishes with worms and small shad and sunfish  and crappie he catches on light line because he's 11 and sometimes his patience is low with lures and mostly catches snapping turtles....occasionally a big catfish!  Never once hooked a bass. I'm not too worried about the big bass.  They're smart girls round here 😉🎣

[AlabamaSpothunter]

7 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Shad, stone-rollers, bluegill, alewives, but one of the most magical baits I’ve used is a 4-5” rainbow trout. Eat your heart out cali, it’s legal here 

Trout Chunker, Trout Chunker, Trout Chunker 🤣

 

When I learned how many of those epic SoCal giants from the 90s were caught by Trout Chunkers on The Big Bass Podcast really disappointed me.  

[TnRiver46]

I felt like I was having an awesome time catching big bass with trout 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I felt like I was having an awesome time catching big bass with trout 

I have no problem with livebaiters, but like Pat I find I'm too lazy for livebait, and enjoy all the various techniques.  

People blowing up earthworms, or catching shiners on bread balls is way more work than throwing a Zoom Ol Monster or a Shiner colored Swimbait 😁

 

 

[Bazoo]

I don't particularly enjoy using live bait. If I'm with someone that is, I'll try it, but it ain't my thing.

 

When I was a teenager, I went with someone that used minnows. We caught several crappie and several bass. It was "fun", not as much fun as using a spinnerbait though.

[WRB]

14 hours ago, Fishthunder said:

 

 

I live in Georgia. Near Dublin.

Using live baitfish like Golden Shiners require skills in keeping this fish alive and healthy. If you choose this option be prepared to spend the time, effort and equipment to fish these baits effectively. Suggest using Owner #5114 circle hooks when using live baitfish to nearly eliminating gut hooking.

Tom

[gim]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Using live baitfish like Golden Shiners require skills in keeping this fish alive and healthy.

You can say that again.  I used to use goldies years ago for walleye fishing and half of them would be dead by the time I got to the lake.  And the rest would turn belly up if you looked at them wrong.  Sensitive, expensive bait.