Is live bait skillless?

[Stan_The_Bass]

In my opinion there is less skill in using live bait. There is a reason that its not allowed in tournaments and many records arent authorized the use of live baits. HOWEVER, who cares, If thats what you like to do and you enjoy doing it then get after it. Bass gishing for 99% of people is about getting disconnected from the crazy world right now and if thats how you do it, screw everyone else. If I was you id think of a few witty one liner comebacks when people poke fun at you and continue living your best life!

[BluegillsTightlines]

On 7/16/2024 at 1:44 PM, ol'crickety said:

Skill is using both live bait and artificial lures. Let me explain: I used to fish for white bass on the Mississippi. I'd drift with two rods and minnows. Both rods would go down, I'd set the hooks, and then I'd immediately cast a jig and set that hook. Where's the skill? Well, it isn't easy to land three bass on three rods and especially when they're zig-zagging white bass. 

Whew man, 3 fish on 3 rods is quite a conundrum, but that would be an awesome conundrum

On 7/16/2024 at 11:15 AM, Susky River Rat said:

This is a yes/ no answer. Do I think there is skill to live bait fishing? Yes, I know some catfish guys who kill it and some who don’t. Do I think it everyone who does it is skilled? 100% not.

 

you can also argue this with lures.

 

it comes down to know where, when, and why. 

Yup. My current where is bass in the shallows chasing bait fish in the grass. When has typically been all the way from oost spawn until the grass starts dying and the bass move out and then I adjust and go artificial. And my why is right now it's working, and working extremely well, and sometimes if the water is clear enough, I actually get a visual as the bass wharfs the bream and it's so fun to watch em do that, or watch em absolutely torpedo it if they see it from their ambush point in the grass and feeling that hard knock. Ranks right up there with top water blowups to me. I kinda feel bad for the bream though lol.

[Swamp Girl]

On 7/18/2024 at 12:01 AM, BluegillsTightlines said:

Whew man, 3 fish on 3 rods is quite a conundrum, but that would be an awesome conundrum

 

It was a blast. You have to separate the rods and use you legs to keep two of the rods from going aboard while you play the third fish. My partner only fished two rods and he often had two on while I had three on. Such fun!

[gim]

Not everyone is able to cast, physically.  My Grandfather used to be an avid muskie angler and he would toss those giant lures on an 8 foot rod for hours with me sometimes.

 

As he grew older, his body just couldn't do it anymore.  He slowly transitioned to 100% walleye fishing.  No casting required, and almost always used live bait.  That allowed him to fish almost right up until he died of cancer in 2012.

 

My Father is now the same age my Grandfather was when he died.  Luckily, my old man can still cast pretty well.  For now.  No one can defy Father Time.

[Bazoo]

I need more details, if you don't mind sharing some secrets. I want to try it. Might be an interesting change of pace.

 

First... what size of bluegill/bream do you think is a good size. So... If I catch one that is say 5" long, would that be too large? what size of bass will take that? I'd guess the smaller the bait the better.

 

Most likely it'll be green sunfish for me, where I am thinking to try it. I suppose that'll work? I would think bass would eat any bream and not just bluegill.

 

Okay... so you hook it aft of the dorsal fin? below the spine I reckon? What size and type of hook would I use, just a large octopus hook?

 

No weight or bobber? Just cast it... I guess the bluegill picks the depth he wants, and you just pull him in as needed to keep him somewhat in place if he's not eaten quickly.

 

Do they ever survive for a second fish?

 

If they are half dead... how do they do?

[throttleplate]

On 7/17/2024 at 5:56 AM, Stan_The_Bass said:

In my opinion there is less skill in using live bait. There is a reason that its not allowed in tournaments and many records arent authorized the use of live baits.

Not knocking you Stan, it is funny that live bait isnt allowed but Live scope and FFS is allowed.

[Stan_The_Bass]

8 hours ago, throttleplate said:

Not knocking you Stan, it is funny that live bait isnt allowed but Live scope and FFS is allowed.

Those two things have nothing to with each other but good one I guess?

[Swamp Girl]

On 7/19/2024 at 12:47 PM, gimruis said:

My Father is now the same age my Grandfather was when he died.  Luckily, my old man can still cast pretty well.  For now.  No one can defy Father Time.

 

Tiiiii-iii-me ain't on our side.

No, it ain't. 

[IcatchDinks]

On 7/14/2024 at 10:58 PM, BluegillsTightlines said:

I catch 90% of my bass on live bluegill about 4 inches or so long. I've had some people tell me that since the fish is doing all the movement, that's not much skill to it. But at the same time I have seen people use livebream but not catch anything because they didn't know where to look. I pitch live bream in open pockets between weed beds and that's been highly effective for me this year. Someone said I need to change to artificial lures to be a true bass fisherman. But why should I abandon something I know they are biting, especially when I know precisely where to pitch em in at? I mean probably when the pattern changes and the fish become a little more finicky and less aggressive, I'll switch to artificial, but since live bream is bringing great results right now, I feel like it would be foolish to abandon something that's been basically a slam dunk in my lake just to satiate the opinion of someone else.

 

I've tried the bluegill thing and I fail everytime. I throw lures BECAUSE they're easy, and if I find a better, faster, more surefire way of catching bass, I'm switching to that method. Keep at em and when you're confronted by haters, just show em all the good bass you catch. Sounds like a sour grapes situation to me. Keep doing your thing, and enjoy it. 

[TnRiver46]

On 7/19/2024 at 10:58 PM, Bazoo said:

I need more details, if you don't mind sharing some secrets. I want to try it. Might be an interesting change of pace.

 

First... what size of bluegill/bream do you think is a good size. So... If I catch one that is say 5" long, would that be too large? what size of bass will take that? I'd guess the smaller the bait the better.

 

Most likely it'll be green sunfish for me, where I am thinking to try it. I suppose that'll work? I would think bass would eat any bream and not just bluegill.

 

Okay... so you hook it aft of the dorsal fin? below the spine I reckon? What size and type of hook would I use, just a large octopus hook?

 

No weight or bobber? Just cast it... I guess the bluegill picks the depth he wants, and you just pull him in as needed to keep him somewhat in place if he's not eaten quickly.

 

Do they ever survive for a second fish?

 

If they are half dead... how do they do?

They work dead and even cut in half. I was jigging a dead bluegill for gar the other day and a 2 lb bass appeared from nowhere and engulfed it. Also saw my buddy catch an 8 lb bass with a bluegill cut in half before 

 

you are on the right track with all your assumptions, big hook in the back is a good way to keep them lively for longer. Green sunfish are excellent bait