What’s your best home made fishing bait and what fish does it work best with?

[Chewbacca]

I’m taking up river and lake fishing this summer and have heard many many different types of advice on bait and knots and well, everything. Including home made bait ‘secrets’.

One I’m looking to try is shrimp skin/shells and bacon fat soaked in bread.

Although it could be a waste of bacon fat I’m giving it a go.

What do you advise?

[Cheap_Shot]

I have been fishing my whole life. It really depends on what type of fish you're going after. Some fish will eat nearly anything, while others can be a little finnicky. Also, if the river you are going to has a strong current, you're going to want something that fits very snugly on your hook.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Cheap_Shot

I have been fishing my whole life. It really depends on what type of fish you're going after. Some fish will eat nearly anything, while others can be a little finnicky. Also, if the river you are going to has a strong current, you're going to want something that fits very snugly on your hook.

Thank you for this. Was also advised on more weight than you think as the current will take it.

[HHIslander]

Chicken gizzards for catfish.
Wonderbread for bluegills and bream.

That's pretty much all I know. Most of the folks I know who fish with bait really like to use Berkely Power Bait, not really homemade.

Happy fishing.

[GB-man]

A5 lightly seared.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Cheap_Shot

I have been fishing my whole life. It really depends on what type of fish you're going after. Some fish will eat nearly anything, while others can be a little finnicky. Also, if the river you are going to has a strong current, you're going to want something that fits very snugly on your hook.

You should going with him to supervise this

[Gold cups]

Start tying flies!

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You should going with him to supervise this

I know how to stand in a lake, throw the stick out in the water and reel it in with the dental floss, Sir.

[Blansky]

Oh Dear.

This is not going to end well.

Some yahoo is going to mistake him for a Sasquatch and he's gonna end up displayed on the hood of some old pickup truck.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Oh Dear.

This is not going to end well.

Some yahoo is going to mistake him for a Sasquatch and he's gonna end up displayed on the hood of some old pickup truck.

Oh Jeebus I didn’t think of this enough. I’ll have to ask my loyal wife why she wanted me to wear fake antlers and deer urine scented Creed.

[AzPaul]

Can't believe you're stooping to using bait.
Might as well just dynamite the lake.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

Can't believe you're stooping to using bait.
Might as well just dynamite the lake.

The thing any fisherman knows is bait can keep you drinking on the lake all day and with dynamite you're done fishing and drinking in a few minutes.

[Ferdelious]

I've heard corn paste works for river trout. Bluegills love hot dogs.

[Jackie Daytona]

No idea. I’ve been attempting to get into fishing for years and haven’t caught a fish yet. I’m thinking this may not be for me. Lol

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

I know how to stand in a lake, throw the stick out in the water and reel it in with the dental floss, Sir.

Be careful my furry friend. You never know what lurks in the lake.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Oh Dear.

This is not going to end well.

Some yahoo is going to mistake him for a Sasquatch and he's gonna end up displayed on the hood of some old pickup truck.

No worries Chewie. We will avenge you.

[Gab27]

I've made a ton of different catfish baits using various foods (or often baits left over from crabbing) and learned from my Uncle that adding anise oil usually helps make it a big hit.

[Andad]

https://blog.feedspot.com/fishing_forums/

[BNA/LION]

Sasquatch Dung is the Best Bait EVER!

[swils8610]

Big fat night crawler for Bass!


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[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by Andad

https://blog.feedspot.com/fishing_forums/

I’m not allowed there again. My first post was ‘hello, is it safe to wear a Rolex fishing?’ and I got banned. They’re a serious salty bunch.

http://www.blog.feedspot.com/fishing...ome/banned.com

[Mendota]

My grandmother and her sisters grew up fly fishing in Idaho. They fished for rainbow trout and they cleaned house using Styrofoam packing peanuts. No joke - packing peanuts! There would be execs and other big whigs coming out there from all over, using state of the art gear and hand tied flies, and these three ladies would out fish them every time they went out. Her sisters fished from the time they were little kids into their 80s and 90s. As they got up there in age they stopped using waders and instead of going into the water they just fished off the side of a walking bridge over their favorite stream. Even then and using more basic rods and reels they still out fished many of the guys coming in from out of town. They knew those streams better than anyone and it shows that skill and knowledge mean more than just fancy equipment.

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[330ci]

Sometimes ill cut up panfish and add in dog food, put it in a Tupperware out in the sun for a few days. The skin keeps it adhered do the hook well, and it releases so much scent that it starts a catfish frenzy. We've pulled our boat up to a sand bar at night, filled an empty can of beans with it, capped off the top and had a blast just looking at all the fish swimming around our boat underneath the the dismal light of a few lanterns.

Otherwise, worms. Believe it or not, most state records are caught off them.

I'd use live blue gills hooked through the mouth and put under a bobber as well.. More of a drink some beers and watch the bobber sort of thing. After a minute or so the fish will stop tweaking out and just chill wherever you cast them, and you just have to wait until they start tweaking out again as that generally means a predator is nearby. I've caught plenty of pike, bass and musky using this technique.

Minnows are great for Crappie and Perch

Bottom bouncers and artificial jigs for walleye

Bread pressed onto a hook for panfish

Corn for Carp

I used to use hot dogs but it attracted too many turtles as well.

Pretty much see what you have lying around the house and try it out. Fish are pretty dumb, seems like they'll try just about anything
All freshwater in for me in Michigan.

If I were a man of your means though, I'd just pay some people to go fishing for me.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by 330ci

If I were a man of your means though, I'd just pay some people to go fishing for me.

Indeed. I too am confused. What happened to standards Chewie?

[77T]

If you think of it, you really don’t want fishing advice.

What you need is catching advice. Homemade sounds like fun, but to catch them you may want to go with pro-made.

On a decent river flow day, try a lighter than you think Roostertail and trout could be for dinner.





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[DonRickles]

I've never tried but have heard that skin tags work great!

[Chester01]

Man, my grandfather used whatever was around the house, marshmallows, snacks, bread, all kinds of stuff and caught fish. I stick with the traditional stuff, but have not had much luck with the spinning or fly rod this year. That said, I have a good time if I catch fish or not.

[Cheap_Shot]

As a few here have mentioned, worms will go a very long way towards catching nearly anything in a lake. Bluegill, bass, catfish, etc. I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're anywhere from New York all the way down to Texas, worms might be the way to go. Pretty affordable and easy to find at a Wal-Mart or any bait shop.

If you're the somewhat rare bird that prefers to target crappie, minnows will rarely let you down. More expensive than worms, but still plenty affordable. Just know crappie usually live in very specific habitats that change throughout the year depending on spawn and feeding cycles. They can be a tough first fish to target.

Since you asked specifically about baits from home, bluegill/panfish love frozen corn. Just let it thaw and stick it on a hook. A small bag costs $1 and is enough bait for an entire summer! I have caught thousands (not exaggerating) of bluegills using frozen corn. Great for beginners.

Hotdogs or stinky cheese can be good for catfish, just remember the smellier the better. The worst things I've ever smelled in my life are commerical catish baits. I know others swear by bread, but I've never had a lot of luck getting it to stay on my hook.

If you're going for something finnicky like trout, homemade will be tough. Not impossible, just tough. For your own sanity, I wouldn't make trout fishing your first foray as an angler. Start with the bluegill in a lake. Easy and fun to catch! Of course, now that I've said that, you'll clean out the river on your first trip and wonder what all the fuss is about.