Live Bait
EssentialBeginnerFresh & salt
Worms, minnows, and other natural bait fished on a hook, presented as-is or under a float. No technique required to look convincing — the bait does the work, which is why it remains the most reliable starting point for beginners.
Profile
- Depth: 5/10
- Speed: 1/10
- Murky Water: 8/10
- Snag Resist.: 2/10
- Castability: 3/10
- Noise: 1/10
Conditions
RetrieveStill / Drift
DepthMid-Water
WaterMurky
CoverOpen Water
Works well for
Recommended Knots
Technique tips
- Hook it to keep it lively as long as possible — through the lip or tail, not through the body.
- Let fish take line before setting the hook — a premature hookset pulls bait away from a still-biting fish.
- Keep bait fresh and cool — sluggish bait catches far less than lively bait.
Find out what really works for you
Log each catch with the lure that got it, rate lures and see which ones pay off on your waters.