Other natural fishing baits include minnows, crayfish, helgramites, grasshoppers, and crickets. An angler toting a minnow pail is a common sight on opening day of the fishing season. When properly fished, minnows are an excellent bait, but are a nuisance to transport and keep alive. Aerated minnow buckets are the best bet if you plan to make an extended trip carrying minnows.
There are several ways of hooking a minnow. Some prefer to hook them just back of the dorsal fin. Unfortunately, if they are hooked to deeply, the backbone can be severed and the minnow will die. Others prefer to hook them through the lips. For stream fishing and drift fishing in lakes and ponds, hooking them behind the dorsal is best, while trollers prefer the lip method.
Helgramites, the ugly larvae of the Dobson fly, are another fish taker. Trout gorge themselves on this natural bait during the early months of the season. Hook the helgramite by grasping it behind the head (so you won't be pinched by its pincers) and slide the hook under its collar. Here, too, trout strike the helgramite similar to the salmon egg.....so be prepared. Strikes can be vicious.
Caddis worms are another fish taker. They are located on rocks and boulders astream, clinging to this shelter in a case composed of sand, gravel, and twigs, hence the name "stick caddis". Turn over a few rocks in the stream you intend to fish, (always upstream of where you intend to fish) and collect a few for your fishing exploits that day.
The crayfish resembling a small lobster is another great natural bait and is very hardy. Hook them in the tail and fish them just off the bottom. If allowed to touch bottom, they will more than likely crawl under the nearest cover or rocks and 'hangup' your line.
Widely utilized in recent years is cheese. Cheese baits became popular in California and its fish-taking qualities spread nationwide. Many catfishermen also use various cheese-based concoctions appropriately labeled as stinkbaits. Mold a portion of cheese into a small ball and impale it on the hook.
Grasshoppers and crickets are also an excellent bait later in the season. Hook both under the collar, or using a fine wire hook, run it lengthwise through the body. Fish them near the surface without the addition of any weight. Remember to keep your presentation as natural as possible and you'll notice an increase in your catch rates.
There are several ways of hooking a minnow. Some prefer to hook them just back of the dorsal fin. Unfortunately, if they are hooked to deeply, the backbone can be severed and the minnow will die. Others prefer to hook them through the lips. For stream fishing and drift fishing in lakes and ponds, hooking them behind the dorsal is best, while trollers prefer the lip method.
Helgramites, the ugly larvae of the Dobson fly, are another fish taker. Trout gorge themselves on this natural bait during the early months of the season. Hook the helgramite by grasping it behind the head (so you won't be pinched by its pincers) and slide the hook under its collar. Here, too, trout strike the helgramite similar to the salmon egg.....so be prepared. Strikes can be vicious.
Caddis worms are another fish taker. They are located on rocks and boulders astream, clinging to this shelter in a case composed of sand, gravel, and twigs, hence the name "stick caddis". Turn over a few rocks in the stream you intend to fish, (always upstream of where you intend to fish) and collect a few for your fishing exploits that day.
The crayfish resembling a small lobster is another great natural bait and is very hardy. Hook them in the tail and fish them just off the bottom. If allowed to touch bottom, they will more than likely crawl under the nearest cover or rocks and 'hangup' your line.
Widely utilized in recent years is cheese. Cheese baits became popular in California and its fish-taking qualities spread nationwide. Many catfishermen also use various cheese-based concoctions appropriately labeled as stinkbaits. Mold a portion of cheese into a small ball and impale it on the hook.
Grasshoppers and crickets are also an excellent bait later in the season. Hook both under the collar, or using a fine wire hook, run it lengthwise through the body. Fish them near the surface without the addition of any weight. Remember to keep your presentation as natural as possible and you'll notice an increase in your catch rates.