Bait options in freshwater are many
Compiled by: Herb Allen

"Chances are that most of today's adult fishermen began their angling lives as youngsters using some type of live bait," mused Ed Moyer, Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Freshwater Fisheries Division.
"They learned early on that fish are captivated by live things wiggling, crawling or burrowing in the water, and that few things a fish can wrap its lips around will be overlooked.

"After all," Moyer continued, "these 'things' are part of an everyday diet for fish we target."

While precise figures are unavailable showing a ratio between live bait and artificial users, it's interesting to note that most wooden, plastic, rubber and metal lures currently being marketed closely simulate the natural food of fish.

Some time ago, FWC biologists came up with a roster of Florida's most popular live baits that included what to catch, were to find them, and how to collect or gather them. This list is as cogent now as it was then.

EARTH WORMS

Found in organic, damp soil often under logs, leaf litter, mulch and flat rocks, worms can also be farmed in a flower bed or box-like structure. Best for panfish and catfish, but will catch just about everything with fins and gills.

CRICKETS

Look under pieces of plywood or other lumber stored outdoors. To make your own cricket "farm," place a sheet of cardboard on the ground, weigh it down to prevent it from blowing away, and the crickets will congregate beneath it after several days. Great bait for panfish, especially bluegills.

GRASS SHRIMP

Found mostly in aquatic vegetation, particularly hydrilla. They're easy to catch by scooping through the vegetation with a sturdy, fine mesh dip net. Although small, grass shrimp are considered one of the best all-around baits and will get excellent marks when fishing for panfish, crappie, largemouth bass, sunshine bass and catfish.

GRASSHOPPERS

Chances are you'll find grasshoppers in your own yard, in shrubbery, or in an open field. They're easy to catch with a small mesh dip net or butterfly net. An excellent bait for panfish, catfish and bass.

INSECT LARVAE

Turn over rocks and logs, or break apart rotten wood, and it's likely you'll find a variety of larvae, as well as other insects. Larvae can be used to catch panfish and catfish.

WEB WORMS

Named because of the web spun by sometimes hundreds of these moth larvae, web worms live in mulberry, hickory, catalpa and other trees and can be collected by hand. Best for panfish.

CATALPA WORMS

They're found on leaves and branches of trees. The 3- to 4-inch black and yellow larvae can be collected by hand and, by collecting the egg masses or the catalpa worms and placing them on trees at or near your home, you can farm your own and have a ready source of free bait. Panfish and bass can't resist this offering.

DRAGONFLY LARVAE

This six-legged insect measuring about an inch in length can be found in the water under rocks, on pilings and on stems of emergent vegetation. Collect dragonfly larvae in the same manner as you would grass shrimp. Panfish can't resist this natural treat.

CLAMS AND MUSSELS

Considered by everyone to be a prime shellcracker bait, freshwater clams and mussels are found on sandy lake bottoms. They can be retrieved by hand or, in deeper waters, with a long-handled net. Small specimens can be crushed and put on a hook shell and all, while larger ones require prying open to get at the muscle.

TADPOLES

Found in shallow waters or puddles, a tadpole can be easily caught with a small dip net. They make a good bait for panfish, particularly warmouth.

LEOPARD FROGS

Wherever there is fresh water, leopard frogs are found. Though observed throughout the day, they're difficult to catch. Best bet is using a light at night and scooping them up with a fine mesh, long-handled net. A few folks dangle a very small trout fly on a light line in front of the frog at night and catch them as you would a fish. Experts say a 1- to 2-inch leopard frog is better than larger ones for use as a bass bait.

LEECHES

Although common in fresh water, leeches are more at home in swampy environments and can be caught by sinking a piece of liver to the bottom and coming back the next day with a dip net. Small ones are good for panfish, while larger ones are best for bass.

LESSER SIRENS

Often called mud pupplies or water dogs, two-legged lesser sirens are found in most lakes, streams and ditches, but are difficult to collect. Experts advise building a 3-foot-square wooden frame out of 1- by 4-inch material and stretching a 1/8-inch hardware cloth over the frame. You then run this sieve under floating hyacinth and lift it into a boat or carry it to shore. As the hyacinths are picked up sirens will fall off. Bass anglers swear bass love this bait so much they won't let go, even when the hook has not penetrated.

AMPHIUMA

Amphiumas, similar to lesser sirens, have four legs instead of two and are usually larger. These too are hard to find and catch. Try looking under rocks, logs or any other hiding place. Though harmless, larger ones are known to bite and may scratch the skin. Good for largemouth, and considered one of the best live baits around for sunshine bass.

CRAWFISH

Excellent baits for largemouth and sunshine bass, the crawfish can be found in ditches and flooded fields where there is temporary water, and in lakes, ponds, streams and rivers throughout Florida. The easiest way to collect them is by baiting a minnow or crawfish trap, but they can also be caught with a dip net by turning over rocks or other submerged objects.

MINNOWS

Found in all freshwater systems, minnows always make good bait. The general category of "minnow" could include a variety of fishes including sailfin mollies, pot-guts, killifish and several species of shiners. Easy to catch, minnows may be taken by several methods including hand-held cast nets with a mesh size not greater than 1-inch stretched and traps no longer than 20 inches in length, 12 inches in diameter and with a funnel entrance not more than1-inch in spread. Fingerlings of gamefish species (bass, bream, pickerel, catfish, etc.) cannot be taken by these methods.

GOLDEN SHINERS

Probably the favored live bait for trophy bass anglers, golden shiners are found in most lakes, ponds and rivers, and can be taken with a cast net, seine or trap. The most effective method is to bait a clear sandy area, near vegetation, with oatmeal or dog food pellets anchored to the bottom in a mesh laundry bag. Return the following day with a cast net and reap the rewards. Another method is to chum shiners with oatmeal and catch them with a cane pole using small gold hooks.

THREADFIN SHAD

Found mostly in eutrophic lakes, you must have a high volume, flow-through bait well to keep them alive. Look for rippled water or diving seagulls and move your boat into position to throw a small mesh cast net. Or, locate a school, anchor your boat and chum with pelletized fish food that has been crumbled and soaked in water. Throw your cast net when shad show up near the boat. Excellent baits for sunshine bass while alive, or catfish after they die.

TILAPIA

A hand-held bait cast net is the most productive way to collect this exotic fish that is found in most Florida lakes, particularly in the central and southern portions of the state. Bass love 'em, as do snook in brackish waters. Do not move them between water bodies, as they are exotics and their movement is restricted by law.