Fishing is one of the oldest activities known to man, dating back about 40,000 years. In simple terms, it is the process of catching fish, and it started as a means of food provision.
However, it has been developed for different purposes and now also features commercial fishing and sports. Fishing is often practiced as wildlife in natural environments like rivers and lakes, but it can also be carried out in artificial water bodies like canals, reservoirs, ponds, etc.
Many fishing methods have been introduced over the years, and the equipment for this activity has also been upgraded many times. But one fishing method that has stood the test of time is angling, a fishing skill involving fish hooks or angles attached at the end of a line. The hooks are baited to attract fishes and are designed to capture fishes by hooking their mouths as they take the bait.
There’s no denying that this fishing technique has also undergone significant changes over time, and the instrument has been upgraded to simply the process. One thing that has remained constant, however, is the use of baits.
Of course, alternatives like lures have been introduced, but baits have remained a significant part of angling. They are often bought at bait shops which are more common today. But do you know that you can make your bait from scratch?
Yes, homemade baits are natural and have existed for a long time. And Contrary to a widespread notion, these baits are often as effective as the ones sold at bait shops. All you need is a lesson or two, and you, too, can make fishing baits in easy steps. This article will enlighten you on the best freshwater baits and how to make the perfect fish baits.
Traditional Fishing Baits
As earlier discussed, fishing bait is any substance placed on the end of a hook to attract fish. Anglers often use it to describe live baits rather than artificial lures.
Here are some of the most used baits by anglers.
- Worms: Worms are arguably the most used bait for fishing in the United States and can be found in bait shops across the country. Red worms and night crawlers are typical worm baits that often yield outstanding results.
- Leeches: They are another favorite meal that fishes are fond of, and they are often unable to resist leech bait. However, leeches are most effective for deep water fishing, compared to worms that are efficient in shallow water.
- Minnows: Live minnows are not very popular for everyday fishing because they are challenging to use, especially for novices. But experts and sports fishers often prefer this bait because it attracts bigger fishes hiding in natural locations. Shads and flatheads are typical minnows used for bass fishing.
- Insects: Insects are among the least favorite bait types because most do not pass as live bait. However, crickets, grasshoppers, and many other insects have been known to make excellent baits. They are also readily available in pet stores and bait shops across the country.
How to Make a Fishing Bait
Indeed, live baits are always readily available in bait stores. But what do you do when you can’t locate one, or your local bait shop runs out of bait?
You may need to improvise, except you are ready to pass on your favorite activity. As mentioned earlier, you can make effective fishing baits from the comfort of your kitchen. Many anglers have used DIY baits in the past and are still very much in use today.
Here are some of the best alternatives for live baits.
- Dough Bait
A dough bait can often come in handy when you run out of natural bait. It is especially effective for catching catfish and carp but also fairs well when hunting other freshwater fishes. The best thing about this homemade fish bait is that you can get all the required ingredients in you6 kitchen.
Requirements
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 cup of cornmeal
- 1 cup of water
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 cup of molasses
Steps
- Mix your flour and cornmeal in a bowl with sugar and garlic powder.
- Add water to the mixture and stir thoroughly until it is smooth
- Make small pea-sized balls from the dough
- Mix your molasses and ¼ cup of water in a saucepan and steam it.
- Add your dough balls into the boiling molasses and cook for five more minutes.
- Remove the dough balls, allow them to dry up, and your dough bait is ready for use.
- Food Items
Another straightforward and efficient alternative to live bait is the food items in your kitchen. You may not know this, but many food items in your kitchen can work magic when attached to a hook with a knot. This is because fishes feed on a wide range of human food, so they often get attracted to most.
Looking for an emergency fishing bait? You can try attaching bits of corn, cheese, bread, chicken, fish, raw bacon, or even hot dogs to your fish hook and prepare for a catch. However, these food items may only be effective for catching fish in shallow water.
Fishing With Artificial Lures
Fishing with live bait can be hectic, sometimes, because you have less control over the bait. Hence, the introduction of fishing lures. Fishing lures are artificial baits shaped like fish prey to attract predatory fishes.
They are designed to have similar movements to traditional live baits to further increase their appeal to the fish. The best artificial lures offer anglers more control to do what they want and tweak the lure’s movement however they want.
However, unlike live baits, artificial lures demand that the angler has sufficient knowledge on how to control their baits underwater. But mastering this technique can give the upper hand when fishing with natural baits and artificial lures.
Conclusion
Baits, as much as other fishing accessories, are a significant part of fishing, especially for anglers. You can imagine how futile your attempts will be if you went angling without any baits attached to your hook.
However, anglers are lucky because fishing baits are not too difficult to find. It also pays to know you can come up with your unique homemade fish bait, and this article has explained how to make the perfect fishing bait.
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