Here’s the scenario; It is fish-thirty in the morning and you are about to take your child(ren) out to soak a worm, and then you suddenly realize you have no bait?
No worries, your solution may be to just look in the kitchen pantry, or stop by a convenience store on your way to the lake.
4 Foods To Use For Bait
I have actually used these and they work pretty darn well!
1. Can Of Corn Kernels (A favorite for trout).
The first time I ever used corn was about 25 years ago when fishing with a buddy for rainbow trout in New Jersey. We were wading in our local stream, and I was feeling pretty special since I was armed with 4 jars of Uncle Josh Salmon eggs – different colors and flavors – so I was ready.
Then my friend opens a sandwich bag filled with corn and garlic powder – “been sitting in the garage overnight to get good and smelly” he beamed.
I thought he was nuts and went on my way down stream and started throwing my very expensive salmon eggs, and proceeded to not get any bites at all.
I waded back up stream a spell and started to look at my buddy. He’s tossing one or two kernels into the different currents and watch as they pass over the different holes and stems. He does this for a bit then finally casts his corn’d up rig where he just threw the kernels. He repeats for awhile then snags a trout.
He explains how the corn is cheap so tossing them away is OK, and he watches to see if the yellow nuggets disappear fast or move, this he explained meant a trout hit it.
So he knows a trout is there – then he starts to fish that area for awhile. It was a good trick that has served me well. I read once that trout can’t digest corn, but not sure if that is factual or not (anyone know?). Preparing the corn is up to you. You can leave it plain, but onion and garlic powder combined are my favorite.
Try mixing garlic & onion powder with the corn for best results!
Salt is always good too. Someone once told me to use grape kool-aid mix, but I didn’t catch a thing with that – so to each his/her own.
2. Vienna Sausages (good bait for catfish).
This is kind of a no-brainer for catfish, up there with chicken livers, gizzards, and cut fish. But, it does work OK. As with most catfish rigs, add some weight applicable to the currents (keep it towards the bottom), and use a longer hook, and just work the mini sausage around so that the end of the link rests on the curve of the hook. Since these types of meat products are pretty mushy, it helps to keep it on the hook longer.
3. Dough Balls (Good for pan fish, and carp).
Dough balls are probably the most common type of human food used as bait. I know and have met many people who swear by it. I personally have used it for pan fish, but apparently carp, catfish, and trout go for it too. The “seasoning” is pretty much the same as with corn; salt and garlic are the most common.
Just take the dough and work in the flavor additives, then keep it in the fridge overnight. As the day goes on, keep it in the cooler if you have it. If you are wading and its hot outside, admittedly it will become a little hard to work with. But, in a pinch a good bait if you can’t get to the bait shop.
4. Egg Noodles (Great for Crappie & pan fish).
I include this one on the list, but you’ll need a bag of it – cooked, so as convenient. You need a wider noodle too, but not like a lasagna noodle. Egg noodles do the trick and I often have left overs from a dinner.
For Crappie and pan fish, hook up a small float with about 3 feet of lightleader with your hook at the end, then run the noodle through the hook a few times and let about an inch hang. Then cast out and retrieve slowly, just fast enough that there is barely a ripple around the float as you reel in.
Kind of like fishing for Crappie with a jig and float. Actually, I guess you could use that same set up and just use the noodle as the stinger (teaser). The noodle does provide quite a bit of action, however,it does not endure the strike so you will need to reload often.
But, with the slow retrieve, you never have slack line and can quickly snag the hook set.
Well, that’s it – Bon appetit fish!
FAQs
There are many foods in your kitchen that also work well as bait, particularly for catfish and carp. Chicken and chicken skin, hot dogs, corn, dough (for pastries or bread), bread and biscuits, bagels, and chic peas are just a few. Dry animal chows (pellets), such as those fed to rabbits, are also good.
What food makes good fish bait? ›
Corn is a popular bait for trout and carp. Bread formed into a dough ball is a great bait for sunfish and carp. Catfish will eat almost anything. Hot dogs make an excellent catfish bait.
What makes good fish bait? ›
Some of the best freshwater fishing bait include worms, leeches, minnows, crayfish, crickets and grasshoppers. Select good saltwater baits including sea worms, eels, crabs, shrimp, strips of squid, and cut-up pieces of fish. You can purchase live bait, or better yet, find your own to save money.
What is the best recipe for fish bait? ›
Mix the flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add ¾ cup of water while stirring the mixture thoroughly until it has a doughy consistency. Form dough into marble or pea-sized dough balls and drop onto a plate or tray.
What household items attract fish? ›
Attach bits of bread, chicken, fish, corn, cheese, hot dogs, or raw bacon to your hook. For catching catfish, use smelly foods in a cheesecloth or a sealed container with holes in it. (This is for when you are fishing in shallow waters without a fishing rod.)
Do fish like peanut butter? ›
Peanut Butter: With its sweet, nutty taste and oiliness, peanut butter is one of the best foods to use as fish bait. It can help attract a wide range of fish as a paste or added to a bait mix.
How do I attract more fish for fishing? ›
Five Tips to Catch More Fish
- Choose the best time of the day. Fish are more active in low-light conditions, when they feel less threatened by predators. ...
- Choose the best spot. ...
- Cast past. ...
- Wear polarized sunglasses. ...
- Steady Does It.
Other chemicals may attract fish. These include juices and liquids from natural baits [worms, baitfish, and the like], fish extracts and oils, sugar, dairy products such as milk and cheese, and human saliva.
What fish like cheese? ›
It may be news to some anglers but fish such as chub, barbel, carp, trout and catfish can all be attracted to cheese, especially in the winter months.
Will fish eat hot dogs? ›
Hot dogs soaked in a mix of cherry Kool-Aid and garlic powder have proven to be an effective catfish bait. The catfish may be one of the most misunderstood of all Arkansas's sportfish.
Other common organisms used for bait fishing are crabs, worms, shrimps, crabs, clams, sand fleas, eels, and squid. Among all of the organisms mentioned, the crabs and the shrimps are the well-liked organisms to be used as fishing baits.
Do fish like bread as bait? ›
Actually, bread is a great bait for fish like catfish, suckers, and carp. Many anglers use “dough balls,” which is simply rolling bread into a ball around a hook and fishing it under a bobber or on the bottom.
How do you bread bait fish? ›
Put a slice of bread under the water and start rolling the slice of bread into a ball. Repeat step 3 for all the slices of bread you want for fishing bait. Go to your fishing spot with the balls of bread inside a plastic bag and your fishing gear. Break off a piece of bread that is not much bigger than a large fly.
What food attracts fish the most? ›
There are many foods in your kitchen that also work well as bait, particularly for catfish and carp. Chicken and chicken skin, hot dogs, corn, dough (for pastries or bread), bread and biscuits, bagels, and chic peas are just a few. Dry animal chows (pellets), such as those fed to rabbits, are also good.
What smells attract fish? ›
Be mindful of what attracts and repels fish. Scents like garlic, anise oil, and human saliva can draw them in, while sunscreen, insect repellent, and motor oil can send them swimming the other way.
What is the best cheap bait for fishing? ›
I'll go with canned corn or canned mixed veggies in spring when water temperatures are cool. In the summer, I like using frozen vegetables, frozen corn, or peas. Panfish can't get enough of starchy veggies. It's a fun, effective, and affordable bait for catching bluegills, crappies, and perch.
What do fish like to eat the most? ›
Fish generally eat other fish but their diet can also consist of eggs, algae, plants, crustaceans, worms, mollusks, insects, insect larvae, amphibians, and plankton. River fish are opportunistic feeders and their diet can vary depending on what is available in their environment.
