Live Bait

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Biggest LMB I ever cought I was stiching a Rootbeer slider over a drop off. Biggest Striped Bass I ever cought was on a live eel. I'll use what ever's working at the time, give'em what they want!
 
Do any of you guys know if it is legal to use blue gill as live bait in California?
 
Shiners and suckers. They are awesome. Especially getting some 12in plus suckers for huge pike and muskie.

And a fin-clipped bluegill is amazing for catfish. They always take ones that appear injured over a healthy one.

And for my biggest ever bass, It was on a leech that i found under a rock. It was like 8 inches long and i put it on a big hook and ended up getting a largemouth that was just under 7 pounds. That was when i was about 8 and fishing with my great uncle and dad but it is still the biggest bass ive ever caught.
 
Suckers are great in the fall when water temps drop below 45. The muskie in my profile pic was caught on a 20 incher. I also like to use shiners for walleye. Shiners can be difficult to come by in MN from time to time. When you do find them, they can be expensive due to strict regs on import across state lines. I've never tried this but I know that live sunfish,crappie and pike do well for muskie. I nearly boated a 53" which t-boned a large northern I hooked. I normally use artificial but my largest sunfish, crappie, LMB and muskie were all caught on live bait. Sometimes when fishing is slow, live bait is the only way to go.
 
i like crawlers for the river/sturgeon ventures. as m.chad said if i can find shiners here in MN they are amazing. 7-8" shiner+ tipup= 36"+pike. if i go with any of my grandfathers its live bait. if i go alone or with my friends it is just artifical. love them dc10s for muskies. i just started making them aswell so i can't wait to catch some on home made lures.
 
Yeah sbuse. I love dc10's as well. Better quality than the cowgirl and cheaper too. I fish a lot in the metro so my grinders get a workout. Nothing is worse than making a 100 yd cast and hauling it back wearing a milfoil wig! I'm wondering if anyone here has tried live frogs for cats? If so, what is the proper rig for them?
 
muskychad;4811848; said:
Yeah sbuse. I love dc10's as well. Better quality than the cowgirl and cheaper too. I fish a lot in the metro so my grinders get a workout. Nothing is worse than making a 100 yd cast and hauling it back wearing a milfoil wig! I'm wondering if anyone here has tried live frogs for cats? If so, what is the proper rig for them?

i make my own so they way cheaper then any store bought spinners. check out my 'make your own lures?' thread for a pic of the last batch. of all the metro lakes i have to say that i have a top 3 of Elmo, White Bear and Bald eagle. milfoil is a pain, wears you down. nothing like going out on a 90f day in aug. starting on Elmo getting a few tigers then going to Bald Eagle and getting a 47" on the first drift 20min on the lake.:headbang2

as for frogs, i have used them for cats, i get more smallies on them then anything else. i just can't get over the effectivness of liver at stillwater for some nice cats.
 
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