Bait Fishing Tackle

Bait fishing tackle can cover the full spectrum of your imagination. Bait-casting or fly rods can be used, but the most practical rod for bait fishing is a fairly long--eight or nine foot-- rather whippy spinning rod.

Most baits are too fragile to cast far and must be swung into the water. The length of your arm and the nine-foot rod enable you to cover about 25 feet of water--or more if you can "shoot" line in an effective cast. The best bait fishermen use monofilament leaders as fine as those employed by fly casters. The use of sinkers depends entirely on the type of fishing being done, and the kind of bait used. Your object is to present the bait as naturally as possible, on or below the surface.

Floats, Corks, and Bobbers

The same is true of floats--corks, bobbers, or whatever you call them locally. Their principal use is not to signal a bite, but to keep the bait at a certain depth. In still water they are almost a necessity to keep hellgramites, crawfish, and stonecats off the bottom, where they would hide under rocks and snag your line.

Make Your Own Panfish Float

An ideal float for panfishing can be made from the large quill of a goose or turkey feather by cutting a six-inch length from the middle, closing the cut end with a bit of plastic wood or wax and affixing a fine copper wire loop at the narrower, tapered end for fastening the float to the line.

What Hooks for Baitfishing?

Small hooks catch more fish, but also hook more fish fatally in the stomach when bait is swallowed and thus are deadly to young fish which are returned to the water. They are a necessity, though, with some kinds of bait. The tiny and light dry fly hook is best for small larvae and aquatic insects which should float.

Ultrafine wire or silk thread should also be part of the baitfisherman's tackle box for "sewing on" some baits like minnows. One of those plactics bait containers that fit on your belt will carry worms, hellgramites, crickets and such. The minnow fisherman must carry a live-bait bucket.