Live bait lakes/rivers

[Lendawg24]

Hello all.. wondering if and how to fish with live bait in our local rivers and lakes. Anybody use baitfish live when fishing??

[thmyorke1]

It's not too difficult. The times I've fished with live bait it was just a fish on a hook, through the back of the fish, with split shots to get it to the bottom.

I imagine any rig works as long as you have live bait involved. I hear slip bobbers work well too.

Good luck.

[Chrisper4694]

use lures, that's my advice. cover more water, initiate reaction strikes, catch more fish, have more fun. only a few instances where live bait is a better choice imo....

If you have a very specific big fish spot that is pressured.

targeting certain species like catfish.

ice fishing with tip ups.

that's all i can think of off the top of my head, that's pretty much all i use live bait for...couple of other times i'll use dead or cut bait.

for live bait, hook it in a spot that won't hinder it's swimming too much (depends on the species) and put it where the fish are, weight it down if fish feeding on bottom, live line it or put a float on the line if fish are feeding up near the surface or above weeds. don't over think it.

[AndyS]

Live-line herring in the lakes (if you can get them)