If you’re an angler looking for ways to improve your fishing adventure, kicking your fishing gear up a notch will surely be the first move you’re going to make. Before hitting the water, you might want to know whether you should use live bait or artificial lures. While it can be a matter of personal preference, each of these options has its own benefits.
What is live bait?
For seasoned anglers, live bait is considered as an effective option because most game fish are perceived to be carnivores meaning they also eat other fish. When you give fish live bait, you’re giving them something that they already consume naturally. There’s no need to work hard trying to trick the fish into biting the bait. This is why live bait gains an edge over artificial lures. However, you should also keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean that you no longer have to exert effort in fishing live bait. It is important that you know how to rig and present the bait to ensure that you’ll be able to catch fish successfully.
The most popular types of live bait are shiners, minnows, shad, and mullet. They can be used for both saltwater and freshwater species. You can also add crustaceans like crabs and shrimp to your live baits for your saltwater fishing trip. If you prefer the classic live baits, go for crickets and nightcrawlers.
Benefits of Live Bait Fishing
- Easily attracts fish: If you are going on a fishing trip in open water, live baits are beneficial. The scent of your live baits can easily attract fish if you don’t know where they are. So even from far away, the scent will draw them closer to you.
- It takes less time and effort to catch fish: More often than not artificial lures resemble wounded fish. If this is the case, using real wounded bait fish is the way to go because they become an easy meal if there’s hungry fish nearby.
What is an artificial lure?
Like live baits, artificial lures are also a top contender. However, they require more involvement from the angler. When you fish with artificial lures, expect the process to be technical and physically demanding. Aside from determining the type of artificial lures that work best, you also have to make sure that you are skilled at fishing using artificial lures. Once you get the hang of it, you can expect the process to be fun.
Benefits of Fishing With Artificial Lures
- It is engaging: The angler is in full control of the lure. By selecting the correct lure, you will be able to experiment with the technique and presentation. An ordinary fishing trip can become a game of action.
- It is clean and hassle-free: Once you get to know the proper technique in using an artificial lure, you will consider the process hassle-free because you don’t have to worry about slime and blood.
When it comes to making a choice, it will all boil down to your preference, skills and the challenges you’ll face. If you are a skilled angler, you will agree that both artificial lures and live bait work. Regardless of the conditions, a versatile angler can utilize both options well.
