Bait fishin: Aggressive or Not?

[DarkSkies]

Are you an aggressive bait fisher? Why or why not?

So I can't sit still for 5 hours at a time, most people know I'm pretty hyper. I feel better if I hit a spot, and it it's not happenin in an hour's time, I move on to another that might be better for that tide.

Some of the guys I look up to will sit there 6 hours at a time, they'll have a lotta downtime, but they'll hit that big fish when the action heats up for the magic 15 or 30 minutes.

The other night I moved around and hit 5 short fish. A few nights later I think I got 4 sitting there and waiting. It's probably the same results, but I feel better moving around, I feel it gives more shots at fish. My feeling is....if the fish are there you will know within a short while. What are your thoughts on this?

Also, how many out there change bait a lot? I won't leave a piece of bait on for longer than 15 minutes, it's my feeling that as the scent trail gets weak that bait is less attractive. Fresh bait = fresh fish.

[7deadlyplugs]

If I have to fish bait, Im not too happy about it. I bring a 6 of brew in a cooler. First try plugging as much as I can should there be fish around. Nothing with the plugs, I'll sit on the bucket and drink the beer. When the beer is done, I'm done whether I caught fish or not.

[BassBuddah]

I know you're trying here Dark, but a lot of us hate bait fishing. I would rather bucktail given the choice. If I have to fish bait, I would probably move around a lot too.

[Rip-Plugger]

I know how to bait fish but loath doing it unless there are larger fish stacking up in a channel and thats the only way to get to them.
I have 1 spinning setup for doing bait but it's waay dusty now.
I will do it only if the action is hot and the fish large.


R-P

[Finaddict]

I love to baitfish. I have earned the name of "masterbaiter" from the locals B&T shops in the area. I don't mind it, it pretty kool.

I have been doing the masterbaiting thing for some years now, so I have a general idea of what time for what bait I am going after. I will change spots if one doesn't produce. I do not sit and wait for hours on end to get bait.

As for changing bait, in the early spring and late fall, I do not change bait every 15 minutes. The fish seem to come in schools here and it may be 1/2 hour to an hour between schools.

During the summer months, yes I check or change my bait regularly, do to the crabs.

[bababooey]

I fish mostly from the boat, so my experience may not necessarily work for any of you surf guys. First of all, with clams we will buy a bucket of clam bellies, punch some holes in it and put it on the bottom. I find we don't have to change our baits as much as the fish will be drawn to the bucket. I do know that when using sandworms for bass or weakfish, I will change the bait almost every time I bring it up. I don't have to take the old worm off, just put a new one on. So from my experience, with worms, fresh bloody scent is everything.

That's why you buy sandworms by the flat. Same with bunker, we will chunk with small pieces, but I like to put a fresh piece on as often as I can, dependiing on how much bunker we have for the day.

Finaddict made a good point about checking more often as the water warms. When crabs are active, it's almost stupid not to check and rebait. Why would you let your rig sit out there without any bait on it? And finaddict, masterbaiter is an ok name, unless they were calling you that back in grammar school, then, not so good.

[Finaddict]

And finaddict, masterbaiter is an ok name, unless they were calling you that back in grammar school, then, not so good.

LOL No it took me getting married and a few years after that is when I got the name Go figure

[bababooey]

LOL No it took me getting married and a few years after that is when I got the name Go figure

Finaddict, I think I have the answer. This is the premise to my new book for men who can't get laid after marriage. I'll be putting it out for $19.95, maybe it will be as popular as "How to get rich with no money down!"

Here's the opening chapter...
There is one known food that will kill a woman's sex drive as soon as she eats it, what is it?

Answer: Wedding cake! :