Fishing can be a relaxing and enjoyable pastime, even more so if the fish are biting. Bait attracts fish and causes them to bite your hook, allowing you to reel them in and enjoy your catch. For success on the water, one of the most important elements is using the proper bait for the fish you’re trying to catch.
Live Bait
Often popular because they are exactly what fish usually eat, live bugs, insects and worms are used for bait by fishermen in many situations. Live bait is attached directly to a hook and cast into the water to attract fish. Worms are one of the most common types of live bait and are relatively inexpensive. Minnows and other small fish, such as anchovies, usually can be caught in large numbers because they tend to travel in groups, and they are cheap bait as well. Stone flies and dragonflies are common in fly fishing because they are the types of insects that hover or land on the water and make tasty meals for top-feeding fish. Fish eggs are popular for trout and salmon fishing. One of the main disadvantages to live bait is the lack of realistic motion it makes in the water, so sometimes fish are not attracted to the bait.
Lures
A lure is a manufactured piece of fishing equipment made to resemble food that fish like, such as worms, other fish or insects. Lures come in all shapes and sizes, and many contain devices that help them make them more attractive to the fish as well as move through the water to resemble their real-life counterparts. Spinner baits, for example, have a small piece of shiny metal attached to them that spins as a fisherman reels one through the water. The spinning motion attracts the attention of fish, causing them to be more likely to pursue and bite the lure.
Flies
Flies are specific lures made for fly fishing. Although most regular fishing lures go below the surface of the water, the object of fly fishing is to allow the lure to float on top or fly just about the surface of the water to mimic live insects, which top-feeding fish enjoy. Flies are painstakingly manufactured, often by hand, to resemble their live counterparts, including stone flies, dragonflies, beetles and even larvae.
About this Author
James Patterson specializes in health and wellness topics, having written and produced material for the National Institutes of Health, the President’s Cancer Panel, and an Inc. 500 Hall of Fame company. He is also a former sportswriter, with writing experience in basketball, baseball, softball, golf and other popular sports, and writes relevant sports titles.
