And so it begins...    

     As an avid fisherman and amateur rod-smith, I never thought I would be crafting a blog.  Looking back as far as I can remember in my youth, I cannot recall ever applying myself to writing.  It was not until recently, after my college English professor told me I should publish an essay I wrote, that I discovered my passion for writing.  And while this blog is not about my English class, nor my essay, I wanted to post it here as the start of my blog.

To bait, or not to bait?

     When fishing most North American waters, the most difficult decision is often choosing your method of catching fish, or in other words, what type of setup to use.  While there are many different methods of catching fish, correctly choosing between fishing with bait versus fishing with an artificial lure can greatly improve your fishing experience.  While nether fishing technique is superior to the other, each has a distinct advantage over the other.  A deeper look at these techniques will help differentiate both the advantages and disadvantages of each fishing style.  (I will be comparing) the distinct advantages and disadvantages of bait fishing versus artificial lure fishing for bass, catfish, and trout.

     As a notoriously popular sport fish, bass fishing has often pushed even the toughest of anglers into trying new fishing methods to produce payouts.  Living in a wide variety of water conditions, such as oceans, back yard ponds, and rivers, the species can be found on every continent except Antarctica.  Dating back as early as the eighteenth century, anglers have been using artificial lures as a means to harvest the bass species.  This method has modernized with the times, and can often be the most effective way to fish for bass.  The ideal method for this style of fishing would be for the angler to carry multiple fishing rods, seven to fifteen, each baited with a different lure.  Each of the lures will be designed for different scenarios, such as deep diving, shallow diving, and popping.  The angler will use each fishing rod from a stationary position while casting and retrieving, to cover an area of water.  This method is particularly effective as it allows the angler to cover a large area of water with multiple artificial bat setups, a buffet for the fish so to speak.  While this technique has been adapted as the bass fishing culture in America, this method can also have its downsides.  Carrying seven to fifteen fishing rods to your favorite fishing hole can be a challenge in itself.  You also have to consider the cost of this method, as using dozens of fishing rods can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars.  Taking a look at another bass fishing method, bait fishing for bass has often been overlooked.  While less popular, this method of fishing can help produce bass while the artificial lure angler is watching in ah.  The most common form of bait fishing for bass is done with live minnows, crawdads, and crickets.  I prefer minnows myself, as they have worked best for me over the years.  This technique requires the angler to hook a live piece of bait to a hook, and then cast it out either under a bobber or with a sinker.  The bobber will allow the bait to hang suspended at a depth determined by the angler, while the sinker will carry the bait to the bottom of the water.  The angler will then wait for the bass to come to the bait.  Unlike lure fishing, these techniques often involve only one fishing rod, a few dollars in bait, and a bit of patients.  I will only carry two poles when I bass fish, and take the time to change lures or bait after every few casts.

     Cost-wise, cat fishing is quite the opposite of bass fishing.  The overall cost of live bait versus effective artificial lures is overwhelming; as mainstream cat fishing is done almost exclusively with a wide variety of baits.  The most common used are cut baits, live jumbo minnows, and livers.  These methods of bait fishing often attract other bottom feeding creatures, such as crayfish, that can steal your bait.  During one five hour fishing session I have easily lost ten to fifteen dollars' worth of bait to these pesky creatures.  Only carrying one rod and a bit of patients, I will simply bait my hook and cast it out into a deep hole.  This method of fishing proves most rewarding at night, as this is when most catfish are active.  But now the real question, lure fishing for a bottom feeding fish?  While less commonly used in mainstream cat fishing, lure fishing can also be an effective tactic for aggressive catfish.  Unlike bait fishing, this technique is only effective during the yearly spawn in the late spring or early summer when the water temperature reaches 70-80 degrees.  During this time the catfish will be burrowing dens in the ground to create nests.  The large male catfish will hide inside the nest after the female has laid her eggs, and he will protect them until they hatch, generally withing 6-10 days.  Unlike bait fishing, anglers will have to target shallow areas, as most nests are built near structure in shallow water.  At this time, you can use any form of artificial lure and cast into these areas.  This will be the most cost effective way to fish for catfish, as lure color, brand, and size are all optional.  Using this tactic has also kept the crawdads off my line, as artificial lures put off no bait smell.  The idea behind the artificial lure method is to disturb the male fish that is hiding in the nest, and entice him into attacking the lure.  Both methods can be effective for cat fishing; however time of the year will play a huge factor in determining what method to use.

     Trout fishing can be on of the most exciting angling trips in one's life.  I have had no greater thrill while fishing than a large rainbow trout splashing through a shallow stream while hooked to the end of my line.  This species of fish generally lives in clear water, and hunts mainly off of sight.  Knowing this information can be important for both the bait fisherman and the artificial lure user, as line visibility can prove disastrous.  Bait fishing for trout normally consists of a small hook coated with power-bait or salmon roe.  The angler will cast this setup up steam, and then allow it to drift back towards them.  The angler will reel the slack out of his line as it drifts back towards him, and then allows the line to continue out after the bait passes the angler.  This is considered the "Drift Method" and works well in most streams and creeks.  The cost of this method only involves one fishing rod, and a few dollars worth of bait.  The artificial lure user will use the same technique, however he will constantly reel his lure, allowing no slack in his line.  This is done to keep the lure from snagging on the bottom of the water, as most lures are weighted.  The downside to fishing with lures as opposed to bait is simply the cost.  Fish will often change their feeding habits, and thus, the angler will need to carry multiple lures.  These lures often cost between five and seven dollars, and are easy to lose on the bottom of a river bed.  For the bait fisherman, Power-bait is offered in a "Rainbow" color, which allows the fisherman to carry only one small container of bait that still covers all the colors.  This is my preferred bait method, as it can be much more cost effective over artificial lure fishing.

     Deciding what method of fishing to use will often be more challenging than actually getting out there to do some fishing.  With a little research, even the most novice fisherman can be rewarded with large payouts of fish.  So next time you plan to go bass, catfish, or trout fishing, spend a little time deciding whether to use bait or not.  Both methods can be effective, which one will you choose?