alternative live baits

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11-15-2014, 01:58 PM
friedfish

alternative live baits

Was wondering if anyone ever used anything besides minnows for live bait. A few of the crappie I've cleaned have had crayfish in their stomachs. I know green carp love the crawdads, but apparently crappie don't mind eating them either. I put a minnow trap baited with crappie carcasses in the retention pond behind my house and have got a bunch I could use for bait. Got some really big tadpoles as well, some with legs starting to grow. So.... Has anyone ever used crayfish or tadpoles with any success? I'm gonna try them tomorrow, so I'll let y'all know if I have any luck with them. But I was just curious if anyone on here had used either of these baits before. Good luck to everyone fighting the wind today!
11-15-2014, 02:15 PM
wademaster

The only live bait other than minnows that has produced crappie for me is the nightcrawler. I haven't targeted crappie with them but I've caught them as a byproduct.
11-24-2014, 11:06 PM
Roosteetail

Not live but shrimp caught me 2 crappie and saturday.
11-24-2014, 11:20 PM
SEA DANCER

If you can find them fresh water shrimp are great. Fish them live.
11-25-2014, 12:04 AM
friedfish

Actually cut shrimp might be good in the brackish water I fish.... Hmmm.
11-25-2014, 12:15 AM
Alboy79

We've used crickets quite a bit here.
11-25-2014, 06:58 AM
Roosteetail

Friedfish that's how I caught all my panfish on saturday. It's my favorite bream bait. Give it I try.
11-26-2014, 09:24 AM
chief

I keep a box of lively 2" tube jigs in the boat. When one dies, I replace him immediately with a live one.
11-26-2014, 12:07 PM
JordanLimit

I tied Gulp minnows some last year, but not much luck. I'll probably give them a try again one time before I rule them out.
11-26-2014, 12:51 PM
Roosteetail

Gulp minnows work well. But you have to have confidence in it.
11-27-2014, 09:18 AM
fishdoc

I hate to hear them minners scream when ya stick that hook into them! Sounds like one of them silent dog whistles, really hurts my ears...I'm with Chief on this one, I keep a box of lively jigs on hand. I know there are days when I would do better with minners, but I'm usually hardheaded an keep thinkin I can make'em hit a jig of some type.
11-28-2014, 08:20 PM
friedfish

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordanLimit

I tied Gulp minnows some last year, but not much luck. I'll probably give them a try again one time before I rule them out.

I've done really well with the one inch chartreuse gulp minnows. And I do fish artificials on about half my lines when I'm in a boat. I've been bank fishing the last few weeks so it kinda limits me in my choice of bait.