Crawdads

Crawdads (crawfish) are one of the primary food sources for catfish in Clear Lake. At times live crawdads are an excellent bait but more often the meat from the tail is the top producer. Just remove the shell from the tail of the crawdad and place the white meat on the hook. Crawdad tails are best used still fishing with or without a bobber since they don't stay on the hook very well. They produce the best results from spring to late fall when they are readily available to the catfish. You can purchase crawdads at several bait and tackle shops around the lake or you can catch your own with a crawdad trap.

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Worms

This category includes nightcrawlers, minicrawlers and garden worms. Most locals prefer a gob of garden worms or if not available then minicrawlers. They are highly productive in winter and early spring when the creeks and drainage ditches are pouring muddy water into the lake. The catfish lay in waiting for worms and other food to be washed into the lake with the muddy water. It is best to use just enough weight to drift along the bottom in the current to provide a natural presentation. Nightcrawlers and minicrawlers are available at all bait shops around the lake but garden worms must be dug up by the angler.

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Crayfish

Crayfish, often referred to as crawfish or crawdads, are freshwater crustaceans
that closely resemble lobsters. Crayfish are very popular as bait for a variety of
game fish.
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye are some of the more popular fish that anglers will
target with crayfish. There are many other species that can be caught on crayfish as well. Before you
decide to go out and catch some crayfish or use crayfish as bait, make sure to check your regulations
for your state. Some crayfish are considered invasive species and there are laws prohibiting anglers
from using them as bait, transporting them into different waters and even controlling how you can catch
them. If you are allowed to use them as bait, they can be very effective. If not, take a look at the
numerous jigs and crankbaits on the market that resemble a crayfish. These will help you put more fish
into the boat.

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Wax Worms

Wax worms are larvae of the wax moth. They are white, very small and most panfish
love eating them. You can use them on a small hook or jig. They are very popular
among ice fishermen because they work well when tipped with ice fishing jigs. Wax
worms work well for perch, crappie and bluegill.

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Spikes

Spikes are a type of fly larvae that is very hardy, but you must keep them cold
(between 34 and 40 degrees) to keep them from turning into flies They are a
common ice fishing bait for panfish, although many anglers use them throughout
the year. Some fishermen use spikes for steelhead when they are in the rivers.

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Red Worms

Red worms look similar to nightcrawlers, but they are smaller and skinnier. Red
worms are mostly used to catch perch, bluegill, rock bass, trout and other panfish.
When fishing for panfish, red worms usually work better because of their size.

A bluegill can easily get a red worm into their mouth which gives you a good chance
of setting the hook and landing the fish. Red worms can be found in most places
that sell nightcrawlers – bait shops, gas stations and super markets.

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Nightcrawlers

Nightcrawlers are one of the most common baits for freshwater fishing. Most fish will eat a worm and
nightcrawlers are perfect for catching a variety of different fish: big and small. They can be used to
catch big fish such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, trout, catfish and carp. When using a small
piece of a nightcrawler, you can fill your livewell up with smaller fish such as perch, bluegill, rock bass
and other panfish. You will find nightcrawlers at local bait shops, some gas stations and even at many
Nightcrawlers
super markets. If you want to save some money, try searching the streets at night after a hard spring or
summer rain. Nightcrawlers will come out of the ground at night after a rain and you can just pick them up
off of the street. Streets that have low curbs and lots of grass on the sides of the street will be good
places to search for nightcrawlers. Dark streets seem to be more productive than well-lit streets. Make
sure to bring a bucket, flashlight and a friend so you get plenty of worms and stay safe.

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Herring

Herring are a very common type of bait fish. There are many different types of herring and they can be
found in fresh or salt water. While most herring are smaller, some can grow up to one and a half
pounds. They are a common bait fish for many salt water species and they work well for fresh water
striped bass.

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Shad

Shad are one of the most popular types of forage in many of the lakes throughout the country. There
are many types of shad and some are even big enough to catch, but the shad we are talking about on
this page are the types of shad that are bait fish for the game fish. Threadfin shad, like the one in the
picture above, and gizzard shad are two of the more popular types of shad used as forage. Shad are
typically stocked in lakes so game fish will have a healthy population of bait fish to snack on. Most game
fish will eat shad, but they especially loved by largemoutt bass and striped bass. There are many
crankbaits on the market that look like a shad and they are very effective baits for a variety of species.

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Creek Chub

Creek chubs are one of the top freshwater bait fish for targeting big game fish. There are times when
creek chubs will out fish any other bait you can think of using. At other times, they will barely get bit, but
when they do, you are probably going to be catching a big fish. Creek chubs are excellent for
largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and muskie. They will also catch big smallmouth bass and
catfish. Creek chubs can be found in many bait shops and you can catch them in shallow creeks and
streams with a small piece of worm or corn.

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Hornyhead Chub (Redtail Chub)

Redtail chubs are great for catching larger fish. They are tougher to find and you won't find them in
many bait shops. If they are available at your local bait shop, you should think about using them as bait.
They work well for bass, walleye, northern pike, muskie and catfish.

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Emerald Shiner

Emerald shiners are another type of shiner, but they are much smaller than golden shiners. They are
typically 2 to 4 inches long and they will catch bass, walleye, crappie, perch and other panfish.

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Golden Shiner

Golden shiners, or shiners, are one of the best baits for
catching bigger fish. They work well for bass, northern pike,pike, walleye, catfish and even muskie. The golden shiner's
back is a green to olive shade, and the belly a silvery white.
There may be a faint dark stripe along the sides. These
shiners can grow up to a foot long, although most bait shops.
carry them in the 5 to 6 inch range. Most bass fishermen know how popular shiner fishing is in Florida.
Most, if not all guides, use shiners in Florida because they are such a great bait. They catch lots of
largemouth bass and many bass over 10 pounds are caught on shiners in Florida. You can purchase
shiners up to a foot long in Florida bait shops and they can get very expensive. Depending on the size,
you may end up spending $40 or $50 on a single day on the water fishing with shiners. largemouth bass.

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Suckers

Suckers are a great bait for catching bigger fish. Suckers get very big. Bait shops will sell them in a
variety of sizes from 3 or 4 inches up to 12 inches and even bigger at some places. Suckers in the 5 to
8 inch range work well for big largemouth bass. For catching northern pike and muskie, you can go
even larger. Suckers are very hardy. They will last long in the bait bucket and on the hook. If you are
keeping a half dozen or more in a bait bucket, you should consider using an aerator because there is
only so much oxygen in an average-sized bait bucket. With the proper aeration, they will last days and
possibly even weeks.

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Rosey Red Minnow

Rosey Red minnows are a selectively-bred red-orange variation of the
fathead minnow. Their characteristics are similar to fathead minnows and they will catch the same types of fish. Rosey Red minnows work well for
bass, walleye, crappie and perch.

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Fathead Minnows

Fathead minnows are the most popular type of freshwater bait fish. Anglers love fathead minnows
because so many fish eat them and they are fairly easy to keep alive. Fatheads also live long in the bait
bucket without much care. In cooler weather, they can last days by just putting them in a minnow bucket
and leaving them outside. Fatheads work well for bass, walleye, crappie and perch.

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