Worms vs. leaches vs. minnows vs. gulp alive products

[fisher12]

Which bait do you think is the best? For panfish? for salmon and trout? Pike and Muskie? walleye? Bass? catfish?

 

[Joel52]

In fly fishing we say "match the hatch" which means whatever they're eating, try to get something that looks similar. Sometimes it's all about colour, sometimes size, ect. Eggs are working for the salmon and trout right now... why? because it's an available food source.
Occasionaly when we clean fish, if we notice a full stomach we'll open it up and see what's inside. The best way to figure things out is to experiment.

 

[openfire]

Which bait do you think is the best? For panfish? for salmon and trout? Pike and Muskie? walleye? Bass? catfish?

In addition to what Joel52 wrote, I would say if the only choices are worms, leeches, minnows or Gulp alive, then for the fish you identified, my choices in general would be:

Panfish: Worms. No way would I waste $$$ for gulp alive on panfish. lol
Salmon: None of the above
Trout: Worms and gulp alive
Pike: Minnows
Muskie: None of the above
Walleye: Worms in conjunction with a pickeral rig
Bass: Gulp Alive
Catfish: Worms

 

[openfire]

One more thing I should add, although leeches didn't make my list, it's a moot point because I would use Gulp Alive leeches over real leeches 100%.

 

[fisher12]

Do minnows work on Panfish too and if so which size (1-2 or 2-3 inches)

 

[openfire]

I once saw an old man in Sutton catch crappie after crappie using tiny minnows. So yes, minnows work well for panfish. As for the size, the minnows were very small, probably 1 -2 inch, fished under a float.

 

[salmotrutta]

I have also experienced perch hitting minnows, but as pointed out, worms are probably the easiest way to catch panfish. They work perfectly and they are easy to catch free.

 

[fisher12]

So will minnows or worms get me more panfish bites?
Also, Do bass prefer worms or minnows more?

 

[salmotrutta]

I cannot imagine minnows ever outfishing worms for panfish. Panfish cannot resist worms. Find a spot where panfish are holding, and you can catch a fish on every cast with a worm, permitted that you are using appropriate gear and keeping a watchful eye on your line and/or bobber. By appropriate gear I mean proper sized hooks and line. Massive hooks are not a good idea for panfish.

I have no experience catching crappie, so my input is related to perch and sunfish.

I find that perch at night with a worm is deadly. I've caught perch during the day as well, it depends on the spot, but the few times that I have targeted perch, at dark with worms has been non-stop action.

 

[fisher12]

Just curious to know which species ,minnows will outfish worms?

 

[MikeyMikey]

i use 2.5" gulp minnow for panfish. bluegills love it. they'll stick eat'em

 

[Mykester]

at a local pond the crappie never hit my worms, only tiny plastic grubs. I'm pretty sure it even hit my corn once, lol.

 

[rcflores]

artificial baits can never beat real baits thats the truth! why would the fish eat plastic if they can have the real thing worms, minnows and leech works really good!

 

[Mykester]

artificial baits can never beat real baits thats the truth! why would the fish eat plastic if they can have the real thing worms, minnows and leech works really good!

you can cover more water and also have the possibility to entice a strike from an otherwise not hungry fish.