Thread: #1 Gill/Cracker Bait

Originally Posted by #1tigerfan

live bait will get the numbers,artificals will get the better fish. my pref. is a beetlespin

I'm not so sure. My biggest gill (12") and my biggest shellcracker (13") both came on live bait. The law of averages says the more fish you catch, the greater the chance you will get a big fish.

I think artificials take larger average fish because most artificials are too big for small fish.

these are by far my two favorites for both gills and specks.. with the nitro trailers you can see we only use about half of the original bait, for some reason we have had far better luck that way than using the entire thing. all I know is these work, most of the picks i post here are caught on these two baits from ice out until it starts to freeze over. that is this year any ways ,, last year it was the mister twister exude micro shad but they are not really wanting it this year, dont know why .

artificials,i catch more big ol biguns on artificials,flies of course i do not jig fish for gills or chinks.
but i must admit i have caught well on live bait when i could not get anything to take any flies in my box.

My favorite for numbers, crickets.

Size: Crawfish, one to two inches is perfect.

I also love mini crankbaits and any small jig.

I use worms. Catfish will go after them too. I got two containers of worms at Walmart to go fishing today. They were awful. I don't think there were 30 worms in box and the dirt is really--well yucky. It feels like dirt from a slag pile. Earlier this year they had worms from Canada and they were great.
Anyway, once it gets hot I switch to crickets.

Keep 11 bluegill/crackers today. Caught about 30. We started keeping only the ones that were over 7".
One catfish--16"
Mary

I like using a micro hair jigs . or plastics

JJ

When I lived in Indiana I had the best results from wax worms, In florida it was the little red wigglers, now in Tennesee it's been crickets. Tried other baits in each area with limited success. Conclusion for me was use what they like best in each area.

1/32 oz jig, chart head, black squirrel tail body, tipped with a wax worm.

WORMS WORK BEST FOR ME BUT PEFER ARTIFICALS WHEN THEY ARE BITING GOOD, LOVE CLEAN HANDS. lol lol :D

I like a small jig tipped with a crappie nibble or cricket under a small float.