Are there a very versatile live bait easily kept at home?

[r2002]

My guess is European Nightcrawler. But I'd like to listen to those who are experienced in this arena.

How easy to raise? At what cost? Good for which fish species?

[canebreaker]

"versatile live bait"
Minnows

European Nightcrawler, Good for which fish species?
catfish, bream

[r2002]

Minnow seems hard to keep, but no doubt is the best overall live bait

"versatile live bait"
Minnows

European Nightcrawler, Good for which fish species?
catfish, bream

[Clint]

Minnow seems hard to keep, but no doubt is the best overall live bait

Hard is a relative term. Minnows are harder than crawlers but depending on what your minnows or shiners cost locally it may be worth it.
How often you fish plays into the calculations also. I fish mostly plastics and only occasionally use live bait, so when I figured what it would cost me I decided to just buy what I need when I want to fish live bait. If I start to use shiners more often (definitely a possibility) that may change.

[Hanr3]

Minnows are relatively easy to buy around me and I always get more than purchased. My problem is what to do with the left over minnows after a day/weekend of fishing. When I first started I threw them on the ground, then I started to give them to other fisherman heading out (especially if they had kids), late last year I threw them in my 50 gallon fish tank. I have a 30 gallon fish tank I think I will set up for minnows this year.

Maintenance is easy, feed them once per day, keep the tank full of water, and keep the water moving through a filter.
Still undecided about water temp in the tank. I noticed that the minnows had a hard time going from 68 degree tank temps to 90 degree water temps. Not sure what to do about that yet.

Minnows are the best for Crappie. Worms (earth, black, red)are the best for Bass/Bluegill. Wax worms work okay for crappie as scent for artificial, and great for ice fishing.