Tricks for Attracting Fish
Fish attractors
Anyone who fishes extensively knows the value of using fish attractors to improve their catch ability.
Attractors such as scented oils, flashers, chum, and so forth have worked over the years and are now offered by many manufacturers and are currently available in most tackle shops.
The following are just a few tips on using attractors which may be useful to try the next time you go fishing.
Scent attraction
If you are a live bait fisherman, here’s a tip to try with your artificial plastic or rubber worms, crayfish, and so on.
Take the artificials and store them overnight with your live bait (nightcrawlers, wigglers, crayfish, and so on).
The artificial baits will pick up the natural scent of live bait, making them more attractive to the fish.
Instant chum
One of the oldest methods of attracting fish is to use chum.
Chum can be a variety of things, such as chopped-up baits, blood, and so forth, which are dumped in the water to entice fish to bite.
It can also be some of the many food products found on your grocery shelves.
The next time you’re out fishing, try the following.
Punch a few holes in the can of sardines or canned cat food, tie a string around it and put it into the water.
The oils and ingredients will spread out of the holes, tracking various species of fish.
Landing tips
Removing hooks
When removing a hook from the fish you landed, try holding it belly up (upside down).
It will struggle less, and there will be less chance of you getting hooked by the struggling fish.
Measuring your catch
If you want to measure your catch and you don’t have a ruler, just open your billfold and use any of the bills it contains.
Each bill is 6 inches long and can be used with a ruler and a pinch.
Stringing tips
After you make your catch, there’s a proper way to string your fish to keep them alive and fresh as long as possible.
Safety pin-type stringer
Pin through both the bottom and top of the fish’s mouth
Bayonet-type stringer
Never string a fish through the Gill
Pin through both the bottom and top of the fish’s mouth.
Minnow size
The following list is a general guideline for the best size minnow to use for specific game fish.
Species Minnow size in inches
Bluegill 1-2
Crappie 1-2
Largemouth bass 3-6
Muskie 5-8
Northern Pike 4-7
Perch 1-2
Pickerel 2-5
Rock bass 2-3
Smallmouth bass 3-6
Sunfish 1-2
Trout 1-4
Walleye 2-5
Worm Tips
Collecting worms
One of the easiest ways to collect worms is to wait for a rainstorm.
After a heavy rain, worms will cover the sidewalks and driveways, just waiting to be picked up.
To pick them up, try using a spatula; it is a lot easier and a lot less messy.
It’s also best to wait 24 hours after the rain, because the worms will be less stressed out and tougher for fishing.
Where to look
Other places to look for worms are vacant lots, parks, and areas along river bottoms and the edges of creeks after the spring runoffs.
These areas where the dry and damp soils come together are excellent locations to find worms.
Avoid golf courses or areas where commercial fertilizers have been used; worms cannot tolerate the chemicals in the fertilizer.
Using a flashlight
When collecting at night, use a flashlight with a diffused beam (yellow or red cover) to spot worms.
Bright lights drive them back into the ground
Catching nightcrawlers
Here’s a tip on how to grab a nightcrawler when you’re out collecting for the next fishing trip.
Don’t grasp the head. Gravity near the rear part of the body where the worm comes out of the ground.
Once you’ve gotten a hold of one, gently hold on without squeezing it and slowly pull upward.
Use a twisting motion and a steady pull to pop them up out of the hole.
Avoid excessive squeezing or pulling so as not to injure the warm. If you’re careful when collecting, they will be more lively and last a lot longer.
Fully nightcrawlers
In late spring, you can fool nightcrawlers into emerging from their holes if you pound a stake in the ground and rub another piece of wood across the stake top.
The vibrations from rubbing the stake will bring the crawlers to the surface.
Worm tips
The five most common worms used in fishing bait
Nightcrawler
7 to 10 inches long
color: brownish pink to purplish red
Garden worm
3 to 4 inches long
color: gray-yellow, sometimes bluish
Leaf worm
3 to 4 inches long
color: brownish pink to purplish red
Manure worm
3 to 4 inches long
color: red with white-ish bands
Wiggler
2 inches long
color: red
Worm care. The following are a few tips on taking care of your worms.
Don’t overcrowd your warm container. Store the container in a cool place like an old refrigerator.
Worms can eat their weight in food each day. Make sure you feed them.
When transporting worms, cushion the container from vibrations to prevent injury during a long trip to your favorite fishing hole.
