Bait-and-switch: Unorthodox fishing bait

Canned corn for catching carp? Correct!
Canned corn for catching carp? Correct!

Sometimes, you need something a little extra to entice uninterested fish. Most anglers have a few tricks up their sleeves to ensure they get at least one good bite during an outing. Kim Trotter, owner of Jack's Bait and Tackle near South Chickamauga Creek, says she has customers come in with all kinds of stories.

"Chicken liver is a popular one people like to use. I've heard some people say you can put a piece of bacon on the line and fish just go nuts for it," she says. "Ordinarily, though, people have been coming in here for 30 years and they like to stick to a routine."

If you're looking to get out of the routine and into something more unorthodox, consider the following:

photo Chicken liver, Duck Jr., and bacon, of course.
  • Chicken liver: Slippery and malodorous, chicken liver works wonders - assuming you can bait it properly without it slipping from your hands. The liquid left over from chicken livers also makes for a simple chum to toss overboard to attract the fish closer to you. Works on: Catfish and striper
  • TrapBassBaits Duck Jr.: Bass are carnivores, and in early spring, that means they have an affinity for duckling. Tossing this lure out in the early morning and retreiving it quickly over the surface of the water should result in some drastic surface breaches by large bass. Works on: Largemouth bass
  • Bacon: Trim some of the fat and a small sliver of the leaner meat off a strip of bacon and thread it on your hook, being sure it's secure. A square a little under an inch wide should do the trick. We recommend using the real stuff and leaving the veggie or turkey bacon at home (or at the store). Works on: Everything! There aren't many fish that wouldn't love a bite of fatty bacon.
  • Fish eyes: You've got a baitfish, might as well use all of it, right? Fish that cannibalize one another in the wild will chomp down on the eyes of one of their own species like an easy dinner. Works on: Perch, bluegill
  • Canned corn: Most fish in farms are fed corn, so it makes sense for wild fish to have a fondness for corn as well. Kernels will stay on your hook easily, too, so there's no worry of them falling off or getting nibbled by fish without you getting a bite. Works on: Carp, trout and bluegill
  • Catfish Bubblegum: Stink bait for catfish is effective, as they're drawn to strong odors, but having your hands smell like rotting fish doesn't exactly make for a good time. Catfish Bubblegum is made to smell like juicy, pink bubblegum, and catfish can't seem to get enough. The bait is better, both for the environment and at catching fish, than regular bubblegum, too. Works on: Catfish

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