This factsheet
is intended to cover the basics of handling live bait. Proper
handling of live bait will insure that the live bait is lively
when it is to be used for luring your prey. The first consideration
is water quality. A number of water quality requirements should
be considered. These are oxygen, temperature, and salinity.
OXYGEN:
It is important to insure an adequate oxygen supply. This
can be accomplished by several methods. The most popular method
is to use a l2-volt aerator that sits inside of the bait well.
Another method is to use time-released oxygen tablets that
release oxygen into the water. An external pump is available
and recommended because it will reduce heat buildup in the
water which can kill your bait
TEMPERATURE
& SALINITY: Temperature and salinity should be
considered next. If possible, you should fill your bait well
or bucket with the same water the bait was being held in when
purchased. If this is not possible, you may acclimate the
bait to the water at the site of the fishing location by adding
small quantities of water until the desired temperature and
salinity are reached. This is especially important if there
is a large temperature and salinity difference. Rapid changes
in water temperature and salinity, more than 5 degrees and
ten parts per thousand, can cause temperature shock and osmotic
stress. Remember, cooler water holds more oxygen than warm
water. Cooling the water with ice will cool the water and
not reduce the salinity too much. Caution should be taken
when adding ice to the water, as too much ice will chill your
bait too fast and kill it. These steps may seem unnecessary
but, if these steps are not taken, your bait will die much
sooner.
HANDLING:
Rough handling of bait can and will cause unnecessary mortalities.
This can be overcome by using a dip net to remove bait from
the live well and wetting your hands before hooking the bait.
All finfish have a protective mucus — "slime"
coat that protects them from external stress. If this mucus
is removed by handling the fish, it can cause the fish to
become stressed and die. This also serves as a means of not
contaminating the water in which the bait is living. Insect
repellant and sunscreen are two sources of contamination for
your bait. After time, the concentration of chemicals could
build up to levels that will affect the performance of your
bait.
WATER
CONDITIONERS: There are many chemicals available
today that can be added to the water. These chemicals promote
longevity and reduce stress. Some are for freshwater and others
are for saltwater bait. They can help by removing ammonia,
chlorine, and surface foam. They also stimulate the natural
"slime" coat and harden scales.
CATCHING
YOUR OWN BAIT: Bait can be captured using cast nets,
seines, trawls, or traps. Locating bait is the most significant
factor in catching your own bait. One advantage to catching
your own bait is certainty of its freshness. A person may
use any of the following with their basic fishing license:
a seine of one-fourth inch mesh or less and measuring 30 feet
or less, cast net less than 81/2 feet in diameter, dip nets,
and minnow traps (see Louisiana Fishing Regulations). When
seining or trawling, make short tows and transfer the bait
to holding tanks frequently. The longer the bait stays in
the net, the greater the chance of stress and reduced life
span.
HOLDING
TANKS: Many types of tanks are suitable for holding
and maintaining live bait. Homemade tanks can be constructed
of plastic, fiberglass, and untreated wood. All metals should
be avoided when possible. Round tanks are preferred, since
bait tends to huddle in the comers of square or rectangular
tanks. This is especially true of menhaden (pogies).
Specific
Tips:
Worms:
Worms should be kept cool and dry; this is especially
true of night crawlers. If the worms are to be held for an
extended period of time, a commercial bedding should be used
rather than soil.
Crickets:
Crickets should be kept dry. If you intend to keep
them for more than a day it is recommended that a potato be
cut and placed in the cage. This will supply them with moisture
and food. Either a funnel or an open-top cage can be used;
however, the open-top cage holds more crickets and is more
convenient.
Grass
Shrimp: Grass shrimp can be obtained from commercial
sources or by pushing a dip net into a grass bed. It is recommended
that grass shrimp be placed in cornmeal and kept cool.
Shiners:
Shiners make excellent bait. They can be either purchased
or seined from the wild. Large shiners can be caught using
tiny hooks and bread. Shiners need to be held in either a
live bait well or trolling bucket.
Download:
tipslivebait.pdf
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