First, let me say this, I'm not the one that would EVER think about throwing live bait, BUT after reading Roland Martin's book and the live bait section. I have a Big bass tournament from shore at a reservoir for the biggest bass and there are NO rules concerning what you can and cannot use, so I want to try live bait, any tips?

I have used live bluegill and they catch some big ones, and small ones.. But its hit or miss just like any other bait. Good luck at you tourney!!

Using live bluegill and stuff like that work great under a float or on the bottom for bass. I've had luck with it. It's according to how many rods you can use too. With artificial baits you can cover more water and make lots more casts but with the live bait your goin to have to let it do its natural thing until something wants to eat it. If you can use more than one rod then i would use live bait on one and work lures on the other and since your competing for the biggest bass then i would use a big fish for live bait. at least 5-6 inches. Because you know that even just a 3lb bass will impress you with the size fish he can handle. So if i were going to do that then i would make sure its going to be a sizable fish that bites. Good luck.

I have a friend who uses creek chubs all the time on a UL. He Fishes them on just a circle hook and kills the bass and cats. Even if it dies from repeated casting the bass will still eat them. It doesn't seem like the same is really true for BG though at least from what I have noticed.