Hello everyone,

 

I live in the Polk County Florida area (Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Lakeland). I have called numerous bait shops and inquired about live crawfish and leeches. Bait shops in the area do not sell them. They do sell (expensive $8-15 a dozen) Golden Shiners, Fat Head minnows, worms, etc. Where can I purchase live Crawfish?

 

Why are the types of bait fish for trophy bass limited to Golden Shiners? After all, there are many varieties of minnows that a bait shop can carry besides the "over the top" priced Golden Shiners. Where can I purchase minnows (not Fat Head minnows) that are at least 2-3 inches long?

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like bait shops, promote and only carry certain expensive minnow baits (Golden Shiners) to attract the uneducated tourist that are seeking to catch the big fighting elusive record breaking Bass. 

 

Whats your thoughts?

Reason is.. there are several crawfish going around that are not native to that area. They get away from the fisherman or are released, breed explosively and create more damage than you'd ever think a crawfish could make. Generally, non-native species getting around as bait have caused a lot of havoc in our waters. Anyway, FL is a little tighter than other states on this because FL has been ravaged by non-natives on land, lake, river and sea.

Lil'Gunner makes some good points

You could go the route of catching your own bait instead of buying them.

But as you said the casual angler will go for shiners that's why bait shops carry the. oppose to crawfish, the amount of people who would purchase them is very minimal that's why they don't carry them not cost effective.

Is not Florida, is the location, specially in polk county, polk county is countryville and theirs not alot of tackle businesses over there, in Miami and ft Lauderdale as well as Tampa, you can get any lure and bait you want. its all about location, i can get those bait easy down here where i live.

It's not just where you live.  Most places in the country don't carry exotic live bait.  It isn't cost effective to keep a bunch of live crawfish for the 3 people a week that might come buy them.  Bass fishermen don't use live bait as much as fishermen of other species.

If it's legal in Florida 4-6 inch live bluegill are great live bait for big bass and readily available in pretty much any body of water that big bass swim in. Just take an ultralight with a small hook and a piece of nightcrawler and catch your own live bait. Again make sure you check your regulations before you do this to make sure you aren't breaking any laws. 

With respect to the last post, In Florida, you can use bluegill as bait if you caught it on tackle.

How bout check the laws. I don't fish live bait in florida, however my wife's family does up in Va/Md. We went fishing in the Potomac and Maryland prohibits the possession of crawfish. Might be a florida law as well. Also minnow species are limited by several factors, how easy they are to keep/breed in captivity, FWC regulations. Bluegill are great alternative as mentioned before.

Hello everyone,

 

I live in the Polk County Florida area (Lake Wales, Winter Haven, Lakeland). I have called numerous bait shops and inquired about live crawfish and leeches. Bait shops in the area do not sell them. They do sell (expensive $8-15 a dozen) Golden Shiners, Fat Head minnows, worms, etc. Where can I purchase live Crawfish?

 

Why are the types of bait fish for trophy bass limited to Golden Shiners? After all, there are many varieties of minnows that a bait shop can carry besides the "over the top" priced Golden Shiners. Where can I purchase minnows (not Fat Head minnows) that are at least 2-3 inches long?

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like bait shops, promote and only carry certain expensive minnow baits (Golden Shiners) to attract the uneducated tourist that are seeking to catch the big fighting elusive record breaking Bass. 

 

Whats your thoughts?

 

First of all, 8-15 dollars a dozen for golden shiners is CHEAP! I paid $40 for a dozen of shiners at stick march 10 years ago. Granted they were 12 inches long each. The reason you are limited to wild golden shiners for trophy bass here in Florida, is because they work! Bass are voracious eaters, but the golden shiner is one of their main forage.

Thanks everyone for your comments! 

Is not Florida, is the location, specially in polk county, polk county is countryville and theirs not alot of tackle businesses over there, in Miami and ft Lauderdale as well as Tampa, you can get any lure and bait you want. its all about location, i can get those bait easy down here where i live.

 

 

Yea, we only have 30 to 40 bait shops in polk.  And the largest Rod, reel, tackle and rod builder shop in the state.  

I think you might find Golden Shiners around more because they tolerate a wider range of temperatures than some of the others. Wish bluegill as bait was legal up here! Wish I could fish down there! 

Is not Florida, is the location, specially in polk county, polk county is countryville and theirs not alot of tackle businesses over there, in Miami and ft Lauderdale as well as Tampa, you can get any lure and bait you want. its all about location, i can get those bait easy down here where i live.

 

Countryville?  Maybe.  Not a lot of bait & tackle businesses?  That's just not true at all.    

 

Fish-Oil:  IMHO:  The bait shops are not trying to force anything on you, they are selling what sells because it works.  I would contact (go there if you can) Ron at Ron's Bait and Tackle in Lake Alfred, he can tell you the scoop on crawfish.

Ron is the Man...

 

 

• Address: 380 S Lake Shore Way, Lake Alfred, FL 33850

  Phone:(863) 956-4990

Countryville?  Maybe.  Not a lot of bait & tackle businesses?  That's just not true at all.    

 

Fish-Oil:  IMHO:  The bait shops are not trying to force anything on you, they are selling what sells because it works.  I would contact (go there if you can) Ron at Ron's Bait and Tackle in Lake Alfred, he can tell you the scoop on crawfish.

 

Given a choice, most game fish prefer soft-finned baitfish to spiny-finned fish (bluegills & baby bass are spiny-rayed).

Nevertheless, game fish don't have the luxury of selecting their meals as we do, and must make do with what's available.

Bluegills are ubiquitous and bass are opportunistic predators, so bluegills naturally comprise a large part of the bass's diet.

Although stomach contents tells us a lot about 'Availability', it doesn't tell us a lot about 'Preference' (they are commonly confused).

Shad and golden shiners are both soft-rayed baitfish that bass 'love-to-death' and that's why bass anglers pay up to a buck & half per golden roach.

 

Roger

I grew up in Polk/Lakeland. I don't think it is that specific. Bass are opportunistic and Craws aren't necessarily a main food source in all the water bodies.

 

I grew up throwing worms, spinnerbaits, and buzz baits. I expanded my fishing after I got into high school and had a johnboat and private lake access. I NEVER fish live bait. I usually stocked up at Sports Authority or made a trip to BassPro. 

 

Although when I was young and living in Christina, The lake that that little Gas Station was on was across the street from me. I used to frequent that little tiny bait shop that is next to that auto repair place. If you are ever in there, look at the pics on the wall. I'm the little guy in the white polo and khakis holding a 6lber. 

if u want great live bait & 4 free,buy a casting net & learn how 2 use it correctly,that ended all my bait problems.ive gotten my biggest n best fish with live bait right from the canals...good luck

if u want great live bait & 4 free,buy a casting net & learn how 2 use it correctly,that ended all my bait problems.ive gotten my biggest n best fish with live bait right from the canals...good luck

 

 

Be careful what bait you are using and how you caught it.

 

http://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/regulations/taking-bait/