Hi Folks,

 

I like to carry bait for bobber fishing in my tackle box in the event I run across a mess of bluegill or whatever while bass fishing.  I keep a few hooks, sinkers, and slip bobbers in a small Plano inside the large one.

 

Now, the stuff I was carrying was some sort of crappie bait, white pellet type stuff by Berkley.  Never did catch anything on it, but I have on worms in the same spots.

 

I bought some Berkley Earthworms, but haven't had a chance to try them yet.  Bass have been biting too well, and I keep my ultralight rigged up with a whacky worm to throw in case of a miss with one of the baitcasters.

 

I'm wondering if there's a type of jarred or canned bait you all recommend for sunfish and crappie that works well.  I like experimenting with bass lures but when I still fish, I like to just throw the bait out and reel in food with not much guesswork.

 

Thank you,

 

Josh

I have had a ton of luck with the gulp maggots, what I use to take the kids fishing. I got a little demo pack when they first came out, and now I always have a jar on me. I have had some luck with the gulp 1" minnows too. Sometimes just a piece of a power worm will work like a charm too.

The Berkley Gulp baits are amazing.  I've been using the little jar of Gulp Maggots for bluegill over here and they seem to love it.  I like to rig them onto a tiny shad dart hair jig, as well as on tiny homemade plain jigs so that they remain horizontal and natural looking in the water under the float.

 

With those little Crappie Nibble pellets I used to stuff them into mini tube jigs just to add some scent.  On their own the pellets didn't really work for me.

 

I noticed recently Berkley has expanded their Gulp panfish baits quite a bit.  Tons of experiments upcoming  

Also try to use the smallest possible floats/bobbers you can find.  Thill mini-shy bite floats (fixed but adjustable) and Center Sliders (for a slip float) are what I often use.

If I hadn't just got a mess of new bass baits I'd try to go get some bluegill, then maybe cut them up for catfish. Anyways, I've never tried the jar panfish baits, but the bluegill in the pond I used to fish seemed to really like cut up hot dogs.

I have had a ton of luck with the gulp maggots, what I use to take the kids fishing. I got a little demo pack when they first came out, and now I always have a jar on me. I have had some luck with the gulp 1" minnows too. Sometimes just a piece of a power worm will work like a charm too.

 

Haha you beat me to it my friend

Yeah those Gulp Maggots are great.

Haha you beat me to it my friend

Yeah those Gulp Maggots are great.

 

Ah you gave away my secret with the Jigs, I got these from my Vet. I rescued my cat he was 3 weeks old, and who knows what happened to mom. After taking with the local vet, turns out he is a big fisherman too. Well I traded him some Gimpy lures, (Hand made saltwater plugs) for some of his own hand tied jigs.

 

I was using ice fishing jigs a while ago, but they go right down the gullet. Then I got these and have yet to run out and need more!

Ah you gave away my secret with the Jigs, I got these from my Vet. I rescued my cat he was 3 weeks old, and who knows what happened to mom. After taking with the local vet, turns out he is a big fisherman too. Well I traded him some Gimpy lures, (Hand made saltwater plugs) for some of his own hand tied jigs.

 

I was using ice fishing jigs a while ago, but they go right down the gullet. Then I got these and have yet to run out and need more!

 

That's awesome.  And props to you for rescuing the kitten...wow 3 weeks was so young.  I bet he's a cool cat.  I have 3 here with me and they always know when I'm going fishing...they won't let me set out my tackle without trying to attack the line, rods, etc  

 

Those jigs look great.  Hair jigs are so deadly for panfish, and I love the darter heads.

That's awesome.  And props to you for rescuing the kitten...wow 3 weeks was so young.  I bet he's a cool cat.  I have 3 here with me and they always know when I'm going fishing...they won't let me set out my tackle without trying to attack the line, rods, etc

 

Those jigs look great.  Hair jigs are so deadly for panfish, and I love the darter heads.

 

Cats like to claw the mother, to stimulate milk production or something. Bottle feeding a kitten is not the weak or squeamish. He is a lot like a dog, even greets people at the door. I was even walking him on a leash at one point, but now he just stays by my side.

 

I never even thought to toss the hair jigs, went right passed them to the darters and maggots. Looks like you gave me a reason to bust out the ultra light, and I thank you for that!

Another vote for the Gulp maggots, killer bluegill baits and the jars are easy to carry.