I've started to just cast out a bobber + live bait when it's slow bass fishing to hook up some sunfish or whatever bites. Obviously I prefer live bait but what's another good bait I can just throw in my tackle box and pull out just in case I don't have live bait on hand? I tried the Berkley Gulp maggots and those are alright. 

Gulp alive minnows work great for panfish. I'd recommend catching bream with those Gulp alive baits and using the bream as bass bait. 

An artificial live bait that worked well would be awful good but I am always cheerfully pessimistic about them. I think it would turn out to be bitter sweet to use a genuine imitation or an original copy. In the peaceful conquest to catch fish in no random order I believe they are the same difference.  ?

Gulp earthworms work good too if u don't want to buy and refrigerate worms often. A little jar of those or the lil fry minnows will work great for sunnies or crappies. I use a weighted bobber to cast further and into the wind and a long shank but small hook like an alberdeen so they don't get gut hooked. You can store those little jars in your tackle box.

A senko or a small hair jig are good options to fish under a bobber.

22 minutes ago, Bassguytom said:

An artificial live bait that worked well would be awful good but I am always cheerfully pessimistic about them. I think it would turn out to be bitter sweet to use a genuine imitation or an original copy. In the peaceful conquest to catch fish in no random order I believe they are the same difference.  ?

Artificial live bait..... Is that like a non-boater that fishes from a boat? 

i remember when i was younger panfish would love the gulp swimming mullet chanteuse or orange always worked

13 hours ago, Nick S said:

A senko or a small hair jig are good options to fish under a bobber.

i was going to say a small hair jig, basically a float-n-fly.

8 hours ago, buzzed bait said:

i was going to say a small hair jig, basically a float-n-fly.

An old pro told me to dip little strips of felt in scent (he told me anise,the baking spice, believe it or not) and then to thread them onto the jig.  Then watch the float and hold on tight....

Berkley power wigglers, I have been using them for years for gills. Usually I use them on a small hooked jig under a bobber. 

if you are bored not catching bass catch live bait

learn to catch grasshoppers, crickets, worms and crayfish

watching live bait will help you learn how to fish artificial baits as well

Another vote for the gulp minnows, they flat out catch panfish under a small float  Then use the little bluegill for live bait.?

PowerBait Honey Worms!

Seems like Berkeley is running this thread 

How about the Uncle Josh's pork products like the Canadian Crawlers and leeches etc., I saw these in Wally World the other day and wondered if anybody has had luck with them. They certainly look real and if they work could be another viable alternative to live bait.

Get a few packs of ice fishing soft plastics, in a some bright colors, along with some tiny hooks.  We kill them on a float rig or a drop shot.

1/32 oz Zoom marabou crappie jig works good suspended under a bobber and doesn't need to be tipped with anything.

pink/white/white package of 10 under $2.50

Tom