I have had several occasions that I'd find a dead baitfish, like a shad or other small similar fish on the bank. They are about 3"-5" long. I mostly just take note of the color and try to get an idea of the natural forage in the lake.

 

Well yesterday me and the boy was in Walmart and he grabbed a jar of dead preserved baitfish. They were about 3" long. I declined to purchase them, mostly because I haven't a clue as to how to use them.

 

Is there any way to effectively use either for largemouth bass?

Gar is the only thing I've ever caught on a whole dead fish.

This is not in my wheelhouse, but I'd think it wouldn't be great for bass.  They seem to prey on active fish and not scavenge.  I think catfish and jigging for walleye when they come in a jar.

 

scott

Those are useful comments, thanks guys.

 

I had thoughts of... putting it on a carolina rig, or a jig head. But I can't say either would be effective.

I have caught tons of nice bass on dead bait. Jighead, hook it thru both lips. Works a lot better than plastic ! 
 

“ain’t nothing like the real thing” - Ray Charles 

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have caught tons of nice bass on dead bait. Jighead, hook it thru both lips. Works a lot better than plastic ! 
 

“ain’t nothing like the real thing” - Ray Charles 

I'm sure it does; I just can't shake the upper midwest walleye angler feel.  Next thing you know, I'm gonna have 2 outboards on my boat.

 

scott

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have caught tons of nice bass on dead bait. Jighead, hook it thru both lips. Works a lot better than plastic ! 
 

“ain’t nothing like the real thing” - Ray Charles 

So just hook it through the lips, like nose hooking it?  Then what? do I bounce or creep it along the bottom, swim it? what?

Drop shot...

12 hours ago, Bazoo said:

So just hook it through the lips, like nose hooking it?  Then what? do I bounce or creep it along the bottom, swim it? what?

I bring it in slowly while shaking the rod tip , “shaking a minnow” but a real one 

 

drop Shot is also good like RRocket said, it will twist your line reeling it in tho 

Yes, Roland Martin did a video where he was catching bass in Florida on dead shiners. He said it was revolutionary at the time. I tried to find the video but he has so many

Thanks all, and Thanks Harold. I'll have to look for it.

I hook them through the center top back so they sit natural in the water and put them on a bobber.  The bobber will give them some action.  Have caught hundreds and hundreds of bass that way. People give bass waaaaay to much credit on the intelligence front. 

Those preserved baitfish at Walmart are very fragile and get knocked off the hook very easily. I wouldn't bother with them for bass, or really anything for that matter. 

On 4/11/2025 at 4:05 PM, TnRiver46 said:

 

“ain’t nothing like the real thing” - Ray Charles 

 

*Marvin Gaye 😉

41 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

 

*Marvin Gaye 😉

Guess I was thinking of the old commercial for Coke or Pepsi, “blind” taste test 

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

Guess I was thinking of the old commercial for Coke or Pepsi, “blind” taste test 

😄Oh, was that the "You got the right one baby, uh huh"? Classic.

That’s the one!!!!

On 4/11/2025 at 6:17 PM, softwateronly said:

I'm sure it does; I just can't shake the upper midwest walleye angler feel.  Next thing you know, I'm gonna have 2 outboards on my boat.  scott

 

Yep, this SCREAMS upper midwest walleye angler.   : ) 

 

Local Scheels packages dead minnows and freezes them. I think they give them away. There are quite a few lakes in the area that prohibit live baitfish. But you can use dead...and people do...and they catch lots of fish.

 

I've fished them on a jig, hooked through both lips. Catches pretty much anything.

On 4/11/2025 at 4:05 PM, TnRiver46 said:

I have caught tons of nice bass on dead bait. Jighead, hook it thru both lips. Works a lot better than plastic ! 
 

“ain’t nothing like the real thing” - Ray Charles 

What size jig head would you recommend for this guy?

 

 

 

This bad boy found on a bank at a local lake that “does not have shad in it, 100%”. That’s a 5.5” spunk shad for reference…