Live baits will usually save the day on Long Island lakes.
Nothing beats a largemouth crashing a Heddon Zara Spook or a trout swirling on an in-line spinner fished along the edge of a lake. Have you ever thrown a Senko or other worm close to the lily pads and seen a huge boil and water pushed by a bass heading your way? These scenes and countless others are what, in my opinion, make freshwater action so great. However, there are drawbacks to these scenes as many a trip there will be times when nothing you throw brings a rise or any sign of interest from a bass. These are times where live bait could, and “will” save your day! For bass, there are several live baits that work well – shiners, small bluegills and large nightcrawlers. All can be fished differently, but all three will also catch bass virtually every time out.
I can remember distinctly three separate times where one of these live baits saved me, my fishing partner, or kept my grandkids smiling. Way back in the early 80s, fishing with John Spampanato, a hockey goalie I played and fished with, we could not get a touch at Blydenburgh State Park. John headed back into the wooded area and found a huge nightcrawler of 10 inches. Hooking it through the tip, he almost immediately had a fat 5-pound largemouth. On another outing at Artist Lake I was throwing everything I had – topwater, swimbaits, small spinners – nothing got touched. I changed rigs to a size 12 hook and hooked up a grasshopper. After landing a small 4-inch pumpkinseed, I hooked that sunny below the dorsal fin and drilled a 4-pound largemouth. Last, but certainly not least, I had my grandkids out on my Javelin and the only way I could keep them interested was non-stop action, which was provided by fishing live shiners!
Nightcrawlers – Big Ones!
I remember as a kid heading out at night with a flashlight in search of really big nightcrawlers. You know, the ones that had stretched across your lawn on the wet grass for more than 10 inches, then as quick as you saw them they disappeared back into the ground. It may have taken some time to harvest, but these big worms are deadly where largemouth bass are concerned. How to fish them will play a role in your success.
Although you can fish big worms under a float or with a few split shot added several feet ahead of the worm, for me there is only one way to fish them – weightless!
These worms are hardy and have tough skin. I have always had success hooking them similar to a Senko rigged wacky bait, and then cast and fished in the same manner. I will also on occasion, especially where long casts are not needed, hook them once through the tip on a 1/0 or 2/0 beak hook. Either way, a slow, steady retrieve with pauses is what you want.
Bluegills & Perch
Every season live bait will always save the day, but live bait could also account for your largest bass of the year. Going into the fall, bass will want to fatten up, but also want an easy meal.
Most anglers I know will fish the swimming bait under a float, but again, my preferred method is free-lined, weightless. If you are going to fish it under a float, make sure the bait is only about 1 to 2 feet below the float. Regardless of how you plan to fish it, always hook it, in my opinion, just behind the dorsal. Hooking it this way will enable the fish to swim erratically, and with a slight twitch of the rod, make it look like a dying or wounded fish. This presentation will make a bass pounce like no other.
The Shiner Advantage
Live freshwater shiners, which are available at a few shops on Long Island are guaranteed fish catchers. These baits will always get eaten, and not just by bass. Walleye, big pickerel, big yellow perch and even trout will engulf them. To me, live shiners are the best way to guarantee you will get bit! I have seen countless days where even a nightcrawler would not get a touch, but the minute a live shiner is dropped, bam, you’re in.
To fish live shiners I use two methods, both of which are very similar. From my Javelin bass boat, I will use a 2/0 hook and a split shot about 2 feet ahead of the bait. The split shot allows me to keep the boat moving (like mini-trolling), but does not allow the shiner to swim to the surface. For shorebound fishing the hook placement and size are the same, but no split shot. You can control the shiner on the retrieve by slowing up your cranking, and by adding slight twitches as well.
For anglers that want to sit and wait, you can use shiners under a float, similar to the perch and gills.
Rod & Reel
For the rod and reel, the simpler the better. You do need to go fancy, nor high end. A basic 7 to 7-foot, 3-inch spinning rod rated for 10 to 17-pound test will suffice. I like a variety of reels – Shimano Stradic, Daiwa Eliminator or Abu-Garcia Revo X. The best size is in the 30 or 3000 class. On the line side, Power Pro or Suffix braid in 20-pound test is best. Top it off with a shot of fluorocarbon in your choice rated at 12 to 15-pound test. You may have to work a bit if the bass heads into the weeds, but the cutting advantage of the braid will hopefully get the bass landed.
There are a lot of ways to catch bass throughout the year, but as the summer months approach, and the bite gets tough, live bait is a great option. Live bait, whether you are a fan or not, will definitely add to the days enjoyment of catching. And, the one advantage to live bait is also from the kid’s aspect. Nothing is more critical when taking the youngsters fishing, then catching! Live bait, especially the swimming ones, will also have the kids laughing while you try to retrieve the flopping bait from a bucket or live well. If you want to guarantee bites, make sure you bring some live bait on your next outing.
