Live bait and smallies?

Thought this would be a great place to post this question as I know you Mille Lacs smallie fisherman are some of the best in the midwest.What are your views on live bait?I have heard some resort and guides say they won’t use live bait for smallies.We usually have 1-2 poles set-up with live bait and work artificial baits with the others.We use leeches,crawlers, and crawdads.Have you guys ever used 2-3″ gills,green sunfish,chubs,perch?We can catch a bunch of these at a local pond and always wondered if they would be good to try?If so how do you hook them?Thanks for all those who help!
Ryan Hale

Hi Ryan,

I think the reason most of the guides and resorts don’t use live bait is this lake is basically C&R for Smallies. (Only one over 20 can be kept) Using live bait has a better chance to injure a fish. Cranks and Jigs ususally hook up in the mouth.

As far as using 2-3″ gills,green sunfish and perch…that would be illegal in Minnesota. You can use chub minnows however.

Myself and a lot of guys I know are switching over to SMB fishing as an alternative to walleye. And this is a new deal for a lot of us! It’s great! The population has exploded in the last few years…well maybe they were always there and we didn’t know!

I’m definately “Hooked”!

Jon J.

Jon, There are no smallmouth in Mille Lacs. Absolutely none. So quit telling people there are. I’ve been up there numerous times and can tell you without a doubt there are none of them brown fish there. You keep telling people this and they will want to come up there and fish for them.

I have been using the Scenic Tackle Over-bite jigs and leeches on days when the smallies seem to not be interested in cranks or plastics. To me, its just like fishing with plastics. I use 8/12 Fusion and can feel the fish suck the bait in and get a fast hook set. I have yet to get a gut hooked fish and have been using jigs and leeches for smallies for years.
I know of many guides that use Redtail Chubs and hooks in the fall for the really big fish and have yet to hear of any bad stories.

To me it is unsporting (the equivalent of catching trout on an angle worm). It takes some time but with enough work one can find the artificial pattern that is working.

There’s nothing wrong with having something to fall back on. My time on the water is too precious and if I’m having a hard time finding the right pattern or location I don’t see the terrible shame in trying a leech under a slip bobber as one of my techniques. After all, I’m not just on a boat ride…

My thought exactly Newt.I fish with my 2 oldest boys alot for smallies on the Iowa Great Lakes.And they have a very hard time fishing with artificials as of now.There is nothing easier for them or whomever to toss out a slip-bobber set-up.I’ve put alot of smallies in my boat this year and have released everyone with out a problem.But also know that plastics are killers on them also.Just like to hear different views on the subject.Thanks for the reply’s
Ryan Hale

I never really understood thinking it was more sporting or ethical to catch a fish using one method over another. Live bait can be taken deeply and treble hooks can blind and rip up a fish pretty darn good. When I fish 4″ tubes it’s not uncommon at all for the fish to engulf the bait and take the tube deeply. In the spring and early summer leeches can be very effective on bass but later in the year they basically work for poo most of the time. I prefer for my own personal reasons to fish plastics on light jigs. Just ‘cuz that suits my style and strengths as an angler but I will do anything needed to catch fish… even fish live bait.

To be honest, I think I actually do more damage to more bass over the course of as year fishing crank baits. Not an excessive amount but when you get a fish all wrapped up in the those hooks, some in the cheeks, one in the eye socket…. it’s a bad deal.