Live bait equals better bites

Lake Hickory has three main species of baitfish that fishermen use when targeting striped bass: (from top to bottom), gizzard shad, threadfin shad, blueback herring.

Nothing beats the real thing when it comes to bait. Lure manufacturers have spent millions of dollars researching and trying to replicate the movements of baitfish, but a cast net can provide the real thing over and over again.

Baitfish congregate in shallow areas where larger predators can’t reach them. Cast into these areas and collect more fish than you think you will need for the day. Any bait leftover at the end of a trip can be returned to the lake.

Guide Colt Bass uses three species of baitfish that live in Lake Hickory when he’s striper fishing: gizzard shad, blueback herring and threadfin shad. He uses all three to offer stripers a variety; he said live bait works on a daily basis because predator fish never get tired of feeding.

Getting the live bait is relatively easy; keeping it alive that requires a little work.  A good, aerated bait tank will keep baitfish in good shape for hours. Bass has a 150-gallon tank on his property that allows him to stockpile bait and use it as needed over a period of quite a few days.

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