Can you catch bait before daylight?We went a couple weeks ago.Did OK It was our first time for reds caught 11 or 12.And some really nice catfish.I We are going back this weekend thought we would start earlier. Maybe 3 or 4 am.What about the bait are they in the same place as after daylight? Any help would be appreciated.Thanks

In the pre-dawn hours I've grabbed enough live bait to hold us for awhile at the boat ramp area. Easier to see and has held good variety.
I've found that after sunrise the bait hold close or even under the grass/moss. Have caught plenty of big Talapia chunking the net against the edge of the matted grass. It can be a workout if you throw at the edges because you will grab some of that stuff.

If you are lucky and quick enough to throw as a school of shad comes by on the graph/fishfinder it will save you time.

Good luck.

Use lures and you will never have to mess with bait again.

Dmcputtz, what the hell is that in your sig???

strugon

And a big sturgeon at that!

I didn't know White Rock stocked them!

RodFather, what lures?

I can tell emphatically that if you even find the perfect lure you will catch no better than 5% to 50% of the reds you will catch with indigenious bait. To even get 50% you have to figure out what motion, speed and color they want that day.

51-60 count Raw Shrimp catches less than indigenious bait, and tends to attact the smaller reds. Heads on shrimp is better. Crawdads even better. Oriental fish food stores offer the two latter baits.

Frozen shad bought at the Chevron station (if they have some in stock) will work better than artificials.

All natural baits always seem to work better than a lure. Wake up!

FISH ON DEE

The best bait to catch Is Jackie Kennedy :best bait on Fairfield for sure!!

I believe in live bait like these other guys

I have had luck with a variety of lures...for me it seems that the bigger lures are best...big lipless cranks, big cranks, 6" swimbaits...something with a large profile that will stay close to the bottom when retrieved at a medium speed..I love the deepdiving magXrap15 by rapala...I like lures because I can put the trolling motor on high and cover more ground until I locate an active school...hope that helps a little.

For the record Jackie's presence is a lure, not a bait.

All this time I thought it was Peanut that was attracting all those reds.....

Peanut has a lot to do with this deal.If jackie isnt close to the bank- where does peanut- go-?

Has Fairfield gotten any rain?