Need help. I have never caught a buffalo, and over the past holidays I was talking to a gentleman at the Lewisville barge. He gave me some of his homemade bait and mentioned that he also sold it. Have had some excitement using the bait, and want to buy more. Not much info here to work with, but if anyone knows the gentleman I am referring to, I would appreciate contact info or he can call me at 512-845-3797. I live in Irving.
Thanks in advance for the help.

Mike

A simple easy buffalo bait is bits of nightcrawler or red wiggler worms. They love worms.

I think u are talking about Troy carp and cat candy?

If you are fishing the barge the best bait is dillies in winter and early spring. There smaller than a night crawler but very active in the water. They don't die easy. Balance your rod and watch for slightest twitch of rod and set the hook. I have won so many tourneys at the barge in the past doing that.

Or get hamburger buns, cottonseed meal and some vanilla and cinnamon. Wet hamburger buns with lake water. Ring out excess water start mixing in cottonseed meal until it's firm then add vanilla and lots of cinnamon. Trust me. You will catch plenty. I fished tourneys many of tournaments there using dough and dillies

If your fishing grapevine for buffs free line dough bait.

This is a proven bait that is very easy to make and works great. I highly recommend this as well.

Thanks for the response, and I will try all of them. However even with the vast resources of the World Wide Web, I am not finding a local source for Dillie worms. Please give me a location around Irving or Lewisville where I can locate them. Use the whole worm, or segments of them? Tight line or a littobsesson.le slack with a slip weight? Catching a buff is becoming an obsession.
Thanks Mike.

Three Rivers Live Bait

lewisville barge sells them 3$ a tub. or they used too. take the whole worm and thread it on the hook. leaving the ends off so they can move.

Thanks again for all the info. I plan to make the hamburger bun/cotten seed meal bait before Saturday, so I will be ready to go. It is exciting to think about catching a large buff, taking a picture with it and then another picture as he swims off.

Good luck Mike! Buff and Carp fishing grows on you!

Tuesday I stopped at a feed store to buy a "few" range cubes. They don't sell just a "few". I now have several hundred cubes, about 50 lbs worth. Yesterday I stopped by the same feed store to get a couple of pounds of cotton seed meal. I wasn't to surprised to find out they don't sell a couple of pounds. I am to impatient to look for other suppliers that might sell smaller quantities, so I bought 50 pounds. Not to worry, I am going home and make up a big batch of bait. Now I have a wad of bait about the size of a softball, and used 3 cups of the meal. Anyone that needs a few pounds of cotton seed meal I can help with that. I live in Irving and work in north Ft. Worth close to 820 and I35. Give me a call. 512-845-3797. Planning on fishing the Lewisville barge this weekend. Is the carp well my best bet? I will be the old fat guy in a blue uniform shirt with my name on it. Say hello if you see me.
Thanks

i used to fish there back in the day when i lived in justin, the best spot to me was in the carp well on the far in by the heater, and outside right behind it. but i heard the owner put a ton of christmas trees in the triangle part outside, and they all floated around. what i would do there is find a spot outta the wind, put a couple pounds of cubes in, use a small hook like a size 6 and fish on top of the cubes. any twitches or pull downs set the hook. you will miss alot of times but keep at it.

send whiterockjesse a pm, he knows a place where you can get feed by the pound.

ill give you my dough bait recipe, worked for me back in the day, 7 slices of bread 1/4 cup of water 1/4 cup of cotton seed and a cap full of vanilla, another thing i like to do was mix chilli powder into a small dough ball. carp/buffs like spicey stuff and thats all i use today is chilli powder. you can also use sweet stuff like strawberry or pineapple.

I was crappie fishing at the barge yesterday. You don't have to measure water just get bread wet and wring out excess water. And don't have to measure cottonseed. Just mix until you get right consistency.

oh i know, i just did it like that cause i didnt wanna waste a whole loaf of bread lol.

Thanks again for all the information. My plan is to go to the barge this evening, and just fish for buffs. Not planning on taking my catfish fish gear, but it may wind up in the truck. I hope to go back tomorrow and do it all over again. I haven't been this anxious to catch a fish in a long time. If you see me please say hello.

Mike

Fished 9 hours Friday night and 6 hours mid day Saturday at the Lewisville barge. No buffalo. Met some real nice people that shared their dough bait with me, besides one of the recipes I got from here, also tried Dillies. May have gotten bites and missed them. Didn't have a clue that apparently, buffalo bite very lightly. Now it has gotten personal. I am not interested in catfish or crappie, until I catch a buff. Realized yesterday that the lake on Luna road is about 5 miles from my house. I am going to try there, closer and cheaper.
Overheard some gentlemen discussing the old bait house at Sandy Lake,or Sandy Creek lake and the way they talked, everyone knew where it was. Can someone tell me what/where they are talking about? Maybe I won't be the only person in the area in the dark.

Good luck catching buffs.

Sandy Lake Bait Store is off Sandy Lake Rd between Coppell and Carrollton next to the dam off the Elm Fork River.

Thanks Budlitego.

Tracy S, I'm gonna try your bait tommorow..what kinda of water should I look for ? Fishing from bank at Benbrook..? Any Carb 101 tips would be helpful..just wanna have the line jerked !!

There are some good buffs in the Trinity at the park by the Sandy Lake bait shop. I've caught a bunch there using dough bait flavored with garlic powder.

Doesnt matter. Calm water is good for free lining. If your free lining dough bait. As the line tightens. Set the hook and get ready for a good fight lol.

Went and tried Mineral Wells State Park today...I had the famous dough bait and calm water (muddy) and even chummed with corn....No Luck should have went to Benbrook !

I have been traveling the last couple of weeks but am back home now. Ready to start my buff quest again. Read on this forum, I think, that you can fish with range cubes. Please share how this is done. Mostly they break on me when I try to drill a hole large enough for the hook, the one or two I did get drilled, seemd to completely overpower my # 6 hook. Couldn't see the hook under the cube. Being a rookie isn't for sissies.

Thanks

Mike

you need to use the hair rig to use range cubes. make a hair about a inch to 2 inches, drill a 1/16 hole in the cube, then use a baiting needle to thread the hair thru the hole, then put a small bead or a piece of maize on the bottom of the cube, with a bait stop.

here is a video on how to make the knotless know aka hair rig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqtfW9ucHkE

What he said. It wont work without a hair rig. A 1" cube should do OK, but you dont have to use cubes. A hair rig on the other hand is almost a necessity the way that buffs bite.

Thanks Chris. I will pratice these rigs this afternoon, and try them this weekend.

Mike...I am in the same frame of mind. I have not caught a buff yet but am trying everything I can to get me one. I changed all my rigs and tackle just to try a go at one those awesome fish.

in my experience if u make the dough bait right and you just use it weightless and slack lines and when they bite they messs with it for a minute then it will take off like a carp does i have caught many buffs doing this the way 2fish4everything taught me

Thanks again for all the help. I am going to go to the lewisville barge tonight and fishing strictly for buffalo. Planning on using the information/tips that have been posted here. Say hello if you see me, I will be the old guy in a blue unform shirt with my name on it.

Mike

Just found out I am not going to make it out tonight. Something came up. Will try again tomorrow evening.

Mike

The Original Range Cube on a Hair always needs to be credited to Paul Swider.

If you're crazy, you can do it like me:


I typically use a smaller cube with a piece of Maize (real or fake) to hold it on.

Some guys use longer hairs (kinda like the one in the picture), and drill the cube long-ways through the ends. Mess with a bunch of them in different sizes, hair lengths, and peripherals (types/sizes of corn, etc.), and see what works for you. I really suggest getting a bag of cubes and sitting down for an hour or so one day and just drill out a Wal Mart bag full of them so that they are ready to go for your session.

Chad

Been working on hair rigs. Now I have another question. What do you put in the small loop, after you have the bait on, to keep the bait from sliding back off? I am using broken pcs of toothpick, which seem to work. Any drawback to rigging them like that?

Thanks

Toothpicks are fine for holding your bait on the hair. All the carp tackle sites have bait plastic bait stops you can buy for about a buck. I prefer the barbell shaped ones.

you can use anything really, piece of a tooth pick, grass, stick, anything. most use those little straps you get with a fire extinguisher.

i use these. http://www.bigcarptackle.com/store/product.php?productid=18244&cat=396&page=1

you can find those at shipping stores i think cheap

Thanks Chris. We have something very similar at work. I am going to grab a hand full of them. Hope to try the lake on Luna road this week. Should be buffallo there.

Fished for buffalo at the Lewisville barge carp well on Sunday morning. Used several of the dough bait recipes you guys have shared with me. Had some bites, caught a few channel cats on worms, but still haven't managed to hook/catch a buff. It is frustrating, but I do enjoy fishing at the barge and the visiting with other fisherman. I feel like I am doing the right things, except for not paying as much attention to my lines as I should. Today I am going to pratice tying a hair rig with a range cube, until I am comfortable rigging it up. Thinking of making several in advance and taking them along. Won't have to spend time re-rigging when I do catch one. I was right across the well from Cody, that posted in the catfish section, and watched him and his dad put together a nice stringer of channel cats. Enjoyed visiting with them.

what size hook are you using? iv had good results up there going to a smaller hook then a size 6. remember to set the hook on every twitch, your gonna miss more then you hook up, but sometimes them buffs bite like a perch then again they will tap it and then sit on the bait.

Chris, once again thanks for your input. I have been using a #6 hook, but will go down a size. Sometime I see the pecks, but am uncertain if it really is a bite. Won't hesitate in the future. Guess if I thought about it, most likely my dough bait isn't moving on it's on. Do you set the hook with a jerk, or a sweeping motion?

Thanks

i would set the hook like im trying to rip its lips off, fast and straight up, sometimes slapping the roof there haha!! have you tried to balance the rod on the rail yet? once you get it to where the weight is on the bottom but the rod is balanced with the line kinda tight, you will see every bite, movement that happens. be sure to tie a string to the rail and to your rod, just in case it slips or goes over you wont lose it.

Chris, I have learned to balance my rods. I am using a bait slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. To large? Heck with pratcing my hair rigs, I am going to make more bait and head back out there in a few minutes.

Thanks

I am heading out the door for the fishing barge. If I catch one, I will post a picture.

Mike

i would use a ball no bigger then a marble or skittle.

Mike just landed that buff that's been tormenting him. Had the pleasure of sitting across the well from him when it happened. He had just said he has been getting frustrated about not landing one, then not a minute later he did. Congrats mike it wasnt a monster, but you'll get a bigger one soon I'm sure.

good stuff mike WTG!

Awesome job man I also have yet to catch me a buff...what did you end up catching him with?

Congrats on your 1st buff Mike. Now you need to head to the cliffs and catch a big one.

First, thanks to everyone that has shared their knowledge and and advice, especially Chris. Blue, enjoyed visiting with you last night. I was using a chili powder, hot dog bun recipe. When I down sized my bait per Chris's suggestion, It was easiser to identify a bite. Did a lot of jerking without connecting, but finally did hook up. I actually hooked the fish outside his mouth, but I am going to count it as a catch because he was mouthing the bait. Some things I noticed after finally having a buffalo in hand. Very thick, muscular fish. He didn't weigh more than two pounds, but was difficult to hold on to with one hand. Very strong. Most surprising to me was how "small" the mouth was. Maybe that has something to do with how they got their name. The tip of my index finger would bearly fit in his mouth. I will post a picture when someone gets to work that is more tech savvy than myself. I am now offically addicted to buff fishing.

that is about the normal size there, thats why i suggested a smaller hook, with a small dough ball. grats on the buff.

Having trouble getting the picture to post, but haven't given up yet. Lester, not familar with the "cliffs" is it local?

Congrats on the new PB! I hope you break it many times over.

Congrats on the PB!! Pics?

In regards to hooking the fish outside of the mouth- Tournaments that I have fished have made the stipulation that if the fish was hooked within 1" of the mouth, it is considered a caught fish. Sounds like a catch to me!

Chad

Posting the picture is as difficult as catching a buff. I would appreciate it if I could email the picture to someone and have you post it.

Thanks

if you upload it to photobucket, there is a IMG posting code. If not, right click the picture, get the image URL and just put it between these, [img][/img].

congrats

Picture of my first buff might be at this link, not real sure. It is a poor quality cell phone picture, but you can see the white 5 gallon bucket next to the fish. (coffe cup)
If the picture isn't there, it is somewhere, because I have clicked almost evey option offered by photo bucket.
Thanks again for everyone's help.

Mike

Didn't realize the picture was going to be in my post. Computers are amazing.

Thanks

Mike

Hey I've seen that fish before, good going mike.

pm sent

Went back to the Lewisvill barge last night to fish just for buffalo. Invited a couple of friends that wanted to crappie fish. I get all set up, chum with range cubes, bait up with three different bait mixtures, rods all balanced on the rail. I am cocked, locked, and ready to rock. 10 minutes into the session, my friend is reeling in his minnow,foul hooks and lands a 7.87 pound buffalo. I am in shock. Friends leave about 11:00 and I fish on till 1:00 AM without a hook up. Lots of what I think are bites, and missing bait.
Go back to the barge this morning about 10:00, determined to catch a buff. Get set up, same scenario as last night, except now I am using lighter rods, hoping to detect bites better.
Fifteen minutes late a gentlemen fishishing close to me catchs about a 2 lb buff. I think not to worry, my turn is coming up. The fish didn't get the memo. Had one brief hook up and that was it. I am obviously missing something (besideds fish) in this process. I moved down in hook size from a #6, tried multiple baits, and switched to more sensitive rods. Any suggestions? I am not going to give up, even if they make me cry.

Thanks
Mike

Buffalo can be very tough to catch with freelining and traditional methods. Lots of swings and misses is par for the course. Sounds like you're doing it right to me.

If you ever want to make the jump to a more "Euro" style, try using a bolt rig, which is a heavy (at least 2 ounces) semi-fixed lead coupled with a hair rig. The buffalo will basically hook itself due to the weight. This said, even then they usually won't give you a bona fide run. They will just slowly move the rod tip up and down. When that happens, pick the rod up, pull it to the side and parallel with the water and carefully reel down until you can feel the weight. When the fish gives a tug, set the hook and it's on. I don't give it the typical freelining whiplash hook set when I'm fishing like this, just a quick lift on the rod to about 60 degrees.

I'm not too sure how this would work in a vertical fishing situation like barge fishing. I've never fished the L'ville barge, there may be too many snags to consider a heavy lead like that.

http://s1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg525/mikesaxon/?action=view&current=IMAG0077.jpg

Went back to the Lewisville Barge this morning,strictly to fish for buffalo. Using lighter equipment made bite detection simpler,but wasn't a cure all. Fish bite steadly thru the morning, I had two solid hook ups, but lost them both before I could even verify they were buffs. Decided that due to the limber rods I was using, I need to put more snap in my hook set. Several bites and misses. Then I hooked into this fish. Put on show for a few minutes with my rod bent almost double before I got him to the surface and in the net. He was foul hooked in the side, but I was still excited. He wouldn't have gotten hooked at all if he wasn't messing with my bait. I am begining to enjoy this more and more.

Thanks again for all the tips and help.

Do buffs like fishmeal or is there a certain item they really like? I'm experimenting with my own baits this year and wondered what specific ingredient they really like.

Bream Bum, In my very limited experience, there appears to be almost as many buff baits as there are buff fisherman. However several of the recipes that people have shared with me, all start out with some form of white bread/buns. Then they get as exotic as you want. I bought cottonseed meal to mix with the bread, and added cinnamon, or chili powder, or garlic to make three differnt flavors. Apparently a can of whole kernel corn can be effective as chum and bait. Late this week I have the opportunity to fish with a gentlemen from the forum that I am sure will not only be fun but informative. Careful with this buff fishing, it can become compulsive. Besides I have talked to a lot of very friendly people about it.

Mike

Because it's simply the binder? white? the yeast?
all the above?

I really want to up my buff pb to something over 20# this year.

I suspect it is all of the above. Need someone that knows more about buffalo than I do, to get a definative answer. I also want to continue to increase the size of the buffs I catch, but first I need to concentrate on on the fundimentals.
I am moveing back to Leander about this time next month, and will be fishing Lakes Georgetown and Travis by early April. Maybe we can plan a trip later in the spring.

I am a firm believer it is much harder to hook a 5lb buff than a 15lb buff. Seems like the smaller they are, the more missed bites you'll have in my experience anyways.

i can help with that
just have to wait for the right time. (spawn time) for me has been the best with plenty of buffs caught in the double digits per session

Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to doing alot more carp and buff fishing this year. PMs sent.

Maybe someday my signature can be like buffaloman chris'.