texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,579
TexDawg 119,518
Bigbob_FTW 94,889
John175☮ 85,892
Pilothawk 83,260
Bob Davis 81,483
Mark Perry 72,289
Derek 🐝 68,312
JDavis7873 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,843
Posts13,935,421
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? #13276803 09/10/19 10:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 11
L
Lee997 Offline OP
Green Horn
OP Offline
Green Horn
L
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 11
I posted here not too long ago, and the folks of TFF were very helpful in making my first fishing experience enjoyable. I've run into another wall though.

I'm on a more or less tight budget, so every cent counts. I know that baits such as worms are inexpensive for the most part (3$ or so for a pack of 30 red worms at Walmart), but how do you folks save money on other baits, such as minnows and shad? Also, how do you fish with artificial baits, lures, jigs, spinners, and the like?

Like before, any and all advice pertaining to "budget fishing" is appreciated. Thanks again!

Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13276831 09/10/19 11:30 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,737
GIG'EM AGGIES Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,737
Sorry to say this but even bank fishing ain't cheap. You can save money on live bait with a cast net but cast nets aren't cheap. Walmart is the cheapest on artificial lures but getting a variety is still expensive. All depends on what you're fishing far. Bream fishing from the bank with worms is the least expensive. Bass fishing from the bank with a bag of plastic worms would be next. I'm guessing you already have a rod and reel. Enjoy fishing the best way you can bud with whatever you can afford. For artificials I would start with a bag of black/blue worms and a 3/8 oz. spinner bait from Walmart. Those two will cost you less than $10. Good luck.


I am a Senager. (Senior teenager) I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 50 years later. I get an allowance every month. I have PU truck and a bass boat, I am blessed.
Conscience never acquits, it either accuses or excuses.
Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13276837 09/10/19 11:39 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 526
B
Burbarry Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
B
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 526
Maybe just start off slow buy a bulk mixed colors of worms off eBay. I buy them sometimes to save money and to see what colors I might get.

Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13276892 09/11/19 12:39 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,219
C
Choogie Chunker Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
C
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,219
As far as perch, they bite a ball of rolled up bread on the point of hook. About the size of a BB or slightly larger. You can then use the smaller perch live for cats or even bass. Or cut them up for cats or drum.









'91 Skeeter 200SX Yamaha 200
................................
It's hard to stumble when you're on your knees.
................................................
I'm not old. My bobbers just float a little lower than they used to.



Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13276935 09/11/19 01:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,219
C
Choogie Chunker Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
C
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,219
[Linked Image]









'91 Skeeter 200SX Yamaha 200
................................
It's hard to stumble when you're on your knees.
................................................
I'm not old. My bobbers just float a little lower than they used to.



Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13280687 09/14/19 03:51 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,263
W
wupbass Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
W
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,263
Garage sales... you can find inexpensive stuff. Try to go with someone that has some knowledge on basic tacle.

Last edited by wupbass; 09/14/19 03:53 PM.
Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13280700 09/14/19 04:06 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 301
J
JAlfred Offline
Angler
Offline
Angler
J
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 301
You can easily get all the minnows you want with an umbrella net and bread balls (tightly compacted so they don't float). The nets are a pain in the butt to assemble, but they work. I have a 42" X 42" version that I got from Amazon for $22. I wish I had gotten a smaller one. Amazon has one for less than $4.

Inexpensive umbrella net

Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13280719 09/14/19 04:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,532
Uncle Zeek Online Happy
aka "Dad"
Online Happy
aka "Dad"
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,532
Lee, I don't know whether you have a yard to do this ...

I keep a couple of compost barrels going at all times, and anytime I want earthworms, I just dig & turn the composting soil. Get all the bait I need for panfish, catfish, and the like.

If you're fishing for catfish, chicken livers are pretty cheap.


"Decency is not news; it is buried in the obituaries --but it is a force stronger than crime" ~ Robert A. Heinlein
Artim Law Firm, PLLC
Estate planning & tax attorney
2250 Morriss Road, Suite 205, Flower Mound, Texas 75028
972-746-0758 mobile
zac@artimlegal.com
Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13280813 09/14/19 06:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,077
B
BillS2006 Online Content
TFF Celebrity
Online Content
TFF Celebrity
B
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,077
The compost bait is a good idea. I keep two "worm beds" of European night crawlers year round. For lures, shop Walmart clearance sales. Should be some items going on clearance now.


Transgenders: God made them, the devil changed their minds.
Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13280861 09/14/19 07:49 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,462
P
PKfishin Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
P
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,462
Live bait is the cheapest way to fish. I am retired and I can tell you the best way is to get a good throw net and catch your own bait.


John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.
Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13282269 09/16/19 03:47 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,490
T
TR176 Online Content
TFF Celebrity
Online Content
TFF Celebrity
T
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,490
Yum stick-baits are 2.96 for 10 at Walmart in pretty decent colors. Those and some 4/0 hooks will do it.

Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13282820 09/16/19 06:08 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 817
C
Coreywms Offline
Pro Angler
Offline
Pro Angler
C
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 817
I raise my own red wigglers. Started with a few leftovers from walmart. I have thousands of them now. I started with a five gallon bucket, dirt and old lettuce. I keep it in the house and it doesn't smell at all. Now I don't care as much if a fish steals my bait.




PM me if you need video production. Click Here For Video Tips On Fishing
Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13284114 09/17/19 07:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,777
O
Osbornfishing Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
O
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,777
Garage sales are the best, then Ebay. Search on tackle box lot. If you stay with it you can find a box full of stuff for a good deal.

Re: Bait fishing, and how to save on bait? [Re: Lee997] #13285472 09/18/19 09:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 75
K
Krappie-King Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
K
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 75
I'm not sure what kind of fish you are trying to get into but the cheapest alternative to live bait is a cast net. Throw at boat ramps early in the morning, shallow grass flats, and under lights at night. There's a curve to learning the art, but after a while one or two casts will have dozens of baits.

The way I first started fishing artificials was using weightless watermelon seed flukes and some cheap worm hooks. It usually costs less then 8 dollars for the set up, and is a very easy bait to fish. Let the bait fall to the bottom, work it slow, and watch your line. Also a lot cheaper to replace then a crank bait when you get snagged, which you will. A good place to really learn how to fish artificials is neighborhood ponds and rivers where bass seem to be a little easier to fool. Good luck and stick with it

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3