Reading another thread about shad size and I was curious what is the biggest/longest bait you’ve caught a fish with, or what length of bait without cutting it are you comfortable using for consistently catching fish.

I chop the tails off all my baits. In the winter I try to use at least 2 baits that are 10-12 inches with the tail off but I will go as big as 15” if I’m on the right fishery. You need a stinger rig to fish those sized baits.

8" Live Bluegill!

I had a 2 pound channel cat bite the hook on trotline and was lodged in the mouth of an 8 pound flathead

Bout the same for me, at least for freshwater fishing. For shark fishing I've used 3-4 pound fish heads.

It depends on how long you want to wait to catch a fish. You will not get as many bites on really big bait. But you can catch some monsters. I have been successful using 2 pound carp and 15” shad for bait. Typically I stay with cut bait about the size of your hand.

Osborns right. If you want to catch eaters then don’t use big baits. I rarely catch one under 10 lbs in the winter on big baits. I go big cuz there are so many dinks in my lake that if you use small baits in the winter you will rarely catch anything big cuz the dinks are on it before the big fish can get to it. I go for quality over quantity until around this time of year. I get a lot more satisfaction out of catching a handful of big fish over a stringer of eaters any day. I downsize my baits when I go shallow. I’m not real big on threadfin except when the shallow bite is going on. I can’t help but throw a few big baits anyhoot but most of my fish will come off whole threads and gill chunks until mid April.