When it comes to Walleye boats, none have more of an aura of excellence than the brand Lund. More than one angler has spent their lives scrolling through a pamphlet or website, looking at their “dream boat.” Even so, are Lund boats any good – or is this a case of lust vs. love?
Granted I’m biased, as I’ve owned by Lund Impact for over a decade now, but I’d emphatically answer, “Yes, Lund Boats are good – very good – the kind of good that deserves a way better hook than this.”
Let’s explore why.
Impressive Lineup
One of the main reasons Lund makes such good boats is that they’ve got the perfect one for you. Lund is one of the few brands out there that has a model that can suit pretty much any need.
If you own a camp and want some good utility boats for your customers, they’ve got you covered.
If you’re a family man and want something that can fish but also pull the kids around on tubes, you can find that in the Impact XS lineup. Not quite ready to make that financial commitment? Try the Adventure – it’s a great entry level boat that will turn heads.
Finally, if you’re a hardcore fisherman, they have the perfect boat for you. Want to troll for salmon and lake trout on the Great Lakes? The Tyee and Baron are your huckleberry. Want to fish bass tournaments? The Pro-V bass is the best aluminum bass boat ever made. Finally, want the ultimate fishing boat that can do anything you ask of it? Well, the vaunted Pro-V class is for you.
Reputation
Lund has an extremely good reputation that it received by continuously pleasing the sort of folk who concentrate on every last detail: anglers. It would be impossible to sustain this reputation if it wasn’t warranted, especially in the age of the internet where everyone has a voice. Lund makes boats worth the reputation (and money) and tends to go out of their way to help people who have issues, assuming they’re polite and the issue really is Lund’s fault.
Resale Value
Unless it’s your last boat, you’re going to want to factor in resale value when deciding what to buy. Here again, Lund Boats prove why thy’re so good. They tend to have significantly higher resale value than competitors of value brands like Tracker, for example. This is because they’re coveted – people want them – and because they hold up very well being of such high quality.
Another important element to why Lund Boats have such good resale value, in my opinion, is who the first owner was. At least for the more expensive models, you’re typically going to get a dedicated fisherman who knows what he’s doing as the prior owner. In my experience, many of the problems folks have with boats have very little to do with manufacturer error and a great deal to do with user error. If you buy a boat from someone who isn’t on their first rodeo, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding this.
How Much Are Lund Boats?
There is no way to sugar coat it. Lund boats are expensive. Take a look at their boat builder site. Setting aside their Jon Boats, the Fury is their most basic offering and it comes in at $12,797 as of writing. Then you see the Baron’s at $97,987 and you can see that there’s quite a range. There are also some Pro-V models that start at over $100,000. Bear in mind these figures are with the smaller motors that they can run, which you probably aren’t going to want to go for. Upgrading that can add tends of thousands of dollars to these prices. Clearly, these are expensive boats.
Why are Lund Boats so Expensive?
Lund boats are clearly more expensive than most of their competitors. There are a few reasons for this, but primarily it comes down to quality and reputation. Built in America by professionals who often have decades of experience, these boats stand up to the test of time. No one is going to send tens of thousands of dollars on a used boat just because it is a certain brand – it needs to actually hold up and be worth it.
Lund’s fit and finish is second to none. If you don’t believe me, go poke around one and then compare it to some of the value brands. It’s just a quality you can see and feel.
Lund’s also are expensive used boats. Why? Simply because people want them and are willing to pay a premium for them. In that respect, when you buy a new Lund, a good portion of the extra price is to account for this. There are many tales of folks on the internet selling these boats a short while after they bought them for more than they paid for them.
In over a decade of owning my Lund, this is the worst issue I’ve had to contend with.
Are Lund Boats Worth the Money?
If you’re set on buying a boat, a Lund is definitely worth the money over most competitors. First, it’s a product that is going to hold up over the years and provide immense entertainment to your family. Secondly, if you take care of it, when it’s time to sell it, you stand a great chance of recouping a huge percentage of its original sale value. Because a Lund does not depreciate as rapidly as other brands like Tracker, the overall cost of ownership can be much more competitive when you go to sell it and recoup some of your investment.
This of course assumes you actually use the boat. Unfortunately, boats have a habit of being an expensive lawn ornament for some people. If that’s the case for you, your boat will never be worth the money.
Where are Lund Boats Made?
All Lund boats are made in the same place they’ve been made since 1946: New York Mills, Minnesota in the United States of America. When you buy a boat from Lund, you’re supporting American workers building their (and your) piece of the American dream.
Where to Buy Lund Boat Seats?
While your Lund is likely to hold up well over the years, one area you might want to upgrade are your seats. These can take a lot of abuse after a lifetime of fishing and replacing them is the quickest way to sprucing up an old boat.
Your dealer will be able to source boat seats for your Lund, but if that isn’t an option, or you want to try and save some money, your best bet is going to be Amazon, which has a Lund Fishing Boat Seat with screws. People reviewing the seats there have been impressed with the quality, though it doesn’t seem there are many different color options, and the gray that is available is darker than the gray that came on many Lunds. My Lund boat seat is a much lighter gray, for example.
If you really want the best match, you can also try E-Bay, or Facebook marketplace. E-Bay is going to be hit and miss, but at least you have some seller protection there. If something doesn’t arrive or has issues, E-Bay will tend to work with you to make it right.
Facebook, on the other hand, can be a dangerous place to purchase Lund boat seats. For whatever reason, there have been several scammers over the years on various Facebook groups. Reputable sellers won’t be opposed to doing something like putting a newspaper or a sheet of paper with their name on it in the photo so you know it’s the real deal.
Conclusion: Lund Boats Aren’t Just Good, They’re Great
If you’re in the market for a new or gently used boat, you really can’t go wrong with Lund. They have high quality controls, are made in America, have extremely strong resale value and hold up for years. You can buy one and know you can get a good portion of your money back even years after the purchase – and that isn’t bad. I’d definitely encourage you to head over to the classified section at Walleye Central and see if you can find a used Lund that’ll fit your family’s needs.
I hope this helped!
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
One of the best lures to use if you simply have to catch a bass is a Senko on a wacky rig. These soft plastic worms are perfectly balanced for the wacky rig technique and for years have consistently put fish in the boat. A wacky rigged Senko is a great lure to catch largemouth bass because it is easy to fish and effective, making it one of the best techniques for beginners and kids (as well as pros)!
In this article, I’ll explain what a “wacky rig” is, how to rig a Senko wacky style, and also give some tips on some equipment you should pair with it to make your trip better. I’ll also offer my thoughts on a tool that will make this technique even better and much more affordable.
What is a Wacky Rig Worm?
To put it simply, a wacky rigged worm is any soft plastic lure that is hooked directly through its center. More than one person has remarked that it looks like something you’d expect a kid to come up with, but sometimes keeping it simple simply works. There’s a reason I have it as one of the four best fishing lures you can use with kids!
While the most common type of soft plastic to wacky rig is the Senko worm, it can also be utilized with pretty much anything you have. Flukes, tubes, creatures, stick baits and grubs all work just fine and might be exactly what the fish are seeking on any given day.
When you wacky rig a worm or other soft plastic, what you’re basically doing is letting both ends of it dangle and do its thing. This creates way more chaotic action than a Texas Rig (where the “front” of the lure is basically an extension of the line) would, for example. You basically double the action of any given soft plasitc which can have very interesting results.
This simple set up will help put your kids on plenty of bass.
How to Rig a Wacky Worm
You can wacky rig a worm with pretty much any hook you like, though they do make dedicated hooks for the job. Rigging it is as simple as it gets – simply thread whatever hook you’d like directly through the center of gravity of a soft plastic lure. The idea is to balance it out so both sides will kind of wobble back and forth on the fall. If you’re using a Senko or stick bait, this is pretty easy to find – just put it straight through the middle and call it a day. If you’re getting all wild like and using something like a fluke, you may need to adjust where you put the hook to get the desired action.
How to Fish a Wacky Rigged Senko
Wacky Rigged Senkos are exremely easy to fish – simple cast them out and wait while they drop down. Very frequently, fish will hit it on the drop. If you don’t get a bite, lift your rod tip back up to the 1-2 o’clock position to raise the worm up off the ground, reel in your slack, and have it fall again.
You can also retrieve a wacky rigged worm with little twitches, taps, and pops which will give it a darting action while you’re raising it off the sea floor. This, coupled with its tantalizing drop, can really turn fish on in a huge way.
This versatility and ease of use makes Senkos some of the best lures possible to tie on for a kid. Whenever I put together a fishing care package for a child I make sure I toss a few packs of Senkos in for good measure.
Disadvantage of the Wacky Rig
The three main disadvantages to wacky rigging your Senkos, worms, or other soft plastics are that this style is far less weedless than the Texas Rig, are prone to being bitten off by pickerel or pike, and are considerably less durable than other fishing set ups.
Can Wacky Rigged Worms Be Weedless?
While you can buy “weedless” wacky rigged hooks, the hook is still exposed and frankly the weed guard is just one more thing to snag. While these specialty weedless wacky rig hooks can help, you’re still going to catch a lot of weeds, so the wacky rig is better used in clearer water.
If you want to use a Senko and make it weedless, your better bet is to just Texas Rig it by putting the hook into the body of the worm. This will not have the same action as a wacky rig, but what good is action if it immediately hooks a weed?
Wacky Rigged Worms and Pike
The enticiing action of a wacky rigged worm is going to be just as irresistable to a northern pike or chain pickerel as it would be to a bass. Unfortunately, a wacky rig has no protection from the teeth of these predators, so it’s very easy to be bit off. If you’re insistent on fishing these lures in areas where northern pike and chain pickerel are prevalent, you should probably just accept that you’re going to lose the occasional worm to their teeth. You also might consider being proactive by using a fluorocarbon or even steel leader, though the latter can have a negative effect on such a light lure’s action.
How to Make a Wacky Rig More Durable
While worth it, a bag of Senkos isn’t cheap. This is made all the more problematic by the fact that the baits are very soft and therefore aren’t as durable as others. When you throw in how a wacky rigged worm really doesn’t have much of the hook connected to it, and it’s no suprise that these fling off so easily and you can go through more than a few packs of Senkos during a day.
To make a wacky rigged worm last longer, you’re going to want to use some sort of o ring. These are little rubber rings that slide over the worm and allow you to attach a hook more securely. Rather than simply embedding a hook in the soft plastic the worm, the o-ring acts as a brace that’ll keep your wom on the hook longer.
Do you need an O-Ring for Wacky Rig?
Using an o ring on an wacky rig isn’t strictly necessary but it is very helpful. Because Senkos are so soft, they tend to pull off the hook easily when wacky rigged. An o ring will allow you to get more casts and fish out of each worm.
What Can you Use Instead of an O Ring?
While o rings are very inexpensive and easy to use, if you run out of them, you have some other options. The most prevalent can usually be found by searching for a “neko rig band.” These bands are just like the o rings but a bit larger and more durable. Because they have a greater width, it is possible to rig them much more securely because you can thread the hook through both sides of the band in addition to the worm, which is going to maximize how many times you can throw it. If you decided to go with one of these, make sure you get yourself this tool that will help you put Neko sleeves on your Senkos.
Should I Use Braid or Mono for Wacky Rig?
You can use either braid or mono for wacky rig fishing. Because a wacky rig is usually fished in fairly clear water with few obstructions, there isn’t as great of a need for braid and its higher visibility may even be a disadvantage. On the other hand, braid will help you set the hook better and will allow you to handle larger fish with confidence. Braid will also afford slightly better capabilities when fishing near weeds as it will slice through them a bit better and reduce, though not eliminate, the number of times you get gunk on your hook.
How Deep Can You Fish a Wacky Rig?
Most anglers don’t fish a wacky rig that deep. Generally, they work well in 10′ of water or less, simply because they don’t have much weight to them. If you try to fish them deeper than this, you won’t be able to cover water as easily as you’ll have to wait longer for the Senko to sink to where you want it.
Should You Put a Weight on a Wacky Rig
Putting a weight on a wacky rig worm dramatically changes its action. The reaosn folks put weight on is typically to fish deeper water more effectively and quickly. While a weight will help you do that, it also changes the way the wacky worm fishes. A big part of the reason a wacky rigged Senko is so deadly is because of its maddeningly slow, tantalizing descent. Weight is going to change this and speed it up. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes you’re better off having a bit of patience and letting the fall do its thing, even if that means it takes a few more moments for the lure to reach the depth of the fish.
What Season is Best for Wacky Rig?
You can fish a wacky rig worm all year round but it is especially deadly in the spring when bass are spawning. There are few lures that are as effective at getting a strike than a wacky rig worm falling slowly near a bass bed. There’s something about the slow and wobbling descent that drives mama and papa bass crazy, so where fishing during the spawn is legal, spring can be the best season for tossing a wacky rig.
Wacky rigged worms also work well in fall and even summer, but the trick is you need to find bass that are shallow. While you can add weight to a wacky rigged worm to fish deeper, it’s not the norm with this technique. Instead, you’re usually fishing shallower, so you’re going to want to fish a wacky worm during seasons when bass tend to be shallow (chiefly, spring and fall).
What is the Best Rod for Wacky Worm Fishing?
Because the hook point is exposed on a wacky rig, you don’t need as heavy a rod as you might with a Texas rig. This is because you don’t need to drive the hook through the soft plastic lure and the fish’s mouth – just the latter. Accordingly, you can get away with something like a medium power, fast action spinning rod, though I’d still say you should probably keep it simple and go with the standard medium heavy worm outfit.
Some people (including myself) prefer fishing wacky rigged worms on spinning gear. First, it can be a fairly light presentation that is tough to toss on a baitcaster. Not as commonly discussed, but the way the spinning reel sits below the rod can sometimes make techniques that require short jerks much more comfortable. If you intend to give the wacky rigged worm little twitches on your retrive to the boat, you might find spinning gear more enjoyable.
Conclusions
A wacky rigged Senko is one of my go-to lures when I’m fishing with kids. While I relied heavily on the drop shot when my children were younger, now that Tristan is getting older I find him throwing these more.
While it can get expensive to throw Senkos without an o ring, if you make a minor investment in them, you can really extend the life of your plastic worms, making the wacky rig more effective. Definitely consider buying an o ring tool as it’s one of those few fishing items that will pay for itself quickly!
Thanks,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
One of the big perks of writing this blog is I get to help all of you with such important questions as “how do you go to the bathroom on a boat?” Honestly, I’m not sure just how I got this lucky to be the one to teach you how to pee or poo on a small boat but I promise you, by the time you’re done reading this short article you’re going to be moving those boating bowels and pissin’ with (never “in”) the wind like a champ. So if you’re a millennial with a healthy dose of anxiety about your next boat trip, fret not and read on.
Do Boats Have Bathrooms?
In all likelihood, the boat you’re invited to this weekend will not have a bathroom (known as a “head” in naval parlance). Toilets are generally only found on boats of some size with a cabin, which can be pretty rare on lakes and rivers. I’ve also found that many captains of smaller boats that do have bathrooms tend to use them as another storage facility. There really isn’t that much need for a man, at least, to have a bathroom on a boat that he isn’t sleeping on, so it’s going to be rare. Further, it can be a pain to clean them out and many boat owners simply don’t use them, or only want folks to pee on them rather than poop.
Accordingly, the best practice is to assume that the boat you’re going to spend the day on will not have a working bathroom available. If nature doesn’t call before your trip, you’ll need to think of different ways to poo or pee on the boat.
How Do You Pee on a Boat?
If you’re on a small boat without a bathroom and need to urinate, you have few options. You’re either peeing off the side of the boat into the water, or peeing into some sort of container. They make several options for the latter which I’ll discuss later, and these are great options for women especially.
Plan A: Peeing in the Water
Let’s be completely honest. If you’re a dude, you’re probably going to end up peeing in the water. You should always check local regulations as you’re probably going to break a few doing this, but I know darn well you’re not going to leave a good fishing spot to find a porta-potty. At the very least, I’d urge you to not to be a crowd pleaser and instead to find a private cove so you can at least minimize the number of laws you’re likely breaking.
If you’re worried about pollution, well, “everything pees” and most of it does so outside. It’s up to you what you make of this. I personally would not be too worried about any contamination, but then again I fish Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT manages to discharge wastewater into it every so often so who are they to give me a hard time. In more pristine waters, you might feel worse.
Peeing in the Water from a Small Boat Safely
If you do pee in the water, there are some important steps to take to minimize the mess, embarrassment, and potential danger.
Find somewhere private. For the love of God go somewhere folks won’t see you. I’m fairly certain it’s not entirely lawful to pee in most waters in the first place but heaven forbid you throw some public exposure charges into the mix. You have to do what you have to do when nature calls but be sensible about it and respectful of others.
Pee with, not “into” the wind. This should be self explanatory but there’s always someone. If you pee into the wind, there’s a good chance you’re catching some spray. Pee with it, not against it.
Wear a life jacket. It might be folklore, but we’ve all heard claims that many drowning victims are found with their fly unzipped. After all, you’re focused on the task at hand and could easily fall victim to a rogue wave or such.
Try to pee off the stern. There are three good reasons to pee off the stern. First, you likely have a splashpan here that is a great place for the dribble to collect as it can easily be washed away. Secondly, if you have an outboard motor, you have something to hold onto and brace yourself. Finally, if something goes wrong, you’re right next to the rescue ladder to climb back in.
If alone, deploy the rescue ladder first. While some may view this as overkill, if you’re trying to pee on a cold and windy day, make life easier (and more likely to continue) by deploying your rescue ladder before you start to pee on your small boat. This 3-second chore might save you from becoming a statistic.
Does Peeing in the Water Attract Fish or Sharks?
No, peeing in the water is unlikely to attract fish or sharks, so you’re just going to have to stick to your caffeine shads instead. While there’s a theory going around that various animals may be attracted to it, there’s little evidence that the amount of pee you’re carrying would have any meaningful attraction to fish or sharks. Poo, on the other hand, seems to be a different story as it contains little remnants of food. Personally, I’d stick to rabbit feed for chum where legal, but to each his own.
Plan B: Peeing in a Portable Toilet on the Boat
If you’ve ever asked, “how do women pee on a boat?” The best answer is with a portable toilet. This allows them to sit with some dignity rather than trying to balance over the side of the boat. Portable toilets can be as extensive as a full rig with a privacy screen or as simple as a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat attached. If you go the bucket route and want some privacy, a simple rain poncho usually does the trick. Just make sure it isn’t see through.
How About Plan C? Can You Pee in the Livewell?
More than a few fathers I know let their kids pee in the livewell. It’s really not the worst idea if you need to use the bathroom on a boat. It can be more private than peeing off the side of the boat and is certainly safer. Also, you can run the aerator while they’re doing it and for a while afterwards and it cleans itself out. If you’re going to pee in the livewell, just make sure you’ve unplugged it before you urinate. Otherwise, you’re going to need to stick your hand in there to get it later! Gross!
When it’s time to use the bathroom on your small boat, the livewell might not be the hero you deserve, but it can be the hero you need.
How Do You Poop On a Small Boat?
Pooping on a small boat is quite a different story than trying to pee on one. There really isn’t any great option, and even if you do find something that works, you now have the issue of what to do with your fecal matter. Your absolute best bet is to simply not have this issue, so I’d heartedly recommend you go to the bathroom before you launch. All the same, when you have to go, you have to go, so here are some solutions.
Use a Bucket or Other Container
If you happen to have a bucket, or even just a plastic container that you can squat over, it’ll do the trick when trying to poop on a small boat. However, you’re going to want to put some water into the bucket or container prior to relieving yourself, or you’re going to have a much bigger mess on your hands. Some poo floating in the water in a bucket is much easier to discard than feces that have gone splat on the bottom.
Of note, there are plenty of toilet lids designed to fit on a 5-gallon bucket to make things easier. If you’re planning on throwing the poop overboard (not recommended, or necessarily legal), you can use any old seat such as this portable camping toilet seat lid. However, a better option might be this complete set that not only comes with a lid, but also has biodegradable toilet bags that you can poo in. As they’re biodegradable, you can toss them into the trash or even bury them somewhere if you’re boating in the middle of nowhere without feeling like you’re harming the environment.
Bring a Portable Toilet
A portable toilet is a step up from a bucket, but not necessarily an improvement, in my mind. The reason I say this is, “who has room for one on a small boat?” Really, the toilet seat lids are your better option, in my opinion. They are much more compact and utilize something you may already have on your small boat (a bucket).
This is a little too clunky for good use on a boat, but you do what you have to do.
In researching this article, however, I did find one portable toilet that I’d honestly recommend for use on a small boat: The TRIPTIPS Retractable Portable Toilet Travel Toilet Adjustable Height Camping Toilet Portable Potty for Adults and Kids. OK, I get that’s a long and convoluted name, but what those guys didn’t pay their marketing team, they gave their engineers. This portable toilet has it all and seems to be the absolute best portable toilet for peeing or pooping on a small boat that doesn’t have a bathroom. Here’s why I know you’ll love it:
Unlike most portable toilets for boats, or even a 5-gallon bucket, it compacts down to a size that’s going to fit in pretty much any storage container on your small boat.
It is washable, though I’d probably pair it with some biodegradable toilet bags and avoid that mess.
It can double as a trash can.
It adjusts from 3.2 inches to 13 inches in eight different steps, meaning you can keep it smaller for kids and larger for adults.
It can hold up to 380lbs!!! No matter how full of crap you are, it’s got you covered!
By all means head over to Amazon and read the reviews from various RV’ers and boaters out there. This may be the best option I’ve seen while reading up on this topic and it’s so good I don’t even to give you other options. Here’s a link where you can buy it on Amazon.
Can you Poop in the Water?
You really should avoid pooping in the water. While urine has relatively little bacteria, it’s another matter entirely for feces. There are significant health risks associated with poo, and a reason they drained the whole pool in Caddy Shack. Sometimes it can’t be helped, and I get that, but really it’s a matter of respect for other people to try and avoid pooping in the water whenever possible.
Even in the largest expanse of water available, pooing can make others sick. I found this interesting one-pager apparently produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture extolling you to take care not to poop in the ocean. Apparently, oysters and clams end up being infected by bacteria from your waste which can find its way into the food supply. This pamphlet even says that the waste from one person can contaminate an area about the size of 25 football fields!
I shudder to think why our government needed to go through the expense of making this pamphlet. It almost reminds me of what I’d expect the fictional town of Pawnee to have to produce in Parks and Rec, but since they went through all the trouble, we might as well take heed.
Privacy Curtains on Boats
Regardless of what solution you use to use the bathroom on a small boat, none of the options are all that private. Because most small boats don’t have an enclosed bathroom, however you relieve yourself, it’s going to be out in the open unless you figure out a way to have some privacy. While you can buy an extensive option like this pop up changing room/privacy tent, that’s a bit much out on a windy lake.
Your better option is much simpler – your average poncho. If you put one of these over yourself before getting to business, no one will be able to see anything they shouldn’t. Also, you probably either have one at home already, or can pick one up very inexpensively, making it a great option. Here’s a good one that comes with a hood meaning you can actually use it as effective rain gear as well as a privacy screen. Remember, on a boat, space is at a premium, so anything that can be used for two purposes is a plus!
Closing Thoughts
There’s no relief quite like that felt when you go to the bathroom on a small boat. It can only be matched by the sinking terror of knowing you need to use it! Again, your best bet is simply to go before you leave, but if you get caught out on the water, I hope this article provides some relief. Just remember that there are some safety concerns even with just peeing from a boat, especially in winter. When it comes to taking a poo, that danger is no longer just for you but for the general public so make sure you don’t dump it over board.
Lastly, if you’re bringing small children (who, let’s face it, are most likely to have an issue), consider letting them pee in the livewell on a windy day. It’ll keep them relatively safe and as long as you’ve got water in it and the aerator going, it’s a fairly clean way to go about things. Just don’t forget to take the plug out before you let them go for it!
I hope this all helps,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
If you’re fishing with your kids or even just fishing for dinner, chances are you’re trying to catch sunfish or bluegill. One of the main maxims of this website is, “When fishing with kids, get a fish — ANY FISH — into the livewell as fast as possible,” and sunfish and bluegill are perfect for that.
Regardless of where you live, there’s probably going to be some sort of sunfish species near you, or at least a small fish that is comparable. They’re extremely widespread, can be found in the shallow waters right off shore, and are quite accessible to the average angler. You don’t need ridiculous specialized tackle to catch them, either, though you’ll want to pay attention to hook size lest they still your bait! As long as you have the right bait, sunfish, bluegill, and other panfish like yellow and white perch are very keen to bite. All of this combines to make them ideal targets for any parent taking their kids fishing.
In this article, I’ll go over what the best live bait is for bluegill and sunfish. Then, I’ll explore artificial baits and lures for panfish in case worm guts make you squeamish. I’ll spend some time helping you zone in on where to find sunfish and other panfish to catch, and I’ll talk about the sort of gear I recommend and use with my children for fishing for them.
Who wouldn’t want to catch a nice chunky bluegill like this?
The Best Live Bait for Bluegill and Sunfish
While I hate to admit it, the best bait you can come up with for bluegill or sunfish is going to be live bait more times than not. While Gulp does come in a close second, you can’t argue with the natural smell, taste, and action of live bait when fishing for panfish. It’s simple to secure live bait for sunfish as virtually every tackle shop sells it and most gas stations near lakes do too. If you’re in a real bind, you can also find some great live bait options for bluegill and sunfish at your local pet store as they’re often used as feed for lizards and frogs. By the way — a pro tip from a parent — NEVER buy your son a frog. You’re going to live at that pet store buying crickets.
Nightcrawlers
Nightcrawlers are probably the best bait you can find for sunfish and bluegill. Not only are they inexpensive and readily available, but they just work. You’ll want to keep them cool and lively for the best action if you use a whole worm, but I’d advise that you break the live worm into small little manageable chunks rather than using the whole thing. You really don’t need a piece of worm much larger than a piece of corn. The trick is to just ensure it is nice, plump, and juicy, as a freshly broken off piece will be. Go ahead and thread this right onto the tip of your #6 hook, and you’re all but guaranteed to catch some sunfish.
If you use the entire worm instead of breaking it up, you’ll still catch sunfish and bluegill as nightcrawlers are simply outstanding bait for them. There will be two “catches” though. For one, you’ll go through a lot of worms because sunfish and bluegill are great at robbing hooks of bait, and they’ll tend to steal any worm not attached to the hook. Secondly, you’ll be more likely to have byproduct catches such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. I don’t know that I’d really call that a problem though!
If you do choose to use nightcrawlers (and you should) make sure you keep them fresh! While some fish, including sunfish, will eat dead worms, once a worm has been dead long enough it becomes too easy to remove from a hook. Vaunted hook robbers like sunfish and bluegill will easily steal the worm from your hook if it is too soft and malleable as dead worms tend to be. Instead, make sure you’re using worms that are fresh, cold, and juicy.
Red or Trout Worms
I know I just said that you should break your nightcrawlers into small chunks when using them as bait for bluegill and sunfish. This doesn’t mean that their smaller cousin, the red or trout worms are better. I have not had as much luck when utilizing this small 2 or 3 inch worms. They’re very thin which makes putting them on the hook more difficult than bits of nightcrawlers. I also think it has a lot to do with confidence just because the nightcrawlers work so well as sunfish bait that I don’t want to change it up. Now and then, the gas station only has red or trout worms in their cooler, and they do OK for catching sunfish and bluegill if you can’t get nightcrawlers. They just wouldn’t be my first choice.
Larvae
Many anglers swear by using larvae baits like mealworms or waxworms when fishing for sunfish and bluegill. It makes sense when you consider that many of the panfish kits of artificial baits for sunfish do their best to mimic these creatures. They’re small and are bait that will fit easily in the mouth of a sunfish or bluegill. Since they’re also bait these panfish are used to eating, you’ve got a real winner if you can find them.
On that note, do a little shopping around. While your tackle shop may have them, it’s also possible that a local pet store will too. One may have a better price than the other so it’s worth taking a gander.
Crickets
You can get crickets fairly inexpensively at many pet stores as creatures like frogs eat them. Fish will too. They can be floated on the surface, which is more natural, or you can bring them down below with a drop shot. The sunfish and bluegill don’t care — they’ll take the bait wherever they find it. What you want to do is hook the cricket through its thorax so it’ll keep wriggling about and be more enticing. This website has some good advice on how to rig a cricket up.
Minnows
Minnows can be pretty expensive bait for sunfish and bluegills as you’d really prefer something larger take them normally. Still, if you can find small minnows that will fit in a sunfish’s mouth, they will work. However, I’ve fished with these a decent amount of time in my years and I haven’t caught too many bluegill or sunfish with them. You’re more likely to get white perch. On the other hand, that might be testament to where I’m fishing them as I tend to fish minnows a little deeper near drop offs. Schools of white perch can really monopolize that area and you need to wade through a few of them trying to hook a bass.
The Best Artificial Bait for Bluegill and Sunfish
These days several manufacturers sell artificial bait. These fill the void between “lures” and actual “bait” in that while artificial, they’re somewhat organic. These can be an outstanding choice if you’re squeamish about worm guts or simply don’t want to take a life just to catch a fish. While other competitors have come and go over the years, Berkley Gulp is my standard go to. I love their 2.5″ minnows for all around action that puts every fish in the lake in play. If I was specifically seeking the best artificial bait for bluegill and sunfish, I’d buy Berkley Gulp Minnows in the 1″ size. These are bite sized and will get you way more panfish than bigger fish, but you probably still could find yourself with a bass on the line (smallmouth love them).
Gulp also offers other interesting artificial baits such as worms, but I haven’t had reason to use them. I’ll admit I can be a bit of a “meat and potatoes” kind of guy. When I visit a restaurant and find something I love, I tend to stick with it. I do the same thing with fishing gear, so at least you know everything I’m recommending on this website is something I’ve bought frequently!
As to what color Gulp minnows? Just grab something that looks natural in most cases, though I will say that I bought some pyrite ones on a whim (they look like little gold nuggets) and the fish were happy to eat them too!
The Best Lures for Bluegill and Sunfish
A medium to large bluegill or sunfish will occasionally take a bass lure, though it isn’t the most productive way to fish for them. If you insist on fishing for sunfish and other panfish with artificial lures, you should use ones designed for them. The best artificial lures for bluegill and sunfish tend to be variations of the panfish jig.
My favorite panfish jig is called the marabou jig. I’ve been fishing with these artificial lures for bluegill and sunfish since I was just starting out as a kid. They work great on Lake Champlain and also work very well in colder water such as early spring. As a bonus, smallmouth bass also tend to love them! I’ve had the most luck fishing white and chartreuse marabou jigs, though black can be a good choice if the skies are overcast. This kit offers a hot pink and orange set up too, in case the fish are feeling frisky.
How to Catch Sunfish and Bluegill
It’s not particularly hard to catch sunfish and bluegill (after all, four-year-old’s do it all across the country each year), but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a learning curve. In this section I’ll discuss a few different techniques you can use to catch bluegill and sunfish like bobber fishing, drop shot fishing, and using a free worm. I’ll also briefly touch on where you can probably find them in terms of habitat and depth. Before we get to that though, let’s talk about the #1 and #2 mistakes I find people making while they fish for panfish.
Sunfish are the perfect fish to target with kids.
The Top Mistake Beginners Make Fishing for Panfish
The biggest mistake folks make when trying to catch sunfish or bluegill is to use too large of a hook. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been fishing a bank with my kids next to a parent just a few yards away and we are catching fish and they aren’t. When I go to help them out, it’s almost always that their hook is too big. Sunfish and bluegill will do a great job robbing a hook of its worm if you let them. They can peck around a big hook and just strip the worm off bit by bit. What you need are size 6 or 8 Aberdeen hooks with a long shank that are going to fit in the fish’s mouth easily. If you’re not catching bluegill or sunfish but feel them biting, odds are your hook is too big.
The Second Mistake People Make Fishing for Sunfish and Bluegill
The second mistake I see people making when they fish for sunfish is that they set their rod down and therefore don’t feel the bites. If you want to keep sunfish from stealing your bait, you want to hold your rod while you’re fishing instead of putting it down in a rod holder. Sunfish and bluegill are outstanding bait robbers and if you aren’t present while they’re nibbling, they’re known to completely strip a hook. By being there to set the hook when they bite, you have a much better chance of catching them and at the very least to keep sunfish from stealing your bait.
Bobber Fishing
I am not crazy about fishing with bobbers. I know that probably seems strange for a website dedicated to fishing with kids, but I find bobber fishing boring. What most people do is take a bobber or float, rig it 12-18″ above their hook with a worm, and toss it out waiting for a bite. I will grudgingly admit that this does work and it even has it’s place. For example, bobbers are quite useful tools when you’re fishing over weed beds or other snags because you can keep the bait presented for bluegill well above anything that can foul you up. Bobbers are also useful if your kids are distractible and need to spend more time playing with a ball nearby than fishing. At least with a bobber, you can toss out your bait and get some action while you’re hitting up the ice cream truck.
I just tend to find that you’re less successful when you set a rod down than when you hold it, which is something most folks do when they use a bobber. You won’t be there to detect the little nibbles and set the hook, as we’ve seen from mistake #2. This will mean you lose fish but it will also mean you hurt fish. You see, one of the big problems with live bait fishing is fish can swallow the hook. When a little fish like a sunfish or bluegill swallows the hook, it can be very hard to get it out safely. They’re much more likely to swallow the hook if you just leave your rod in a rod holder and let a bobber tell you when they’re on.
Drop Shot Fishing
My preferred way for catching bluegill is to use a drop shot. This is a hook that has a long strand of line dangling from it which you affix a sinker to. This brings the bait down towards the bottom where many fish hang out during the day. You can adjust how far down the bait will be pulled by adjusting the length of the line attached to the sinker.
I find the drop shot to be an outstanding technique for catching sunfish and bluegill. In fact, I like it so much that this is usually the technique I use when I’m exploring a new fishing spot to see if any fish are around! I figure if I can catch bluegill or sunfish, there will be other fish nearby.
If the drop shot is too much for you (or if you want a gentler approach) you can also just free worm fish. This is as simple as putting a worm on the hook and casting it out. While you might need to use a full nightcrawler to get any casting distance here, this technique works great for bluegill and sunfish as the worm will sink much more slowly than it would with a drop shot. Sometimes, this is just too much for nearby fish to ignore, and they hit it on the fall.
If you don’t get a bite on the fall, jerk your rod tip up to rip the hook and worm back towards the surface and let it fall again while reeling in some slack. Most fish will hit it as it is falling, but you will occasionally stick one on the rip as well.
Where to Catch Sunfish and Bluegill
The great thing about sunfish and bluegill is you can catch them pretty much anywhere in the lake assuming there is appropriate cover. They tend to get around and cover a lot of water and are much easier to run into than say a bass or pike. Still, if you focus on a few types of habitat and depth, you’ll have better luck.
Habitat
Remember that sunfish and bluegill are right there on the cusp of being predators and prey. While they like to pack up and pick on the little guy, they are the little guy to many other fish in the lake. Therefore, they like to stay near some sort of cover to hide in and provide them with a measure of protection. You can find sunfish and bluegill near all sorts of cover, be it weed beds, rocks, docks, and fallen trees. In the height of summer, check for cover that is going to produce more shade vs. cover that won’t.
In early spring, look for little circles in the weed beds in the shallows. This isn’t really cover, but the tell tale sign of a bass bed. Bluegill and sunfish will be nearby, trying to pick off the eggs and fry and get a quick and easy meal.
Depth
Bluegill and sunfish can be caught quite shallow for much of the year, though most of the larger ones are going to prefer deeper water. I’ve caught bluegill and sunfish in as little as 6″ or so of water. Often, you’ll catch them right near the shore. They do make some changes seasonally, however. Your best bet to find them shallow is always going to be in spring and fall, while they like most fish will search out deeper water in summer and midwinter. Note that this is relative, and “deeper water” may well be about 10 feet or so!
If you can find a floating dock that is in relatively deep (call it 6 – 8′) of water, you can find an absolutely amazing bluegill fishery in the summer. If you can find a pier with all the crisscrossed timbers you’d expect, you can absolutely clean up, assuming it isn’t a public spot that is fished out.
How to Spot (and Catch) Sunfish and Bluegill Easily
By far the easiest way to find and catch bluegill or sunfish is during the largemouth bass spawn. They’re extremely easy to spot if you keep your eyes and ears open, and when you find them, they are in full bloodlust mode and will hit a worm the instant it hits the water.
The way to spot them is to look for the tell tale sign of bass chasing them away from their nest. You see, bluegill and sunfish absolutely torment largemouth bass while they’re spawning. They’ll just stack up next to the bass bed just out of reach and wait for the bass to turn their back before rushing in to steal some eggs or fry. The bass parents do a decent job of preventing this and chase off the bluegill and sunfish from time to time. When they do, you’ll usually see a big swirl from the bass charging, immediately followed by a wider pattern of smaller splashes and waves of all the bluegill trying to escape the counter attack.
Catching sunfish while they’re trying to pick off bass fry also helps the bass out, so consider it allying with an old friend. Just make sure it’s legal to “target” largemouth bass during the spawn when you try this, as game wardens might not believe you that you’re really after bluegill (though an ultralight rod and an assortment of tiny hooks might save you).
Good Equipment and Tackle for Sunfish
In addition to choosing the best bait for sunfish and bluegill, you’ll want to make sure you have the right tackle and equipment to connect it to. Here are some rods, reels, fishing line, and hooks that I’ve used while fishing for sunfish and bluegill with my kids over the years. This stuff has never let me down and I’m sure you’d do great with it too.
Rods
It doesn’t take much of a rod to catch a sunfish. I enjoy fishing for them with ultralight rods about 5-6′ long as that lets the larger bluegill and sunfish put up a pretty good fight. These rods are also great for fishing with kids since children of any age can use them. My favorite brand is Ugly Stik. While they’re a “value” brand they have the perfect rods for this sort of fishing. I wrote a long review of the Ugly Stik Elite that you should check out here. Believe me, once you do, you’re going to run out to Amazon to buy one (or three).
Reels
You always want to match your reel to your rod, and it’s no different when considering tackle for bluegill. If you’re using a light or ultralight setup, you’re going to want a reel that matches well with it. I personally find the Plfueger President to be a wonderful reel that comes in plenty of sizes that match well to your bluegill tackle. If you’re throwing light or ultralight rods, I’d suggest buying one in the 20 or 25 series. These reels are high quality and can hold up to many seasons. They’re also smooth and capable enough of handling the occasional bass that hits when you’re fishing for sunfish or bluegill.
Fishing Line
Sunfish and bluegill aren’t very line shy so you can use pretty much any line you want while fishing for them. You’ll probably catch more bluegill and sunfish if you don’t go overboard, however. Trilene XL in 6lb test is pretty much the standard line you want when fishing for sunfish. While 6lb is probably a little stronger than you need, it will also hold up when you hook the occasional bass or catfish as a bycatch of bluegill.
Hooks
The biggest mistake I see people make when they’re trying to catch bluegill or sunfish is to use too big of a hook. The fish have to be able to fit the hook into their mouth, after all! Also, if you’ve ever observed panfish nibbling at a worm, you’ll see that they do a good job of hitting the edges and avoiding the pointy end of a hook. The way around this is to bury it in a nightcrawler where they don’t see it. You can’t do that with a larger hook. I recommend hooks of about size 6 or so. I personally choose the Eagle Claw Aberdeen style hooks as they fit in a sunfish’s mouth well and also have a decently long shank that makes unhooking them easier. This reduces fish mortality and saves you a lot of time. These hooks also hold up well when you get the occasional bass while you’re fishing for sunfish with your kids.
Other Relevant Questions About Sunfish and Bluegill
I thought I’d take a few moments to answer some other relevent questions you might have about how to catch sunfish and bluegill. If you think of any more I don’t cover, drop me an email and I’ll be happy to help.
How to Keep Bluegill From Swallowing the Hook
Bluegill and sunfish have a bad habit of swallowing the hook from time to time, especially if you’re using a bobber or aren’t there to set the hook immediately. To avoid this, use a long shank hook. This way, even a bluegill swallows the hook, you’ll be able to manipulate it and get it free with minimal injury to the fish. You should also avoid fishing with bobbers if you want to keep bluegill from swallowing the hook. Instead, hold your rod with your hand so you can set the hook immediately when a bluegill bites, before it has a chance to swallow and get itself in trouble. If you do find that a bluegill has swallowed the hook, consider a dedicated hook remover to retrieve it with minimal injury to the fish.
Detailed Tips for Keeping Bluegill From Swallowing the Hook
Use a long shank hook. A long shank hook will allow you to remove it from a bluegill much easier, even if they swallow the hook. While you could use small circle hooks when fishing for panfish, I don’t find them as practical. I’d just recommend sticking with an Aberdeen style long shank hook. Here’s a nice assortment of sizes depending on what you’re fishing for.
Don’t use a bobber. While bobbers can have their place in fishing, they’re also responsible for many gut hooked fish. The reason is that many folks who fish with bobbers just “set it and forget it.” Well, if they aren’t quick to set the hook when a fish strikes, they can swallow the hook easily.
Do set the hook immediately. If you’re actually holding your rod and feel nibbles, set the hook. This will not only help you catch more panfish, but it will prevent bluegill and sunfish from swallowing the hook simply because they won’t have the chance. Holding your rod and setting the hook on detected bites is a best practice for fishing for bluegill.
Use a hook remover. If all goes poorly, and a bluegill swallows the hook despite your best efforts, you’re going to want a dedicated hook remover like this one from Crazy Shark. As you can see, it is a narrow tool that will fit in the mouth of a bluegill and can go deep enough to grab the hook and retrieve it safely. This will put much less stress on the fish. I recommend picking one up from Amazon today. After all, there is nothing more distressing to a child on a fishing trip than seeing a fish they caught die.
What is the Best Time of Day to Catch Bluegill and Sunfish?
Bluegill and sunfish aren’t as picky about what time they’ll bite as, say, largemouth bass. You can tend to catch them all day. Having said that you will usually have better luck earlier in the morning or later in the evening due to low light conditions. Fish rely on these both to hunt and also to offer them some protection from predators out to get them. Having said that, it’s really not hard to catch bluegill or sunfish in the afternoon if that’s the only time the kids can get there. Just make sure you focus in on cover that is going to produce shade as you might find the fish closer to it when the sun is high.
Can you Catch Bluegill at Night?
While you can catch the odd bluegill looking for a midnight snack, nighttime is not your best best to catch bluegill. Trust me, over the years I’ve spent plenty of time on my dock fishing at night. The same nightcrawlers that catch bluegill all day suddenly fail to produce once the sun sets. Instead, you’re likely to get into a mess of bullhead.
You have to remember that bluegill and other sunfish are right on the razor’s edge of being “predator” and “prey.” Nighttime is often too much for them as this is when some real giants like catfish, huge largemouth bass, and bowfin start to roam hungrily about. Bluegill tend to shut down from my experience and are much less likely to bite.
If you absolutely have to try and prove me wrong, I’d wager your best bet would be casting as close to cover as possible. This is probably where most bluegill will be hunkered down for the night, and if you get some bait in close enough, they might figure it’s worth it and dart out for a snack. If you were dead set on catching a bluegill or sunfish at night, I’d definitely recommend using the best bait you could, to try and entice them. A big, juicy nightcrawler might do the trick.
Can You Catch Bluegill in the Winter?
Many an angler catches a fine meal of panfish such as bluegill through the winter ice. When you’re trying to find them, just pretend that the ice isn’t there. Bluegill are still going to need the same structure and cover as they had when there wasn’t ice over the water to help them hunt and survive. If you can locate any weed beds that still live, that’s going to be a great spot. If you combine it with some structural change such as a drop off where they can roam about and change depth as necessary, all the better.
Not all the aquatic vegetation is going to survive long during the winter. By the middle of the season, much of the cover available in the shallows will be dead, and bluegill will move out to other available structure. In most lakes, this is going to mean near drop offs. Bluegills can be a little tough to find this time of year but if you do, there’s a good chance you’ll run into a school of them. Flashers are definitely useful for cutting down the process.
As spring nears you’ll again find bluegill moving in to the shallows as they prepare for their yearly spawning ritual. At this time you might be able to catch them where the ice breaks up in your first open water. I’m usually dying for an open water fish by this time of year and any panfish that will strike an early season marabou jig is just fine with me.
How to Catch Bluegill in Summer?
Bluegill are easily caught throughout the summer. Many will remain in shallow water throughout the year though some of the larger ones go deep. Just remember that when fishing in the summer, shade is key. Look for bluegill under boat docks or on the edge of weeds or other structure. If you’re trying to catch larger bluegill in the summer, you might want to look for some drop offs as they’re going to seek the refuge of the cooler water. As with other species, a steep drop off near some deeper cover can be a fantastic place to load up on some fat panfish during the summer months.
You Can Catch Sunfish and Bluegill if You Try!
Sunfish and bluegill can be very rewarding fish to catch with your children, or even by yourself if you’re in search of a meal. While as with any species, the true lunkers are hard to come by, it’s not too difficult to catch a bunch of panfish if you have the right tackle and approach. Pick the best bait for bluegill you can find, ensure your hooks are the proper size as that seems to be a major hurdle for many folks fishing for sunfish and blue gill. Also, make sure your bait is fresh as they do better with live worms than dead! Bring rods and reels that are appropriately weighted for your tackle, and find areas where sunfish and bluegill might congregate to enhance your chances.
As always, if you are starting out and need some extra help, please feel free to reach out to me via email and I’ll do the best I can to help you.
Thanks,
John Paxton
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If you’ve fished for any length of time, you’ve probably used live minnows for bait. Live minnows have everything that fishing lures could only dream of – they act, look, smell, sound, and taste just like the real thing, because they are! You’d think that live minnows would be the best fishing bait out there, and on some days you’d be right. However, they also have some significant drawbacks, as the lifespan of minnows leaves much to be desired when they’re in the care of the average angler!
In this article, I will explore everything you could ever think of about minnows. We’ll answer questions such as how long do minnows live, what is the lifespan of a minnow, how to keep minnows alive in a bucket, and much more! I’ll also suggest some products you can buy to make minnows last longer on your boat or how to keep minnows alive in a bucket.
Let’s get started!
One of Tristan’s larger catches.
How To Keep Minnows Alive in a Bucket
Since this is a fishing blog, let’s get right down to business. You’re going to want to learn how to keep minnows alive in a bucket if you want your baitfish to last. There are some tricks you can do to assist with this. If you find that your minnows are dying too easily and want to figure out a way to keep them alive better, read on.
How Long Do Minnows Live in a Bucket?
A bucket is not an ideal place to keep your minnows for any length of time. Minnows only are going to live in a bucket for about 24 to 72 hours, and that’s only if you take some steps to keep them healthy such as keeping the water cool and oxygenated. If you need to stretch things out, here are the main ways to keep minnows alive longer in a bucket.
Use a Dedicated Minnow Bucket
I get that times are tough and you might want to multitask that old five gallon bucket you have lying around, but that is not the best choice to keep minnows alive. Rather, you should make a small investment in a dedicated minnow bucket that will keep them alive longer. Minnow and live bait buckets are insulated, such as this Insulated Bait Bucket by Frabill. This is going to help you keep temperatures ideal so the water doesn’t over heat and doesn’t stress. If you couple this with a solid portable aerator, you have a winning combo to keep your minnows alive longer.
Keep the Water Temperatures Ideal
Fish stress, and eventually die, when they are placed into water temperatures out of their preferred range, and minnows are no different. You’re going to want to keep the water generally cool and out of the sun. If your bucket has a lid (with air holes, of course), use it as this will create shade to help keep the water cooler. If your bucket doesn’t have a lid, you can use any fabric you have that is breathable, including a shirt or rag. The idea is to create shade. On super hot days, you can also toss a few ice cubes in the water to help control the temperatures, though it’s unlikely you’ll have a steady supply of these out on the lake.
Change out the Water in Your Minnow Bucket
Another solid tip for keeping your minnows alive longer is to change out the water in their bucket throughout the day. Just take about 1/3 at a time to get some fresh water in. This will help keep the water cool, will bring in fresh and oxygenated water for the minnows to breath, and will cut down on ammonia and other waste that can build up in a fish tank (or bucket) over time. Think about it, you’d never throw a bunch of fish into a livewell without recirculating the water. A bucket, while less fancy, is no different. You need to recirculate the water by hand.
Just be careful not to overdo it. Take a cue from the aquarium owners out there. They’d never completely change out the water as this could be too much of a shock to fish due to sudden temperature or pH change. Instead, do partial changes of about a third of the bucket now and then. Give the water a chance to mix together and the minnows to get used to their new surroundings in your bucket to give them the best chance to live longer.
Don’t Overcrowd the Bucket
Too many minnows in a bucket can spell disaster. Avoid overcrowding it as you don’t want the fish to use up all the available oxygen too fast. Most folks who have aquariums suggest trying to avoid having more than 12 to 24 minnow-sized fish in a gallon of water. Granted, you’re going to be using the minnows throughout the day so you can stretch this a bit if the fish are biting, but don’t stretch it too much or you could have issues. Definitely practice water changes or consider using an aeration system if you’re going to keep many minnows at once.
Use an Aerator
If you’re serious about keeping your minnows alive in a bucket, you need to make an investment in an aerator. These machines keep the water in a bucket aerated so your minnows can live longer. While you’re going to have to check Amazon for the best price, these aren’t very expensive at all. You’ll probably spend about as much on the live bait as the aerator! Thus, it’ll be a product that pays for itself after a few trips.
To be honest, I’ve never had the need to use one because I just keep my minnows in my live well, which has a handy recirculation pump. However, if I wanted to buy an aerator to keep my minnows alive in a bucket longer, I’d go with the Beyond Bubbles Portable Live Bait Aerator. This is a small and compact device that can clip right onto the lid of a bucket, making transportation easy. It runs off of on D battery and boasts 30 hours of continuous bubbling, which should be more than most fishermen will ever need. The company claims this product will lead to longer bait life and I have no reason to doubt them. The price is also very justifiable as mentioned earlier. Head on over to Amazon and pick on up today.
Protect Them!
The number one trip of course keeping them away from raccoons or else you’ll come outside to a mess the next morning! If you’re going to store minnows in a bucket overnight and plan on leaving them outside, make sure you put a pretty solid rock on top of the lid so animals like raccoons can’t get in. These crafty little buggers love nothing more than to open up a bucket and steal your baitfish. Ask me how I know…
The Ultimate Minnow Bait Bucket
If you wanted the Mercedes of minnow bait buckets, the kind of bucket that has all the bells and whistles you need to keep your minnows alive longer, you’d have to go with the Engel 30qt Live Bait Cooler Box offered at Amazon. Every once in awhile when I’m researching an article, I come across a product that I just have to stop and shake my head at because it’s so perfect.
First, there’s four rod holders attached to the bucket. This would make this absolutely perfect for using in a gheenoe or other small watercraft, or for taking down to a pier and doing some fishing along the shore.
Secondly, there’s a net inside the cooler that contains all your bait at all times. This means you can simply lift the net up to grab a baitfish easily without injuring them by chasing them about with a small bait net of your own. This is convenient, efficient, and should help make your minnows and other live bait last longer. After all, your minnows are going to stay alive longer in a bucket if they aren’t all bruised up.
As mentioned, it has a built-in 2 speed, 3 way aerator pump that can operate either with two D Cell batteries or your cigarette car lighter, which means you can run this thing all the way to the water.
Finally, it has watertight stainless steel latches. This means you aren’t going to spill the bait all over the car (which is absolutely horrendous, trust me) and it ALSO keeps your fish safe from raccoons and other crafty buggers.
This thing is a beast. If you fish with minnows often and are trying to keep them alive longer in a bucket, go pick this up at Amazon.
How Long Do Minnows Live For?
Some of you may have visited this blog with a general interest in how long the species lives for. Well, here it is. It seems that the smaller the animal and further down the food chain they are, the shorter they live for. Insects and mice for example don’t have very long lifespans, and it’s the same for minnows. The lifespan of your average minnow is short. While in captivity, some minnows can live for up to five years or so, they generally don’t live past the age of two in the wild, as minnows face severe threats to their lifespan such as predation, environmental facts, and disease.
Minnows are going to have a better chance of living longer in captivity. After all, most of the threats to their lives can be managed very well if you’re storing minnows in an aquarium. Minnows can even live longer in ponds assuming you take good care of them, though they’re still going to be subject to predation even if you don’t introduce gamefish (birds being a primary culprit).
“Minnows,” however, is a broad term and you need to break it down by species. Here’s how long various minnow (and minnow-like) species live for:
Fathead Minnow
The lifespan of a fathead minnow is short. As a major food source, most are going to be picked off by predators and die before they reach two years old. A variation of the fathead minnow, the rosy red minnow, has become a popular aquarium fish which has allowed close observation of its lifespan. Folks have found that these fathead minnows tend to live for about 2 years if they’ve spawned, but can stretch it out a few more if they haven’t.
Bluntnose Minnow
Considered one of the most common freshwater fish in the Eastern United States, Bluntnose minnows live about one or two years in the wild, with specimens in captivity living a bit longer.
Common Shiner
The life span of a common shiner is longer than many other baitfish or minnows as it can live for about 4-6 years. They tend to reach sexual maturity after a year or so and can grow to about 6-8 inches long. If you’ve ever caught a shiner with hook and line there’s a decent chance it is one of these.
Golden Shiner
Native to eastern north America, golden shiners are a popular bait for Florida strain largemouth bass. The lifespan of the golden shiner is a bit longer than some other minnows. They reach sexual maturity at about one to three years of age depending on where they are in their range. Those in warmer, southern climates tend to start breeding faster than those in the north, in common with many other fish species. They tend to lay up to 200,000 eggs per year and can live up to 8 years, though 3-6 is far more common. These are large minnows, which makes them less likely to be picked off by absolutely everything and this contributes to their longer lifespans.
Mosquitofish
The mosquitofish is a small minnow native to the mid-west United States. The lifespan of a mosquitofish minnow averages less than a year, but it’s maximum lifespan in the wild is about 1.5 years. As these fish live fast and die young, they tend to reach sexual maturity within about 43 to 62 days, depending on local conditions.
Threats to a Minnow’s Lifespan
Minnows face significant threats to their lifespan in the wild. Here are some of the more common.
Predation
As minnows are so far down the food chain, they serve as an important source of food to several other animals. Everything from larger fish to turtles and birds loves a good meal of minnows, and picks them off bit by bit throughout the year. Because minnows have soft fin rays rather than spines, they’re even the desired meal as they go down the hatch much easier. If you’ve ever been spiked by a sunfish, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Minnows really have no defense in the wild except for numbers, and predators do a good job of witling down those throughout the year.
Environmental Factors
Minnows aren’t particularly hardy creatures. They tend to be some of the first fish that winterkill and it’s not uncommon to see them floating all around the lake in spring after ice out. They don’t hold up very well to changes in water temperature or such, which also has an impact on their numbers.
The Lifespan of a Minnow
While it’s going to differ slightly between species, minnows, as baitfish, tend to have a similar lifespan. It can be helpful to understand a minnows lifespan to better understand how to care for them and get them to live longer.
How Often Do Minnows Reproduce
It might surprise you to hear that unlike fish like bass, minnows can spawn up to twelve or so times throughout a year. As with most fish, spawning season tends to be driven by water temperature. For example, fathead minnows start to spawn when the water temperature hits about 60°F, which usually means around June in the northern hemisphere. Their spawning season will continue until the water drops below this again, which tends to be mid-August. With females releasing a few hundred eggs on average, you can see that this fish restocks rapidly. This is necessary to keep the lake ecosystem in balance.
How Long Are Minnows Pregnant?
Most minnows don’t actually become pregnant – instead, females lay eggs which males then fertilize during the spawn. Flathead and blutnose minnows as well as the various shiners (such as common and golden) that are often called minnows, all reproduce by spawning. Of the common minnows, only mosquitofish have live births, and these fish are usually only pregnant between 16 to 28 days. Each brood can have as many as sixty young, though this decreases as the year goes on (as Mosquitofish too can produce many spawns of offspring throughout a year).
How Long Does it Take for Minnows to Mature?
Minnows mature at different rates depending on the species. Some, like mosquito fish, can reach sexual maturity in a matter of months. Others, like the golden shiner, can first breed at three years in parts of their range.
Do dead minnows work as bait?
If you were unsuccessful in keeping your minnows alive, don’t fret. Dead minnows work great for bait, especially if you’re after catfish, bowfin, or bullhead. I’ve had much success over the years soaking dead minnows on a drop shot rig off my dock, calling in big cats and bowfin. In fact, some of these species even seem to like them deader than usual. Just think of it this way, consider all the time and effort people expend making “stink bait” for these fish. Folks will tell you to leave the bucket of goo out in the afternoon sun for a few days to get it nice and ripe. A dead minnow is even more natural and several of these rough fish fulfill a function in the lake by cleaning them up to eat.
Many northern pike anglers also use dead minnows as bait, though they tend to recommend freezing them overnight rather than leaving them in the sun. That’s not to mean you should toss them frozen – but you only want to thaw them enough to get a hook through. Once they’re in the water they should soften up soon enough. Because pike are opportunistic feeders who won’t pass up carrion when they have the opportunity, dead minnows can work well as bait for them. This website here has a great explanation of exactly how to rig them up.
Conclusions: Keep your Minnows Alive if You Can, But If Not… Catfish!
If you’re going through all the trouble of buying or catching minnows for fishing, you might as well invest a little time and effort in keeping them alive. Doing so will give your more options for fishing and allow for more productivity on the water. Minnows aren’t the most hardy species out there though, so if (when) they die on you, don’t forget that at least you can always use dead minnows for catfish, bullhead, bowfin, or other rough fish. Where legal, it’s not the worst idea to stick them on a second rod while you’re actively fishing something else and just wait for something to tug the line.
Hopefully this article was helpful to you. If you enjoyed it, consider purchasing my books below as they’re full of even more helpful tips.
Thanks,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
While most anglers would prefer to fish during low light conditions such as dawn and dusk, this isn’t in the cards for everyone, especially parents. It’s very challenging to get little ones up early to catch fish and so chances are you’ll be spending most of your time trying to catch fish in the middle of the day. Further, it’s not like tournament fishermen can just ignore the bulk of their tournament hours. One way or another you’re going to need to catch fish while the sun’s up.
You can catch a lot of fish in the middle of the day so long as you’re smart about it. While they might not be quite as active as fish in the early or late hours, fish do tend to congregate near cover and structure that produces shade during the day, which can make them easier to find. If you couple this with the right techniques and toss a lure somewhere they can’t refuse, you can still catch many fish during the afternoon. Further, at certain times of year like early spring and late fall, the middle of the day can be the BEST time to catch fish as the water has a chance to warm.
Read on for some tips to help you catch fish in the middle of the afternoon.
Search for Shade When Fishing the Middle of the Day
Many fish prefer to hang out in shady haunts that protect them from the sun. It’s not that they won’t bite in the middle of the day, but they just might be buried deep in shady cover where it’s hard to find them. Boat docks and lily pads can be spectacular places to find bass in the afternoon, as they like to hang out in there with a roof over their head to keep cool and concealed. More than one episode of Major League Fishing has been won by fishing a boat dock pattern.
If you’re going to fish docks, just make sure you’re careful and respectful. While I’ll always tell you that buying a home with a dock and complaining about fishermen is like buying a house next to a school and whining about the bells, you still ought to try and keep the peace. If someone else is enjoying their property, let them. Go fish a dock elsewhere – there are plenty. Also, make sure you don’t actually hit the dock or leave any hooks for them to step on!
Docks can offer tremendous fishing in the middle of the day.
You also can find some luck fishing near shore in the middle of the day if there are tall trees along the bank that provide shade. Often, you’ll find the fish stacked up in the relatively darker and cooler water, and the transition point can be a great place to catch them.
Fish Deeper During the Middle of the Day
Some fish such as northern pike are considered “cool” water species. They aren’t going to stay shallow when those waters warm up too much. Bass too often prefer to spend their summers in the depths – at least during mid day. If you’re trying to catch either of these fish in the middle of the day, you’re going to want to fish deeper. Many anglers prefer jigs or deep diving crankbaits for targeting summer bass deep. I’d toss in that the humble drop shot also does a fine job of bringing up bass from the depths.
If you can find a place where there are shallows that sharply transition into a good deep holding ground, the drop off structure can be amazing fishing in the mid day. You’ll catch fish that are transitioning between the two types of habitat. As not all leave at once, this can be productive your entire day.
Fish Slower During the Afternoon
As a general rule the hotter it is outside the slower you should probably fish. Extreme heat does to fish something similar to what it does to humans. It tires them out, gets them planted in certain shady areas, and generally convinces them they shouldn’t be expending too much energy swimming around. If you aren’t catching many fish in the middle of the day with a fast moving lure, try pitching a Senko close to cover and taking things slow. This will allow you to work an area more thoroughly and also fish the thought that they might snatch an easy meal without expending too much energy.
When It’s Cold Out, Mid Day Might Be the Best for Fishing
I don’t rush out to go fishing early in the spring or late in the fall, because fish can be quite lethargic in cold water. I find it sometimes makes for much better fishing if you wait a few hours and go in the afternoon when it’s colder. This gives the sun a chance to warm up the water some and activate the fish. Often, you can find that there’s a temperature change of several degrees throughout the day, which can be the key to producing a bite.
Unexpected Benefits to Fishing in the Afternoon
There can be some unexpected benefits to fishing in the afternoon that can help you catch a ton of fish. Some include:
Less fishing pressure. Anglers have a lot of company early in the morning. Not only do you have folks who want to get the early bite, but you have to contend with whatever fishing tournaments are going on in the area. On weekends especially, the lake can be an absolute zoo early in the morning. While you will have to contend with more pleasure boaters later in the day, many of the anglers will have pulled out and called it quits or headed back for weigh in.
Wary fish may “turn on.” Fish aren’t as dumb as they look. They know what the deal is and all the noises that could potentially scare them are blasting early in the day. When the fishing pressure dies off during the afternoon, you may find the fish turn on. Fish who have been sitting by a stump getting bombarded by fishing lures all morning might relax after an hour or so of quiet, and be ripe for the taking with a careful presentation.
A convenient way to get your wife or girlfriend out there with you. While I don’t want to be sexist, if dating apps are any indication, not every woman appreciates fish pix. Many do, however, enjoy a fun boat ride with tubing and tanning opportunities. Your wife or girlfriend is more likely to go with you if you take them out during a time of day they’re more comfortable. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get them into the hobby.
Access to the dusk bite. If you start fishing in the afternoon, chances are you might stick around until dusk. Many anglers miss this as they’ve already done their fishing for the day in the morning, and are home watching baseball at night. It’s their loss as fishing at dusk is explosive fun with topwaters.
Sometimes, fishing in the middle of the day is more fun for everyone.
Are Certain Bass Lures Best for Sunny Days?
There are a few way of approaching which bass lures you should use on a sunny day. If it’s a very hot day and fish are tied close to shady cover, you’re going to need to fish the sorts of lures that will allow you to get your presentation next to them. Soft hollow bodied frogs really come into their own on most lakes by July as bass are able to tell that there is food crawling around on top of their “roof.” Another option are Texas rigged worms or creatures that can penetrate the cover and poke around inside a fish’s home until it bites.
On the exact opposite side of things, you could also take advantage of that sunshine and grab a lure that is super reflective. White spinnerbaits with silver blades are my go to lure when casting or trolling for bass on a sunny day. They glimmer and sparkle as they run through the water and it seems like bass just can’t get enough of them some days.
In that respect, remember the one thing that fishing mid day has going against it (lack of low light conditions) is also something it has going for it. If you have a lure that is designed to reflect (basically anything silver or chrome), then midday is the the time to fish it.
Daytime Bait Fishing
If fish aren’t cooperating in the middle of the day, you can always go to the tried and true way to catch them: live bait. Some of my earlier memories fishing at the lake house were of Dad throwing some live bait off the dock and setting his rod into a holder while he went to mow the lawn. We’d catch catfish, bowfin, carp, bullhead and burbot until our arms would fall off, all in the middle of the day.
Some of these larger “rough” fish cruise quite a bit during the middle of the day. You’ve probably noticed plenty of carp swimming around while you were fishing before. It’s not like they suddenly stop in the afternoon. When the bite slows down, live bait is a great way to catch fish.
It doesn’t even have to be that “live.” Other options you have are corn (where legal) as well as hotdogs, kielbasa, or chicken liver. If you forgot to cook something and it went a little bad, that’s not a big deal to any catfish. In fact, it might be preferred.
Lazily fishing bait during the afternoon can be an extremely fun way to pass the time. You ought to try it sometime.
Conclusions: Keep Your Head High at High Noon!
If the wife, kids, or boss prevents you from fishing early and you have to wet your line mid day, don’t give up. While you might need to change your approach a bit to figure out where the fish likely are at this time of day, if you find them, you can catch them. Ironically, you might find that mid day produces some of your best catches, perhaps because the local fishing pressure is less and fish aren’t as on edge. You also may find you have more and more of the lake to yourself as other anglers call it quits, which is never a bad thing.
I hope this article helped you!
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
I’ve owned a 115 horsepower Mercury outboard motor for over 10 years now and haven’t had any major problem with it that I didn’t cause myself. Even so, I distinctly remember how nervous I was when I first bought my boat with a mercury outboard on it. After all, there is no shortage of horror stories out there on the internet about these motors. Many people suggested buying anything else, and this used to give me a little pit in my stomach.
The good news for you is that I never had any cause for concern. If you’re wondering if Mercury outboard motors are any good, the answer is emphatically, yes. Mercury is a trusted brand that partners with several major boat manufacturers such as Lund. For many boats, they are the only sort of motor you can get, and that’s a good thing. They are a high quality brand that features a solid warranty, range of products, and an extremely interesting proprietary vessel view system that helps you track your hours and engine health.
Why Do Mercury Motors Get a Bad Rep?
Despite the fact that it’s largely unwarranted, Mercury motors don’t have the best reputation online. I am a *huge* believer that the reason Mercury gets so much heat online has nothing to do with their quality, and everything to do with user error. Mercury motors are some of the most popular and best selling outboards in America. They are the brand that comes standard with many entry level boats, such as Nitro. When you combine the fact that there are a ton of these motors out there with the fact that many first time boat owners are buying (and maintaining) them, it can be a recipe for trouble.
Outboard motors need regular maintenance that not every new boat owner is going to sign up for, especially if they’re on the kind of budget that has them buying an entry level value boat brand. If you aren’t maintaining any motor, you’re going to have problems, so this could be a reason Mercury gets a bad reputation online. Also, one really needs to pay attention to the break in sequence of any new motor, and it’s also possible a new boat owner might not do that.
It’s also quite possible that much of the smack talk online is a “Ford vs. Chevy” thing, or just a case of loyal owners of one brand giving the other trouble. This probably accounts for much of it because if these motors were really as bad as some folks claim, you’d never find charter captains running them, yet they do.
Finally, there are just stupid little things first time boat owners are going to mess up because they don’t know any better. This was my case, as we’ll see below.
Problems I’ve Had with My Mercury Outboard Motor
The only problem I’ve ever had with my Merc was my own darned fault. At one point in the life of my mercury motor, it was having a heck of a time starting. It was really scary because I’d be in the middle of nowhere and couldn’t get it going, and this was when my son was little. What would I do if a storm was bearing down and I couldn’t escape with him? I took it to my dealer and they couldn’t find anything wrong with the motor aside from the spark plugs being a little dirty. Luckily, my friend is an electrician and he knew the culprit. It was simple, stupid, and embarrassing:
I wasn’t tightening the battery connections snug enough.
That was it. That was the cause of all my trouble, and the reason I had to waste all that money on dealer diagnostic fees that went no where. Just a stupid, innocent mistake that I never thought of as I was a first time boat owner. It makes you wonder how many “horror stories” about mercury outboards come down to similar user error.
Advantages of Buying a Mercury Outboard
There are some significant advantages to buying a Mercury outboard for your boat. Some of the more important include:
Dealer Network. The main advantage Mercury outboard motors have over other brands, at least in the United States, is as enormous dealer network. While Yamaha has their fair share of dealers as well, you’re never going to be far away from a repair shop that can service your boat engine if you go with a mercury. This makes a mercury outboard motor a good choice for someone who travels around the country a lot to fish. You never know when something will go wrong, but you can be confident you can find someone nearby to help.
Availability of Parts. Because there are so many Mercury outboard motors sold, that extensive dealer network is going to be able to find parts to fix your engine when there is a problem.
VesselView. Mercury Motors have a proprietary VesselView system available that allows you to manage your outboard system better. This will help you get more out of your performance of your engine as you have access to boat and engine performance data. Vessel view displays RPM, speed, fuel flow, fuel efficiency, temperature, trim, and more. Check out all of its features here.
Price. Mercury outboards tend to be less expensive than an equivalent motor of other brands, such as Honda.
Forward Thinking. Mercury has really embraced technology. In addition to VesselView, they also have a Smart Tow system that keeps your boat at the absolutely best speed for towing kids on wakeboards. Additionally, the VesselView Link lets you easily integrate various other systems into one screen. If you’re one of those “gadget fishermen,” Mercury motors would be a good choice.
Has Mercury Made Any Recalls?
If you’re wondering if Mercury outboards are any good, you probably want to investigate the recalls they’ve had. Any boat or motor manufacturer of noteworthy size is going to have their share of recalls, and Mercury is no different. The U.S. Coast Guard keeps a database that you can access here to see what recalls have been made on your boat or motor of choice. As of writing, there were 64 recalls involving “Mercury” since 1970. Granted, this is significantly higher than the data available for other major outboard motor manufacturers.
Boat Motor Manufacturer
Number of Recalls (per USCG)
Mercury
64
Yamaha
47
Evinrude
15
Honda
13
Suzuki
8
Granted, Mercury and Yamaha likely simply offer more products than the other manufacturers, which means they’re going to have more recalls for their boat engines and motors. Still, it isn’t that surprising to see Mercury towards the top, and brands like Honda and Suzuki (which are considered bullet proof) at the bottom.
Major Mercury Verado Recalls
While Mercury has had a number of recalls since 1970, most of them were for little minor things. However, there are a few more major recalls you should be aware of especially if you’re buying a used Mercury outboard or a boat equipped with one. The Verado in particular has had its share of troubles:
The Verado L4 and L6 motors had a flaw in the power steering fuse that affected 36,476 models from 2008 to 2020. You’ll want to ensure that this was taken care of by any prior owners. These are popular motors and one of the more likely you’ll encounter on a used boat, so be careful.
In 2023, the Verado 250/300 had a steering recall for 1179 motors.
Also in 2023, the Verado 200/300 had an “engine gasoline” recall for their 2017 model year affecting 504 motors.
With that said, a recall is an indication that a company is taking a problem seriously and doing something about it. While it stinks to see the Verado have these recalls at least they’ve been addressed. Just make sure if you’re buying a used motor that these issues have been corrected so you can buy with confidence.
Where are Mercury Outboard Engines Manufactured?
While Mercury’s world headquarters is in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, they have a worldwide presence with seven manufacturing centers in six different countires:
Fond du Loc, Wisconsin, USA
Juárez, Mexico
Komagane, Japan (TMC joint venture)
Petit-Rechain, Belgium
St. Cloud, Florida, USA
Suzhou, China
Different locations manufacture different motors for mercury. For example, Mercury’s popular 150 HP outboard motor is manufactured in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA, but many of their 90 HP motors are made in Suzhou, China.
What Is the Warranty on Mercury Outboards?
Mercury Motors offers different warranties depending on what sort of motor you’re choosing. Per their website, this is what Mercury is currently offering as warranties on their outboard motors:
Make sure you double check with your dealer just to make sure none of this changes.
What Are Mercury’s Major Competitors for Outboard Motors?
While I think Mercury makes very good outboards, there are other brands available if you’d prefer. Their most prevalent competitor is Yamaha. Both of these companies vie for market share, and they each have been quite successful at capturing it. Therefore, if you wanted an outboard motor and didn’t want a Mercury, Yamaha would likely be your next best option.
However, both Honda and Suzuki offer outstanding outboard motors that are often considered bulletproof. As testament to this, they have significantly fewer recalls historically than Mercury or Yamaha. The downside is that you might have a hard time finding a dealer.
Can You Put a Brand Besides Mercury or Honda on a Lund?
Mercury has somewhat exclusive partnerships with several brands. For example, Lund boats. For several years, Mercury was the only brand that Lund would put on their boats. Recently, they’ve also offered Honda as an option. However, you’re perfectly capable of putting a Yamaha, Evinrude, or Suzuki on your Lund–you just need to find a dealer who will do it. You have two options. Find a dealer who sells Lund boats as well as the engine you want, or order a boat from Lund without the motor and have it rigged at the dealer of your choice. Who knows? Putting that Yamaha or Suzuki on it might make all the difference in resale value to the right person.
Conclusions
Again, this is my personal opinion backed up by a decade of running one, but I think Mercury outboards are good motors. Yeah, they catch a lot of grief on the internet, but much of this can be explained by the usual Ford v. Chevy syndrome. Further, you have to remember that if you’re one of the top dogs in terms of market share, as Mercury Marine is, you’re going to be selling a lot of outboards to people just starting off. I know I made dumb mistakes when I was learning and I’m sure others have too. Errors in maintenance and break-in due to the novice nature of much of the clientele could easily explain some of the issues.
While I spent the first few years of owning my boat scared that I made the wrong choice by buying a Merc, time marched on and proved me wrong. My 115 HP 4-stroke Mercury motor has been a rock for me just as soon as I stopped being a numpty and started tightening its battery properly!
Thanks,
John Paxton
Want to learn how to take your kids out fishing? Do you have a friend who might need a hand? Click the pictures below to purchase my helpful books!
If you take enough kids fishing, there will come a time when you’ll run into one who struggles with reeling. This is usually a sign that the child isn’t comfortable using that hand to reel, and would prefer it if the reel handle was on the other side. If you’re using a spinning reel, it is easy enough to change. This article will walk you through how to change a fishing reel from right to left handed in a jiffy.
What Is Considered a Right Handed Reel?
A reel is right handed if the handle is on the right side of it. In other words, if you are using your right hand to turn a properly installed reel, it is right handed. In contrast, if the handle is on the left side and you use your left hand to turn it, it is left handed. Whichever hand is working the reel will tell you if it is a right or left handed model.
Changing a Spinning Reel From Right to Left Handed
One of the main advantages of spinning reels is that you can change them from right to left handed and vice versa. This makes them great reels for amateurs or for children as it is easy enough to swap them out if someone just doesn’t like the feel of the current retrieve.
Spinning reels easily break down so you can change them from right to left handed.
Changing the Direction of a Fishing Reel
Opposite the reel handle there is a small dial called a dust cap. This acts to prevent dust from getting in your reel. Unscrew this.
Holding the reel for leverage, take the reel handle and loosen it by reeling “backwards” or towards yourself if you were holding it straight ahead.
Once the handle is all the way unscrewed, place it in the hole on the opposite side where the dust cap used to be. Reel it tight by turning the handle the way you would if you were reeling in line until it is tight.
Replace the dust cap on the opposite side from where it started.
That’s all there is to it. It’s as easy as can be! This is something that can be done quickly, in the boat, or on shore. While some models have slight variations (for example, some of the dust caps double as part of the screw for the reel), most spinning reels can be changed from right to left handed in this fashion.
Can You Break a Spinning Reel Trying to Change it From Right to Left Handed?
Don’t worry too much about messing this up. If everything isn’t connected properly, it will be obvious because your reel handle will be flopping around like a wet noodle.
Are All Spinning Reels Reversible?
There’s the phrase “never say never” but most spinning reels are reversible. There’s very little reason for a manufacturer to not allow a spinning reel to change from right to left handed and vice versa because of the way these reels are designed. It’s basically a standardized option for the type. All the same, if this is a concern for you, make sure you double check the reel before you leave the store so you don’t get stuck with the few models that won’t reverse. Most likely, you will find you have a fishing reel you can change from right to left handed as needed, but you never know.
Do You Reel With Your Dominant Hand?
A major reason you might want to change your fishing reel from right to left handed is if you preferred to reel with your dominant hand. Given that most people are right handed on this planet, and most baitcasters (or at least traditional ones) have a right hand retrieve, it stands to reason that most people are reeling in with their dominant hand. That doesn’t mean that you have to, however. I certainly don’t.
I prefer that my dominant hand be the one working the rod as I fish a lot of jerkbaits, worms, and other lures that require a lot of input. However, there is a good argument to be made that I’d be more effective fishing lures like crankbaits while reeling with my dominant hand. The rationale being that you can get the crankbait down deeper, faster, by reeling in more quickly with your dominant hand than you can with your other.
Can You Change the Handle Side on a Baitcaster?
No, you cannot change the handle side on a baitcaster from left to right or vice versa. You need to purchase a baitcaster reel with a dedicated left or right-handed retrieve. Baitcasters have complicated braking systems and are not symmetrical like spinning reels. Often, one side has a bulge to accommodate mechanicals that the other side completely lakes, and they can’t just be reversed. They are not designed to have their retrieve side changed. Do not purchase a baitcaster assuming you can change the handle side on it from left to right as you can’t.
Frankly, when researching this article I was appalled to find how many niche sites are out there telling you that you can. While I suppose there may be some odd baitcaster on the market that is designed for switching, I have never seen it, and the articles that claim this is possible aren’t citing specific examples either. Be careful about who you take advice from on the internet.
Check out the photo below. Do you see that giant chunk of metal between the reel handle and the reel? Yeah, that’s not reversible. Anyone who tells you it is needs to be vetted for whatever other advice they’re pitching. Since baitcasters can be quite expensive, make sure you get one with the handle on the side you prefer!
It is impossible to change the handle side on a baitcaster.
Can You Get Left Handed Fishing Reels?
Yes, left handed fishing reels are available for sale. They’ve become much more popular over the past decade or so, as more and more manufacturers have started offering them. For example, the Pro Qualifier from Bass Pro comes in left and right hand retrieves in most, but not all, of its gear rations. The 6.8:1 gear ration model is designated with the model number PQD10HLA as opposed to PQD10HA for the left hand version.
Just be aware that not every brand is going to offer every model baitcaster reel in a left handed version. If you’re looking for a particular gear ratio or retrieve, you might need to shop around to find one.
Why Are Most Baitcasters Right Handed?
While nowadays you can find more and more left handed baitcast reels, this wasn’t always the case. For the longest time, most of them were right handed. There are a few reasons for this. First, it’s simply the way they were designed way back when, and old habits are hard to kick. Further, because a baitcaster reel works like a winch, it was designed as such. Pretty much every winch out there for other applications (such as securing your boat to the trailer), you’re going to use your dominant hand. As most folks are right handed, when the first baitcast designers built the reel, they figured folks would want to winch it in with their dominant hand.
This does create an interesting situation where you’ll see most guys using baitcasters switch hands. What I mean by this is they’ll cast with their dominant right arm and then take the rod with their left hand once the lure hits the water. They then reel with their right hand. Given how many professional anglers do this, I guess it isn’t a problem. Still, I’ve had enough fish strike my lure the instant it hits water that I prefer to use a left hand reel. This way I don’t have to switch.
Conclusions
While you can easily switch a spinning reel and even a few spincast reels from right handed to left handed and vice versa, it is not usually possible to switch the handle side of a baitcaster. Therefore, if you truly have a preference, make sure you buy a proper left or right hand retrieve reel from the get go, so you aren’t disappointed.
Also, can we just agree that we need to be discerning on the internet? I tend to research these posts just to see what else is out there to try and provide more useful information for you, and this particular topic upset me. There are some folks out there who are giving very bad information that could cost people a lot of money! If you ever have ANY questions, or don’t quite understand what I’m saying, PLEASE send me an email and let’s talk it through. The main reason I started this site was to help folks who are new to this sport get the hang of things, and I would hate for you to misinterpret things and have a bad experience. I’m here, so write me!
Thanks all,
John Paxton
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I consider northern pike to be akin to the “final boss” on any fishing trip. Large, strong, and armed with fearsome teeth, you’re going to need the proper tackle to bring them to the boat, and the best fishing line for pike is a huge part of that.
I prefer to use braided fishing line for pike as they aren’t particularly line shy and you’re going to need the strength of braid. The best fishing line for pike fishing that I’ve found is PowerPro Spectra Fiber Braided fishing line in anywhere from 20-50lb test, depending on what cover you’re fishing. You could use other braids as well, but I don’t know why you would as PowerPro is simply an incredible product.
While I prefer to use a solid braided line when fishing for pike, don’t worry. I’ll also talk about what monofilament, fluorocarbon, and even wire lines I’d consider for specialized applications. Sometimes they’re the best option depending on what you want to do.
Can Pike See Fishing Line?
Northern pike are sight predators and I promise you, they can see your fishing line. However, you shouldn’t worry about it, because pike don’t care. After all, they can also see your boat, you, and your rod figure eighting in the water right in front of them. They don’t care. They are neither line nor boat shy predators and often their aggression gets the best of them. Don’t believe me? Consider that some of the best pike waters are crystal clear lakes in Canada, and the pike grow so massive there that everyone and their brother is throwing a wire leader. Even though pike can clearly see this wire fishing line, it isn’t stopping them from biting now, is it?
Catching pike isn’t easy, but using the right fishing line helps.
The Different Fishing Lines for Pike To Choose From
There are several broad categories of fishing line on the market. While this may be old hat to some, if you’re new, here’s the major differences and also an explanation of when you should use these types of fishing line while fishing for pike. After all, the question of “what’s the best line for northern pike?” all depends on the situation.
Monofilament
Monofilament lines are what many of us started on. Their basically the go-to all around option for a host of fishing applications. They are relatively translucent, strong, and are quite affordable. They’re also significantly easier to handle than fluorocarbon lines of the same line test as they don’t have the same memory, or tendency to coil. One aspect of monofilament that you should be aware of is that they tend to stretch more than other lines. This can be a good thing or a drawback depending on what you’re looking to do.
When to Use Monofilament Fishing Lines for Pike
You’ll want to use monofilament line for for pike fishing when you’re using topwater lures, or other ones with thin treble hooks. Monofilament fishing line is ideal for both situations. It has a tendency to float, which means it won’t pull your topwater plug down and change its action. Further, the stretch it gives makes it less likely that you’ll pull a thin treble hook from the mouth of a pike while fishing with it. This can mean that monofilament is also a good fishing line for pike if you’re using crankbaits or other treble hook lures, at least in open water.
My personal favorite monofilament is simply Berkley Trilene XL. I’ve been using this as a kid and find that it has all the qualities I want in a monofilament line. While there are other brands out there that cost more (implying, right or wrong, that they might be “better”) I’ve never been let down by Berkley Trilene XL. Case in point, I actually received a letter of commendation, a pin, and a hat from them when I was seven or so and caught my first large northern pike while using their fishing line. I don’t know what that care package cost them but they secured a customer for life! If you want to try out the best monofilament fishing line for pike, pick up some Berkley Trilene XL today.
While monofilament fihsing lines aren’t renowned for their abrasion resistance, Berkley does offer another variation of their line which is tougher. Aptly named, “Berkley Trilene XT Extra Tough,” this can be a good monofilament fishing line for pike if you’re fishing near heavy cover but still want the stretching and floating nature of mono vs. fluoro.
Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon lines are more difficult to use than monofilament as they have a high memory. This means that they will retain the shape of the spool on your reel and can be a pain to handle. You can, however, treat this with line conditioner such as Kevin Van Dam’s Line & Lure Conditioner. You should definitely do this, because once you tame it, flurocarbon is a great fishing line for pike. First, it’s nearly invisible underwater compared to other lines and also is very abrasion resistant. Many pike leaders are made with fluorocarbon for both of these reasons.
When to Use Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines for Pike
Fluorocarbon is the best fishing line to use for pike if you’re fishing near a bunch of abrasion-causing structure, such as rocks, or if the water is extra clear and the pike are spooky. While you will need to cut off line and retie after some time fishing near rocks and other sharp structure, chances are that fluorocarbon will at least last long enough to get your lure and your fish to the boat when hooked.
My favorite fluorcarbon fishing line for pike (or any species, really) is Seaguar InvizX. I’m kind of a meat and potatos guy and frankly the lines I’ve chose are ones that were recommended to me many moons ago over on ultimatebass.com. The guys over there really liked this stuff back when I was starting to really get into fishing as an adult. The reason I love it is I find it is much easier to use than other types of fluorocarbon, especially if you match it with that line conditioner I talked about above. I’m sure there are other products by now that also do the trick, but when I find a product I like, I tend to keep buying it forever.
You can also use regular fluorocarbon line as a leader, though I’d definitely up the pound test if you’re hoping to get past pike teeth. The more common reason to use fluorocarbon line as a leader is for situations where fish are line shy and you don’t want them to focus on your main line of braid or such. Since pike aren’t really too line shine of a species, this may not be a big deal for you.
Braid
Braided fishing line is the best fishing line you can use for northern pike. They aren’t a line shy species at all, and so the fact that braid is so visible doesn’t matter. Braided fishing lines are exceptionally strong for their diameter, which makes fishing for northern pike with spinning gear viable. Since 20lb test braided line has the same diameter as 6lb monofilament, it easily can work on even 3000 series spinning reels. Braid has absolutely no stretch however, so it can be a poor choice when treble hooks. You can compensate somewhat by reducing your drag.
In my opinion, PowerPro is the best braided fishing line for pike.
When to Use Braided Fishing Lines for Pike
Braided fishing line works well for pike in most conditions. It’s easier to talk about the times you shouldn’t use it than the times you should. I hesitate to use braid when I’m fishing with treble hooks as it has so little stretch that it can easily pull the hooks out of a fish’s mouth. You also don’t usually want to use braid in situations where the fish are line shy, though that usually isn’t a problem for northerns. If it is, you can always tie on a fluorocarbon leader to help out.
I like using braided line when trolling for pike or pickerel as I’m usually doing this near weeds. Braided fishing line does a good job of slicing through weeds and it can reduce the amount of times you get hung up and have to reset your approach.
Of all the braids out there, I’ve been fishing with PowerPro forever. Again, this is another thing I picked up over at ultimatebass, where it seemed everyone was tossing this stuff. Near as I can tell, they still are. It’s a great product that holds up well over the years. I don’t normally have to respool until my spool runs low due to retying lines. You don’t need to bother changing it out each year as it is still fine. I definitely recommend heading over to Amazon and picking a spool or ten up.
Should You Use a Leader for Pike?
The question of if you should use a leader for pike is, as most things, situational. Pike have a nasty habit of biting through many lines, especially if they’re large. Some lures like spinnerbaits have a bit of built-in tooth protection in their bent wire frames. Still, the bigger the pike the more likely it’ll inhale a lure to the point that it has a chance to cut the line regardless of what you’re fishing.
If you’re using a lure that you don’t want to lose, such as an expensive jerkbait, a wire leader can be a godsend when fishing for northern pike. You have a few different options for leaders. You can purchase premade leaders made of steel or fluorocarbon, or you can buy a knottable wire product and use your own knots.
What Line Strength is Best for Pike?
Northern pike aren’t generally buried in heavy cover like largemouth bass sometimes are, so I don’t know that you’d really need the same monster line strength braid as you do fishing frogs in the slop, for example. You should be just fine using 20 – 30lb braid when fishing for pike. This is strong enough to handle the largest pike you’re likely to encounter in North America. If you’re fishing in Europe, you may want to bump this up a bit.
The Best Pike Line for Special Situations
To further complicate matters, different types of fishing line will prove best when fishing for pike in certain situations.
Best Fly Line for Pike Fishing
I don’t fly fish, but if I was going to fly fish for pike, I’d check out this page by esoxonly to learn about the best fly line for pike. The author gives all sorts of recommendations for the best fly line for pike fishing depending on if you want a floating line or one that sinks. He’s pushing a brand of line called Scientific Angler and makes a good case for it. Go show his site some love and check it out. To be honest, it’s one of the best articles on line I’ve ever read.
Best Line for Trolling for Pike
I’m a big believer in using braided fishing line when trolling for pike. Usually when you’re trolling for pike or pickerel you’re doing so in a weedy bay. The braided line cuts through the errant weed here and there very well. Another benefit that makes braided fishing line the best for trolling for pike is how it doesn’t stretch. Pike will do a good job of hooking themselves on a trolling pass if you use braid.
As mentioned earlier, I like using PowerPro braided line for pike, and it’s no different when I’m trolling. I’ve had much success with this fishing line over the years and see no difference to change things up and try anything else.
Best Pike Line for Heavily-Pressured Waters
If you’re fishing for pike in heavily-pressured waters, you might want to try using fluorocarbon. While northern pike aren’t normally afraid of fishing line, and will bite lures right next to a boat, to the extent they’re heavily pressured, even they will (eventually) learn. When pike are spooky, fluorocarbon might give you an extra edge as it is more difficult fishing line for pike to see. Seaguar InvizX is a solid choice.
Best Pike Line for Night Fishing
When fishing for pike at night it can help if you can see your line even if the fish can’t. Power Pro makes a high visibility yellow version of their line that you might find useful for nocturnal pike fishing. This will help you detect bites when you are using lures that don’t make the bite obvious.
Best Pike Line for Ice Fishing
Those who ice fish for pike tend to recommend using a specially “ice braid”. Suffix 832 makes such a product that you can purchase here. This line is specifically designed to be used in icy waters because the braid has a tighter weave than traditional braid and also has a coating that is water-repellent. Because of this, the braid is less likely to freeze up and get ice chunks on it than regular braided lines would as it doesn’t have the microscopic nooks and crannies for water to collect in that normal braid does.
Conclusions: The Best Fishing Line for Northern Pike Is Situational
In conclusion, the best fishing line for northern pike is highly dependent on the situation. If you’re on a budget, or tossing lures with thin treble hooks, then monofilament line might work well for you. On the other hand, fluorocarbon is probably the best line for pike when fishing around obstructions. With all that said, my favorite line for fishing with pike is by far braid. It’s strong, reliable, easy to use, and doesn’t seem to scare pike away any. When I’m trying to catch the biggest predator in the lake, I’m tossing braided fishing line for pike, all day long.
Over the years I’ve been on plenty of father and son fishing trips, both with my dad and with my son, Tristan. There’s nothing quite like spending quiet time out there on the water with your child, and at Fishingfather.com, that’s exactly what we’re here to help you do. Here’s some tips for how to plan a great father and son fishing trip, and a few ideas of where to go.
How Old Should Your Son Be Before You Take Him Fishing?
I’m at the point now where I joke with Tristan that I’ve really done him a disservice. See, I didn’t get him into baseball or hockey before he could walk, so now all the other kids have overtaken him. I did, however get him fishing since he was a wee little baby and now he’s absolutely crushing it at 8. We recently got back from a trip to Lake Champlain and I was super impressed with how well he could cast a baitcaster. That doesn’t happen over night!
You can take your son (or daughter) on a fishing trip regardless of their age. You’re just going to need to temper your expectations to match their age and ability. A two year old probably won’t be able to cast, but may be able to spin the reel if you hold the rod for them. A kid who is fifteen is going to look at you funny if you try to do that. In the same respect, if you’re taking your son out when he’s little, you should be focusing on panfish, not Blue Marlin.
I’ve written several posts that can help you get the hang of things regardless of what age your son is. Consider reading up on a few of these before setting out for your father son fishing trip.
T and I had a wonderful time on our recent fishing trip to Lake Champlain.
Why You Should Plan a Father Son Fishing Trip
There’s no time like the present. I’m so glad that my dad took me on many fishing trips together when he was able to. While I still drag him out from time to time, he’s having a tough go of it lately as he gets older and slows down. You never know when this day will come for you. You’re just one accident away from not being able to spend as much time with your littles so go out of your way to take them on a fishing trip today.
In this day in age, fishing with your children is even more important. After all, it gets them away from the screens and their stupid Roblox account. It gives them confidence and something worth posing for a picture with. I can’t get my son or daughter to pose for a shot unless they’re holding a fish! Hey, whatever works.
Planning Your Father Son Fishing Trip
A father son fishing trip can be as simple as a trip to the local pond, or an extravagant excursion to the wilds of Alaska. Regardless of where you’re trying to go, you’re going to want to have fun with your son. Here are some tips to help you plan your trip.
Determine Your Goals
The first step in planning a successful father son fishing trip is to determine your goals. Are you trying to help your son catch his first fish? Are you on a monster quest looking for a true lunker? Is this a bucket list journey you’ve been saving up for the past few years? Are you after quantity, or quality? Is there a particular species you are after? You should have goals in mind to help you narrow down where to go.
Consider Your Options
Depending on what goals you have in mind, you need to narrow your options. The best way to do this is by online research including asking folks for help on internet forums. While anglers can be wary of giving out their specific spots, most are willing to at least help out a dad who is taking their kid out with some general advice. For example, if I wanted to catch some Florida strain largemouth bass, here’s what I would do.
First, I’d figure out what states have them (generally southern ones).
Then, I’d pick the state I’m interested in visiting (let’s say Florida).
Once I knew the state, I’d start poking around for good place to catch them (Okeechobee, the Harris Chain).
When I had it narrowed to the different waters, I’d see what accommodations are near, or what other things I could do with my son on the trip. Depending on your kid, you might not want to be in the boonies. On the other hand, that might be perfect.
Research the Water
Once you have it narrowed down to what water you’re going to fish on your father son fishing trip, you’re going to need to figure out how you will fish it! Can you launch your boat there? It not, can you rent one? If not, can you go out with a guide? Is there a depth chart somewhere for this lake? Are there any internet forums with anglers who post fishing reports for this lake? All of these questions are useful.
I once wrote a post called “Why You Can’t Catch Fish and What to Do About It” where I talk at length about how to research new water. Give it a gander so you can learn this new place you’re taking your kid!
Pack Your Gear
There’s nothing that will ruin a father son fishing trip like leaving some important gear behind. After all, you’re not going to have a good start if you need to run out to the local Wal-Mart to replace everything you forgot! That eats into valuable fishing time!
To ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible, I suggest having everything you can packed days in advance. This gives you time so you can remember something once your memory jars. It also lets you realize if you’re missing something so you can do something about it at home instead of on the road. Packing for your tip early makes the packing somewhat enjoyable too. Far better than rushing at the end!
Set Your Son’s Expectations
When I’m taking my son on a fishing trip to a new destination, I am very careful to set his expectations. I find it is helpful to pitch the trip as an adventure where we are going to explore new water. I don’t promise fish ever, but especially not if we’re headed to a place I’ve never visited! Instead, talk about the experience. Talk about what you’ve read during your research. Don’t forget to mention the other things like arcades or museums or aquariums or such that you can do if the fishing doesn’t pan out!
When we make our fishing trips about the fishing, it had better be good. When we make these about bonding and experiencing life together, catching fish is just a bonus.
Great Father and Son Fishing Trip Destinations
While I’m sure there’s a million great father and son fishing trip destinations out there, my top 3, by far, would be Lake Champlain in New York and Vermont, the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida, and salmon fishing in Ketchikan, Alaska. Each of these has some very strong things going for it that makes it a great fishing destination to take your kids on a special adventure. Let’s explore why.
Lake Champlain
My home waters, Lake Champlain is not only a tremendous fishery but there is a ton of stuff to do with kids if it rains or they just get bored. The Echo Aquarium in Burlington, Ausable Chasm, Fort Ticonderoga, and Lake George Village are all nearby. I always like to have a plan B when I’m fishing with kids and if I was planning a father son fishing trip it would be no different.
As to the fishing itself, Lake Champlain has pretty much every northern freshwater species you could think of. It is routinely a top bass water cited by Bassmaster, has extremely good smallmouth action, and has a healthy array of northern pike, chain pickerel, channel catfish, lake trout, Atlantic salmon, and more. There’s also a huge amount of panfish such as white perch, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black and white crappie, so regardless of how old your kids are, there are fish for them to catch.
Our place is near the southern end of the Lake near Crown Point and Ticonderoga, but I’ve fished many times with Captain Mick Maynard of lakechamplainangler.com. He’s an incredible guide and does a great job helping kids catch giant fish. He fills up quick though so make sure you book early!
The Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida
I’ve fished in a number of locations in Florida, but my best advice to anyone planning a father son fishing trip in Florida is to stick to the Harris Chain of lakes. This is especially true if your kids are little. This chain is full of fish which is important, but you also take really cool canals to move from one lake to the other, which is an experience in and of itself.
However, the main reason I would recommend these lakes is their proximity to Orlando and Disney. This means you can take your kids out fishing and also to amusement parks for the typical Disney experience. While there are fishing guides on actual Disney waters, you’d likely do much better fishing this chain. Luckily, my dear friend Mick also fishes down in Florida during the winter! He has quite the life! Check him out at largemouthcentral.com to book your next charter!
Ketchikan, Alaska
If you’re seeking a more exotic location for your father son fishing trip, Ketchikan Alaska is a great place to go. My dad took me there a few times back in my 20’s and it was a blast. Specifically, we went to Sportsman’s Cove Lodge. Now, dad is a frequent traveler to Alaska, and he will tell you that there may be bigger fish elsewhere, but there is plenty of action at this lodge, and you’re doing it in refinement. The entire experience at Sportsman’s Cove makes you feel like a king and leaves you in total comfort. If you’re taking your family with you, this is the lodge they’ll want to go back to again and again.
I wrote a detailed review of my time at the lodge that you can find here. I definitely recommend reading it when you have a chance. If I was planning a father son fishing trip to Alaska, this would be the only option I’d consider.
Conclusions: Father Son Fishing Trips Are Worth Planning!
Some of my best memories in life are the fishing trips my dad took me out on, as well as the father son trips I’m experiencing right now with Tristan. Yes, they can sometimes be stressful and yes they can cost money, but the memories are priceless. I hope you get to experience a few of these trips yourself while your kids are still young enough to look up to you 🙂
