fisherchad+FollowAlmost became THAT guy who ruins ecosystems 🤦♂️So there I was last spring, thinking I'd found the ultimate fishing hack. This little creek behind my buddy's place was absolutely crawling with crayfish - I'm talking hundreds of them just waiting to be scooped up. My genius plan? Fill a bucket and haul them over to the main river where I knew the bass were hungry. Easy money, right? Thank God I actually read the regs that night. Turns out those weren't even native to the river system! Could've single-handedly introduced an invasive species. Apparently rusty crayfish have already wrecked ecosystems in 12+ states because of moves exactly like mine. Now I triple-check everything before moving any bait. Anyone else have a close call like this? #fishing #fishingtips #livebait #invasivespecies #fishingfails 30Share
kdiaz+FollowStop using the same old baits! Everyone grabs nightcrawlers and shiners, but the big fish are getting wise to these overused baits. Last weekend I watched guys get skunked with worms while I crushed it using local crayfish I caught myself. The secret? Think like a fish. What do they actually see swimming around every day? That weird bait nobody else uses might be exactly what triggers the giants hiding in your spot. Time to get creative and stop fishing like everyone else. What's the most unusual bait that's worked magic for you? #fishing #livebait #bassfishing #fishingbait #fishinglife #outdoors 3521Share
kdiaz+FollowWait, you can't use that perch as bait everywhere? 🎣Last summer in PA, I was getting skunked on bass until my kid caught a tiny yellow perch. On a whim, I threw it back out as live bait and BOOM - 3-pound smallmouth! Spent the rest of the trip crushing bass with live perch. Plot twist: I just learned this trick is actually illegal in states like Minnesota. You can keep 20 perch to eat, but can't use even one as bait. Wild, right? Always assumed if you could catch it, you could use it. What's the weirdest fishing rule you've discovered in your state? #fishing #bassfishing #livebait #fishingtips #outdoors 2210Share
fisherchad+FollowReal worms still work best for meTried all the artificial worms and crappie nibbles out there. They work sometimes, but real worms just flat out catch more fish. Some days fish will bite a bare hook, other days nothing works - that's just fishing for you. Keep live worms cool and moist (not wet!), feed them shredded lettuce or crushed leaves. The "no refrigeration" types last way longer too. #fishing #livebait #wormfishing #fishingtips11Share
jasonking+FollowLive baitfish legal in your area? 🐟Curious about regulations where everyone fishes. Some places ban live baitfish completely while others allow certain species. What's the rule where you fish and do you actually use them? #fishing #livebait #Anglers #Outdoors 20Share
fisherchad+FollowThese "weird" baits are absolute fish magnets Last summer I was getting outfished by this old timer using something I'd never seen before - hellgrammites. While I'm throwing the same old shiners, this guy's pulling bass after bass with these gnarly bug-looking things. Turns out there's a whole world of "sleeper" baits most of us ignore: crayfish, crickets, sand fleas, even small bluegills. The fish see these natural foods every day but rarely with hooks attached. But here's the kicker - not all of them are legal everywhere. In some states, using bluegills as bait is a no-go, even if you can keep them to eat. And transporting bait from one lake to another can get you fined. Now, I always double-check local rules before I gather or use anything. What’s the most unusual bait you’ve ever tried? #fishing #livebait #crayfish #fishingtips #bassfishing #fishingbait7217Share
fisherchad+FollowGot busted collecting my own bait (oops!) 🦐When I was a kid, my grandpa and I would spend whole mornings turning over dirt in his garden, hunting for fat nightcrawlers. Now I get to do the same with my kids—except we’ve added chasing crayfish in the local river. There’s something special about catching fish with bait you’ve gathered yourself. But I’ve learned the hard way that rules for bait can be just as strict as for fish—permits, limits, even banned collection methods in some states. Now I'm paranoid about everything - even grabbing frogs apparently has different rules. What's the most unexpected bait regulation you've run into? #fishing #livebait #crayfish #outdoors #fishingtips #fishingregulations9091Share
