well here it goes. It was one of those dog days of summer fishing was slow the tide was approaching full most people layed there rods on the rocks or called it a day. an older man made his way out offered a freindly greeting but asked no questions. My first thought was good luck old timer.
His setup was simple weight hook barrel swivel and leader. first cast, and within one minute fish on, he jently released this fish only to catch three more in almost an identical maner. Ruling out the chance of it being a coincedence we all put in. every bait known to man was in the water and nothing!nada not a hit not a tug or sniff, this in my book is the ultimate frustration! Moving closer and asked if it would be alright if I fished by him he was polite enough and said it would be fine. another hour or so went by and I was still catching nothing and the old man, he was still catching one after another. I finally built up the courage and asked what he was using he simply replied worms, worms? half the people out here are using worms. he caught a few more fish and almost as if he was bored took some casts on the ocean side of the jetty caught a nice fluke and started making his way in. Passing by he stopped for a minute to make small talk and asked if I wanted the rest of his worms I thought sure what the h-ll I had been chuncking all day with only a few fish and was willing to try anything. I quickly changed hook opened the box to find night crawlers. I was almost ashamed to put one on the hook, no sooner did it find the bottom when bang and it began.

I have since talked with others that swear by unconventional methods everything from live bluegill to tippeng there jigs with pig intestine I talked to a flyfisherman who fishes a large floating mouse pattern
just out of couriosity have any of you fished unconventional methods with success?

I don't know it it would be considered unconventional, but in September the best fluke bait/lure I've ever used is a strip of sea robin belly on a plain lead jig head. No bucktail or skirt. Awsome producer!

Unconventional? Take a look at "The Gospel According to the Old Timer" that John posted further down the page...might be on page 2 by now...I'm all for unconventional approaches to ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g lures/baits. I figure if I like a change of diet now and again why wouldn't the fish?

http://forums.evilnet.net/ubb/smilies/pint1.gif

Unconventional is my middle name. Nothing beats going against the crowd and catching fish. Nightcrawlers are a great saltwater bait that no one really uses. They are great for fluke and winter flounder. Put them on a jighead and cast them out. Slower for the winters and faster for the fluke. Obviously you will be fishing for these fish at different times of the year.

Another great fluke bait is fluke belly. I eat the fluke belly so I don't use them but you can clean up. I've seen it happen.

Othertimes, I've seen it where fish won't touch anything but live snappers.

I wondered about usig bluegills for stripers. I may have to try it out. I have used one or two before with great results on huge Largemouths.

I just spoke to a good freind that tells me that he uses smaller live eels when fishing the sudbury river and has caught some huge pike and largemouth.

I was out fishing the Sacramento River Delta a few years ago looking to get some Sturgeon and some Stripers. Being a know nothing on west coast Striper fishing, I brought my east coast plugs figuring they'd work (they do) and I'd see what was used locally. I had been in a few shops and at one of them, I ask about eels. "What the hell are you talking about???!!!" said the guy behind the counter.

"Well, where I'm from, that's one of the primo ways into big Stripers"

"We don't use them, and frankly, you might be full of it..." he told me with a suspicous look in his eye...

I hear a voice from the back of the shop with a slightly familiar slur, "Kid, they don't use them and they don't have OUR eels like you and me are used to. I often wonder about using a lamprey which is the only thing close in the American and Sacramento. But I did use some live eels brought back from home in Maine and used them in tournament a few years back. Three of the top five came in on eels on our boat by we never did it again. Weren't sure if it was legal you see."

Me and the Mainiac chatted for another hour or so about back east and striper fishing here and there and it was very interesting...

So, I guess that's the most unconventional, conventional bait in a twisted sort-of way...