wow, there's a shot :eek:


IMO what would give me a better chance at a fifty between the 2 choices you give would be live bait. But I would prefer dead bait presented to a big old cow bass over 50 pounds because they can be lazy and opportunistic. I prefer to fish for large with jigs, it's what works for me. I enjoy fishing with plugs and get alot of satisfaction when I succeed and actually catch bass with them.
Live bait is so much more realistic, it has scent,it moves on it's own, it reacts to attacks the bass doesn't have to be tricked into thinking this bait is actually a fish, because it is a fish(or eel).

Awesome

what would give me a BETTER shot

BIG EELS
BUNKER
LIVELINING SCUP/TINKER BLUES UNDER A BALLOON

will they go for a plug, if they were hungry and there was no bait in the area, probably, but why wold you be there in the first place with lack of bait?

Yeah those guys who enjoy their breakfast and friendship at the Chicken Ranch don`t catch fish :hihi: but who cares when you have friends.

First off, how is that inflamatory BS? Bait fishing, as most in this thread have expressed, is the best way to your goal over plug fishing, in that context then would it not be a better route to go than plugs if it has that inherrent edge? Would that not be a form of insurance against failure knowing that if you were going out to fish tonight and you know that bait produces more big fish percentage wise than plugs it would give you that edge over the plug guys. That is an insurance motive and that bit of insurance gives you the advantage.

I did answer the question. And my point about the old days, (which you yourself relished in telling me at Striperfest two years ago as you related the tale of past times that nothing could compete with yo yo ing bunker out of that Red Seacraft for big bass in big numbers), is that plugs once could compete and maybe will again.

Bait fishing makes it a bit easier to accomplish your goals as far as getting a fifty or better and live or dead bait in that case is added insurance that you will achieve what you seek. Is that inflammatory? No, it's a fact.

I expected more out of you Bruce.

Thank You for providing a "legitimate theory" Flap.
Now go find where you put your medicine.

It's funny Steve, gotta laugh with it
not about the imflammatory stuff

I will say that if there is a 50 in front of you....that is half the battle. Getting it to take your offering is the other half and at that point you have a better than even chance of getting it to take either offering! My 50, if I ever get one will be on a plug!

all pretty much agreed "live bait"wins the take large catergory .. That being said ,, taking large on a plug would be more of an achievement .. again if all agree using "live bait" the chances are better of taking large .. No ???

I agree that 8 out of 10 times a fifty will come on "Livies"!

Just found this Thread! :o

My contribution to this Thread/ question, was just now written (silly enough) on P. # 4 of that "Why haven't you landed a 50 yet?" Thread! :walk:

I gave up the meds that might be the problem. Going clean and sober is tough.

You did? I saw a picture of you somewhere and you look leaner and healthier.

C&S: I had to awhile back but they keep giving more meds now.

Referring to surf fishing, ./// Are you sure chunked bait is the way to go? :D

For the most part, you lose some things while bait fishing.....2 things that go hand in hand, Distance + you'll definately be covering less water, not that you always need distance, but depending on where you're fishing, it could mean the difference between catching something or nothing at all, nevermind a 50. Not to mention, crabs won't normally pull your plug under a rock :vamp:, skates and dogfish prefer bait over plastics 2 to 1 according to the last census,..// etc// ...you can fan while baitfishing, but it won't last as long with the continuous casting, the eel being the exception - but you'll still lose distance with eels. How many casts can you make and how much water can you cover with a plug versus 1 cast and turtle retrieving an eel???

Think about it.

I still think BAIT, alive or fresh would be my answer.

Bait.

An eel casts as well as most metal lip swimmers, Gil. And I don't retrieve a swimmer much faster than I retrieve an eel.

A rigged eel will outcast most swimmers--but is that a bait or a lure? ;)

And I won't mention dogfish and their preference for bait over jigs :D

Actually making it out on the water when conditions are most favorable with one of my two favorite plugs.

With those two things coming together I'd have all the confidence in the world.

Mike, when speaking of eels,,,

>> ....

I hope you know what you started, that will be the Title to the next 4 new threads. :fishslap:,,,

Seriously though,, I don't consider eel fishing equal to bait-fishing. I do work chunked baits thru drifts...and I will also make occasional bounces with my chunks when bottom fishing, to rejuvenate the juices as well as move it away from a tugging crab or just to another spot,,, but eel fishing in an essence, is plugging ...with a "Living" plug. "Plugging" by definition, is to "keep at something" which to me means continuously casting and retrieving, that's what I do with eels, , thus plugging .
I have also chunked FAT river eels, but I consider that Bait Fishing, it's all in what you do with the eel that makes it a plug or a bait. :D Happy now??

In my analogy, I was comparing a 2 -3 oz. needle versus a bloody, fresh pogy chunk :drool:..............I should have been more specific.






but just like in my other post, I would still pick BAIT over PLUGS if there was money on the line

From a boat:
Live Bunker
Bunker spoons
Whole or the head of a Dead Bunker

From the shore:
Chunks
Eels
Mambo Minnow