Increase Your Hookup Ratio With This Overlooked Bait
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In 2018, I picked up a jar of Berkley PowerBait Trout Bait.
I planned on using it while fishing small streams but quickly found myself using it all the time.
Origin Story
One day, out on my boat, my buddy and I were getting absolutely skunked. The bass were not biting. The pike were not chasing. The panfish were not nibbling. It was just dead.
Fortunately, I had my ice fishing rod & reel out on the boat with me. Don’t ask me why, I honestly don’t know why I had it out there in mid-July.
While my buddy kept switching baits, trying to find the elusive fish that were refusing to bite, I decided to put everything away and tie on a Size 6 Octopus hook. The only thing I had around that would fit on this small hook was my unopened jar of Berkley PowerBait Trout Bait.
Feeding Frenzy
The next hour of fishing was some of the most fun I have ever had fishing. Sure, the fish I caught were small but they kept on biting and that little ice rod allowed those fish to feel like they were trophies putting up a fight.
…
And, no, my buddy didn’t catch anything during that time.
Since then, I have been a big proponent of using jar baits.
I always have one or two in my tackle box/bag - no matter how small. Even when I am just wading with a hip pack, I still have 1 small jar with me just in case the fish are being finicky.
Jar Baits Galore
This experience sent me on a quest to try as many jar baits as I could get my hands on - and in 2024, I will be publishing a blog post and video on our YouTube channel comparing all sorts of jar baits.
In the meantime, some of my favorite Jar Baits to use include:
- Berkley Powerbait Trout Bait - I actually don’t use this very much for Trout; I use it for all sorts of panfish. Crappie and Bluegill in particular both seem to love it. My favorite color is the pink bait.
- Pautzke Crappie Fire Balls - While the bait is slippery and can be difficult to put on a hook, its gel-like material makes it incredibly durable and it doesn’t dissolve quickly in moving water.
- Leland Crappie Magnet Slab Bites - Very similar to the Berkley Powerbait, these tend to come in at a slightly lower price point and are an excellent pait to your Trout Magnet and Crappie Magnet jigs.
There are ton of other baits on the market, again I will go into these in more detail sometime in mid-late Spring 2024 when I write and publish more content related to jar baits. However, these are three very popular baits for a reason. They are good, inexpensive, and they just catch fish.
How To Use Your Jarbait
There really isn’t a right or wrong way to use your favorite jar bait, but here are three go-to uses.
- Float Fishing - I use my ultralight setup and will connect a small float to the line, and tie on a small Octopus (size 6 or 4) or Aberdeen (size 8, 6, or 4) hook. Depending on the depth I am fishing, or if there is a stronger current, I will add a small Split Shot. From here, I just attach a piece of bait from the jar to the end of the hook and cast my line.
- Ultralight Jigging - After tying on a small ultralight jig and soft plastic bait (like a Trout Magnet or something from Mule Fishing), I will often add a little piece of bait from the jar to the end of the hook. This doesn’t really change the presentation of the lure, but I do find it greatly increases my hookup ratio.
- Inline Spinner - This is where you will think I am crazy, but I swear by it. If I am fishing a small inline spinner, I will sometimes add a piece of bait from the jar to the hook. Sometimes I do this to add a bit more color to the end of the bait to entice a fish to strike, while other times I am convinced that the taste of the bait makes a fish hold on longer.
See you out there,
John Jay Thomas
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