Should you go with live bait, natural dead bait? Or would you be better off with artificial lure like a jigging dipper? If you’re like most fishing enthusiasts, these are some of the most pivotal decisions you’ll make before hitting the water. When it comes to freshwater or saltwater fishing, which fishing rigs you put on the end of you line could be crucial to a successful day.
Artificial bait and natural bait both have their time and place. Just like tools, there’s always one for the right situation.
Allow us at Rite Angler to show you when to go natural and when to go artificial. By the end of this post, you’ll know the benefits of artificial and natural baits and when to use them.
Let’s dive in.
The Benefits of Artificial Bait
Artificial bait has grown in popularity, mainly due to its durability and the choices available. The synthetic material of artificial baits or fishing rigs makes storage and tying hassle-free. The variety in colors makes them interesting to both use and collect.
Here are some more benefits of artificial bait:
Reusability
Artificial bait is synthetic, so there’s no need to worry about decaying or having to store it in a tank with circulating water. In addition, the synthetic material of artificial baits makes them reusable, so they save you a drive to your local fishing shop. Even after a massive strike, artificial baits can be used over and over again, saving the angler tons of money.
Cleanliness
Artificial rigs are also cleaner compared to natural bait. They don’t smell! They aren’t slimy, and they never die in your live well either. After a day of fishing, a quick fresh-water wash and they go right back into your tacklebox, ready for your next trip.
So it’s clear that artificial bait is easy to handle. Just watch out for the hook! Good artificials, like those from Rite Angler have extremely sharp hooks.
Excellent Visibility in murky conditions
Artificial baits come in a variety of colors that make them stick out like clownfish in a clean aquarium. Because of their visibility, artificial baits are excellent choices when the water is mucked up — which could be the case for saltwater fishing during tide changes or big rains, or freshwater fishing in bubbling rivers and silty lakes.
Best for Catch-and-release Saltwater/Freshwater Fishing
If you’ve ever used natural bait, you know predators can gut-hooked easily, even if you’re using circle hooks. This isn’t too bad if you’re fishing for your next meal, or plan to keep all your catch. However, gut hooking isn’t what you want for fishery preservation, or if you’re catching non-targeted species.
If you’re doing some catch-and-release fishing, opt for artificial bait to go with your fishing rigs. Because of the necessary action on the bait created by the angler, gut hooking is far less common with artificial baits.
The Benefits of Natural Bait
Natural bait is messy, expensive and require constant replacement via frequent drives to the tackle store or cast netting/catching… and often die in the live well. Despite these minor inconveniences, natural baits have a lot to offer.
Maximized Chances of Catching Fish
Whether it’s freshwater or saltwater fishing, natural bait like worms, goggle eyes and speedos are attractive to fish. Fish will flock wherever they sense natural bait like worms and bait balls gathering. As a result, you’ll catch something easier — even if you’re not paying attention.
An Even Better Choice for Muddy or Murky Water
Natural bait doesn’t need to swim in high visibility water to draw fish. Even if the water isn’t clear, predators can sense the movements and nervousness of live baits in almost any water condition.
Free — If You Know Where to Look or have good cast net skills
Worms are everywhere and so are saltwater baits. Also, if you’re already cultivating some perch or bluegills, or have a pen full of pinfish, why drive to the tackle shop? If you have the time, patience, and skill to catch or cultivate it, live bait can be free… unless you’re buying it, of course.
But keep in mind, if you have to buy it, live bait can be extremely expensive and must be handled with kid gloves.
When in Doubt, Try It Out
Both kinds of bait — natural and artificial — can be excellent choices for your fishing trip. Of course, each has its place. But utilizing both is part of what makes freshwater and saltwater fishing so much fun.
Whether you’re experimenting with new baits, techniques and rigs or not, you’ll should always include the best artificials in you tackle box. They’re proven to work in almost any conditions, on almost any fish and can last years.
Let us hook you up. Find everything you need from artificial trolling baits and jigs, full rigs and tackle at Rite Angler!
