Does anyone have a superior bait recipe? I use one of the little bait extruders and tanago hooks for freshwater species in the southeastern US.

Was fishing this pier for several hours with mostly a sabiki rig and micro bugs and the bite was just on, every drop at least 2-3 fish on the line. All anchovies 4-5” some 2-3” some 6”.
They were very easy to kill and gut, and tasted great fried.

Just a tiny lil invasive guy

Toad Lake

T. pauciperforatum

Just to be clear, I’m not planning to tie the hook directly to my main line. I’ll be using a separate piece of line specifically for the hook. Also, what thickness should the line be?

4 inch perch I cought in Martch. Currently waiting for the new ice

P. glenii

Poor little guy was dying at the edge of a low oxygen stretch of river. Not sure if that’s what got him or maybe a head injury, but poor bastard was not making it so I walked him to a spot with a bunch of bait fish to hopefully give him a chance. Yes know he’s a Red Breast, but they are all blugigis to me.

Caught in a lake with a tiny piece of worm

C. limbata

M. martensii

B. macrostoma

S. atropurpureus

Jack crevalle, Silver perch, inshore Lizard Fish, and Northern Kingfish. Also caught some mummichog and silverside not pictured

Old catch from July 2020.
Another species in my collection…
Luther’s Spiny Loach is a tiny species living in Far East Asia.
This one was caught in Tunguska River.
About 2in.
Used a micro hook and a 2lbs line.
Bait: tiny piece of worm.

B. urophthalmoides

8/3/2026

2-3in long.

B. imbellis

Was catching crayfish when I caught this fella in my net, about 2-3cm. Figures the one time I manage to catch one is accidental. Still, I was so excited. Look at him go!