Successful fishing trip - the best natural baits for freshwater fish

Let's be honest - each of us has our own personal favorite dish that makes our mouths water when we greedily look at the deliciously prepared meal. " We eat what's put on the table " will most likely go down in history as the most outdated standard saying of all existing standard sayings. Is it any wonder that the animal world doesn't want to accept just any food that's put out there?

When fishing in particular, you are often confronted with this picky attitude of the underwater inhabitants. Bait is not just bait - and if you think otherwise, you will most likely not be able to attract the attention of the water divas by throwing your hook into the cool water . Before the fish ends up on your plate, you have to put something decent on it. It's a matter of give and take. This golden rule applies just as much to the pond next door as it does during a fishing trip in Norway . WOLFGANGS has put together the best natural bait for freshwater fish for you, so that your next fishing trip is a complete success.

Natural bait - a wide selection

In the world of fishing, the term " natural bait " summarizes the various types of bait that are of natural origin . The range is extremely extensive, so you can be almost certain that you will find the right treat for every type of fish. Vegetables, fruits, seeds, worms and insects - the list of possible baits could be continued with many more examples and makes it clear that only good and detailed preparation will bring the desired success later on.

If you are specifically targeting freshwater fish, you should aim your bait precisely at this target. Most freshwater fish are so-called peaceful fish, which in turn are known for not being equally fond of all baits. Only the right bait will make the hook appear attractive enough afterwards.

The classic - earthworm bait for freshwater fish

Tried and tested, successful, good! That's how you could describe the classic freshwater fish bait if you wanted a short and accurate description. Where many people initially expected something more exotic, the freshwater fish initially relies on the tasty basics. This is fine with the angler, because earthworms are easy to obtain yourself, especially in our part of the world, and can also be used in a variety of ways.

But not all earthworms are the same. Each type of earthworm has its own advantages, which you should know as well as possible. Dew earthworms, which are often known as " blueheads ", are perfect for bottom fishing or float fishing. Eels, chubs, barbels and perch, among others, like to nibble on this bait. If you bundle the blueheads into a large ball and place them on the fishing hook, this could mean that catfish are not averse to it either.

Giant red worm, compost worm and co.

The wormy menu is far from over. The species “ giant red worm ” and “ compost worm ” simply look too appetizing for freshwater fish to risk a bite on the hook. The worms, officially known as “ Dendrobenas ” and “ Eisenia ”, can be easily found in any fishing shop and promise a high chance of success during your fishing trip.

The Dendrobenas in particular know how to impress with their movements. The constant wriggling, twisting and moving attracts the fish almost automatically and as if in a trance. Together with the Eisenias, they also manage to impress with their olfactory attributes - at least in the world of freshwater fish ! What is more like torture for human noses is for the fish as if they were walking past the most delicious dish in the world.

Eel, bream, carp and roach are among the species that can be caught excellently with the Dendrobenas. The compost worms, on the other hand, are particularly popular with whitefish and tench and are also excellent for float fishing.

Maggots, mealworms and other freshwater fish delicacies

Maggots are a worthwhile purchase when you consider how cheaply they are offered in specialist shops and how much success can be achieved with them. This all-round bait attracts all types of whitefish and bream alike to the hook. Perch and eels are also not averse to this inexpensive and practical bait and occasionally flirt with a bite. The larvae also boast a decent storage time. They can be stored in a cool place for around 1-2 weeks before they start to pupate. If you miss this deadline or simply don't get around to fishing in a hurry, you don't have to throw away your stored pupated larvae. The baits, known in this state as " casters ", can also attract many fish and also make up an important part of the freshwater fish diet.

Anyone who dares to deviate a little from the usual norm could be rewarded for their bravery. Alternative natural baits such as water snails, mealworms, bee maggots, cheese and mosquito larvae can work wonders and are a hit with various types of fish. Tench love water snails, while trout like to treat themselves to a mealworm snack. A cheese bait can quickly make friends with barbels, and roach often greedily eye red mosquito larvae.

Many anglers report that, especially in the warmer seasons, they sometimes have difficulty catching anything with natural animal bait . It seems that many fish become short-term vegetarians during the summer rise in temperature.

Plant-based natural baits

Did you know that bream, gudgeon and roach love kneaded white bread? Or maybe you've heard that carp and whitefish like to say " yes !" to a grain of corn? Corn has the huge advantage that it stays in its original state for a long time on the hook. If worms, bread and various other baits quickly become soft in the water or are gnawed by other fish, the corn kernel is usually too stable for this and can be used for much longer. This often means that the larger specimens usually end up on the hook.

Here too, experimenting and trying things out is better than studying!

Try your luck with exotic baits like hemp seeds, wheat grains, macaroni or cherries. What sounds totally crazy regularly makes the hearts of Belgian anglers beat faster. They manage to land numerous roach using hemp seeds. So – go for it!