In the article, "How to Get the World's Best Fishing Baits for Free”, I mentioned that there were essentially three ways to catch fish:

* Use live, natural baits

* Use imitation or artificial baits and lures

* Use hardware such as traps, nets, etc.

One of the most efficient and productive of these three methods is to use live, natural baits. Live, natural baits are proven to be highly effective when acquired locally. Their price is right since they're available for free. You "spend” only the time to gather them. When using live, natural baits be sure to check local and regional regulations.

Bait fish

These can be caught with a cast net and kept in a live well or an aerated container. Although you can catch numerous species right from the beach, casting in the shallows of rivers and lakes works well too. If you locate a school of fish in open water, a cast net can garner you enough of a supply to last the day in only a few minutes.

Maggots

Maggots are a "best” live bait and many anglers swear by them. Raising your own to use as live bait is no where near as gruesome as it sounds. Contrary to some popular opinion, they won't hurt you and are not "dirty”. You can raise a batch of your own by burying a scrap of meat in a small container of moist sand. In two or three days you'll have a lively batch of "squirmers” ready to use. The animal rights activists and conservationists won't bother you either. (Gosh, I wonder why?)

Aquatic species

A number of aquatic species can be easily harvested from streams and river flats or shallows. Newts, salamanders, worms, small frogs, hellgrammites and additional amphibious species can be trapped or netted in ponds, streams, shallows of lakes and rivers. Take care to store them in a cool, shady place in a well ventilated but closed container until you're ready to use them.

Goldfish

A controversial live bait is the use of goldfish. Be sure to check local / regional regulations on their use

. Where legal, anglers swear by these. They are especially effective for a number of large catfish species. Catfish seem to hate goldfish. The goldfish is always mangled almost beyond recognition whenever a big cat gets a hold of it. They hold up relatively well in fresh water but don't last long in brackish or salt water. They're still an effective bait either way. You can also buy them in bulk fairly cheaply where they are legal.

So put more depth and variety into your live bait presentations with these additional, free live, natural baits. Don't forget to include the kids in collecting your specimens. It'll add to their accomplishment of catching a fish if they can say, "I caught the worms myself!”

If your fishing is part of a beach resort vacation, then you might enjoy the suggestions offered in the article, "Unique Things to Do at the Beach” at: http://EzineArticles.com/?id=122266 Have fun and good luck.

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