10 Unusual Baits People Have Used for Fishing

Baitcasting is a proven effective technique to catch many varieties of fish. Using baits has always been a go-to fishing method- from wriggly live baits to smelly dead ones.

The most common baits used by anglers include worms, small varieties of fish, and insects. However, the lures you can use are not limited to these examples. There are also unusual ones that can make a fish bite your hook.

Anglers with a colorful imagination use unorthodox baits that are surprisingly effective. Some of them are typical table food or snacks and will make you curious enough to try them out on your next fishing trip. However, before you try out these baits, be cautious not to pollute the fishing hole and be mindful of local fishing laws.

Here are ten unusual fishing baits that you can try out on your next fishing trip:

Top 10 Unusual Fishing Baits 

1. Chicken Strips, Nuggets, and Livers

Chicken has been notorious for having strong smells that linger after days of being cooked. Some anglers stored days-old fried chicken and used them as bait in their fishing holes.

Other variations, such as tenders and nuggets, are thrown underwater as fish bait. Anglers reported that this method got numerous bites from schools of fish. Among the fish species attracted by chicken are catfish and sea trout.

Creative anglers use livers, gizzards, or eggs as fish baits. These raw organs have a stronger pungent smell than other cooked chicken parts.

The bass family is highly attracted to the smell of these organs. Though it may reel in schools of fish, the smell may not be pleasant if it lingers on your boat. Thus, remember to store these in an ice chest and not spill chicken blood all over.

2. Marshmallows

Perhaps the most cost-effective bait on this list, marshmallows have been a long-time favorite at children's parties, camp trips, or even during the holidays. This treat is unexpectedly a good fish bait, especially for sunfish or trout.

The small pieces are easy to attach to the hook. Furthermore, the sugars slowly dissolve underwater, carrying the smell of the treat towards schools of fish.

Aside from the convenience and smell, marshmallows are cheap. Plus, you can also buy it in almost any convenience store. Any flavor or brand can last at least three fishing trips, saving a lot of time and money for anglers deciding on fish bait.

3. Pet Food

Bluegill, catfish, and carp go crazy for pet food. However, a can of it costs more than a usual live bait in any fishing store. Thus, it would be good to have a pet at home to share the wet food. If you don't, you can also hunt for canned pet food near its expiration date because they are usually put on sale.

4. Hot Dogs

Hotdogs are commonly sold in street stands and served along with a sandwich. However, anglers do hot dogs on hooks to catch fish in the waters. Like pet foods, hot dogs cost way more than your regular fishing bait, but if you have leftovers, then this is an excellent way to use them instead of tossing them into the trash.

Make sure to cut your hot dogs into small pieces and attach them to the hook so that schools of fish can bite on the pieces simultaneously. Snappers, bluegill, and catfish love this treat, especially if it is already giving off a pungent smell.  

5. Ivory Soap

As it turns out, every angler knows that ivory soap is an effective way to catch catfish. Sounds weird, right? But ivory soap cut into half-inch cubes seems to do the trick!

Although a fish's healthy diet does not consist of soap, these tiny bars' tallow acid content can attract catfish. This content comes from beef or mutton fat, giving it an attractive smell for catfish.

Ensure that you cut the soap into tiny pieces as a large block can potentially poison them and spoil your catch.

6. Cereal

Any wheat-based cereal you can find left in your drawers can stay in the water to reel in a carp or two. Although cereals cannot absorb too much water, their scent is enough to attract schools of fish before they disintegrate on your hook.

7. Fish Eyeballs

It is probably from ice anglers if you wonder where horror movies get their eyeballs-in-a-jar idea. Later on, they store fish eyeballs with salt in a jar as live fish bait. The smell and taste of fish eyeballs attract varieties of bass, perch, and trout.

Make sure not to store the eyeballs for too long, or else they will be too soggy for the fish to bite on or to be hooked on your rods.

8. Candy

Fish have a sweet tooth too, and candy sugar produces a pungent smell underwater. Do not pour a whole bag of candy onto the water as these cause pollution.

9. Spoiled Shrimp

Pungent odor is essential for bait to be effective, and spoiled shrimp is here to do the job. Shrimp, even while fresh, has a strong smell already; what more if it is weeks old already?

The smell of spoiled shrimp easily attracts all kinds of fish, but be careful not to spill the container on your boat because the scent may cause you to rock your boat upside down.

10. Bacon

Everyone will agree that bacon is the perfect comfort food, even fish. However, some anglers see bacon as too expensive. So make sure that you would rather the fish eat this tasty breakfast staple instead of you. Thanks to its packed fat and pungent smell, Bacon makes an easy bait on your hook when uncooked.

Moreover, smoked bacon does the trick in catching fish, especially the hickory-smoked ones. The grilled smell is strong enough to attract all sorts of fish towards your hook.