Different species of fish like to eat different kinds of bait. Of course, fish can also be finicky, and eat one food a certain day and something else the next. It’s a good idea to know the basic bait foods to use for the fish you want to catch, and to have a second choice on hand in case you encounter some picky eaters.

There are several types of live bait typically used to catch a wide variety of fish. Earthworms and nightcrawlers are traditional favorites, perhaps because so many species of freshwater fish eat them readily. Grubs and maggots are also good. Insects such as flies, crickets, and grasshoppers are favorites of many species of fish as well. Some larger fish even like to eat small frogs and crayfish.

Minnows are a favorite live bait of most anglers, and there are several kinds of minnows sold at bait and tackle stores. Fathead and bluntnose minnows are popular bait fish if you are fishing for walleye, crappie, or bass. Larger bait species are chubs and golden shiners, and northern pike and largemouth bass will go after them readily.

Catfish identify food by smell mainly and they prefer bait that has a strong odor, especially in muddy water where they can't see. They will bite on chicken livers or Velveeta cheese, and also on commercial baits like “cat cheese”, stink bait. Catfish are also known to bite on kernels of corn, small pieces of hot dog, and even bread balls. You can buy a stink bait liquid to put on artificial lures or to mix with your bread balls to haul in even more catfish.

You can save money if you find your own bait in your kitchen or backyard. Look for nightcrawlers with a flashlight in wet grass after dark, or dig for earthworms in your compost pile.