Older anglers are a terrific source of wisdom. Having honed their craft over the years, these fishers have more knowledge than any textbook or internet video can offer. Their teaching method varies; they might take you out on the waves and guide you in baiting your hook, or give you a sharp tap on the head if you make an erroneous decision! But what they’re really renowned for are their age-old adages; who could forget “A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work” and “You never leave fish to find fish” particular favourites. Of course, one of the most famous pieces of wisdom that has stood the test of time is simply: “Big fish eat big bait”.
For generations, anglers have been taught to employ large lures when they set out to land big fish. This technique has become deeply embedded in fishing culture and it often evokes the image of two characters casting a Christmas roast into the sea in Jaws. We tend to think that the bigger our bait, the bigger our catch—even if all this effort fails to yield any results. Little do we consider that many anglers use this method without seeing consistent success, making one wonder: does large bait really attract big fish?
The Reason We Believe Big Fish Eat Big Bait
The principles behind this saying are that as fish become bigger and perhaps more experienced, they start to prey on bigger items. Primarily a big bait must be used to catch a ‘trophy’ sized fish. The same goes for offensive linemen and an all-you-can-eat buffet, as it’s required for them to generate the energy that helps sustain their size. Although it is quite a gamble, I often use the largest bait available with confidence that I might hook a massive one. Over time this opinion has been consolidated – where bigger bait usually means catching large fish.
In the past, ice anglers have known that big baits are a surefire way to catch big predatory fish like lake trout and trophy fish through the ice. When searching for a giant catfish, catfish enthusiasts often use large live baits and cut bait instead of the usual kitty treats. Even so, very few anglers seem to understand why big baits work, even though so many adhere to this belief.
Trout fishing is a great example of the big bait for big fish trend. River currents are constantly creating energy loss for trout, so small trout need to eat bugs often in order to make up for this. On the other hand, larger trout cannot sustain their energy levels with such tiny prey items and therefore need to eat bigger meals less frequently. This means the smaller trout are continually searching for food while large trout usually look for more substantial foods like minnows or crayfish. As a result of this, those looking to catch a trophy trout should ditch the small nymphs and worms and try using bigger bait options instead.
According to Montana trout fishing guide Willie Dellwo, if you really want to have success in catching a trophy trout, you need to use large lures or baits. While your bite rate may decrease, the size of your fish will increase. Fish like trout which are sought after for their large size only chase after food that is larger than the average bug. As such, spin fishers should think about using live shiners and other robust lures including jerkbaits, spinners, and swim baits. Therefore, it’s best not to waste time with lesser baits.
The data reinforces the theory that big fish eat big bait, but it’s important to keep in mind that this is just a small sample of angling as a whole. For a long time, you’ll be on the water without catching any fish if you rely solely on big baits. In fact, there are many fish species, as well as different times and places, when big fish prefer smaller meals, making the big baits and big fish belief a lot of exceptions.
Big Bait Theory: The Truth
There are a lot of giant fish out there that live on smaller meals, despite the “big fish and big bait” approach being viable. Paddlefish are a prime example of this, as they can reach well over 100 pounds, but are exclusively filter feeders. These prehistoric giants swim through the water with their mouths open, eating nothing but plankton.
An example of a big fish eating small bait is the large carp. Its diet consists of small aquatic plants and seeds, insect larvae, and fish eggs, growing to over 50 pounds in most places where it lives. In order to catch these fish, anglers often use unusual fishing methods such as snagging and bow fishing since they are so large and have such a small diet.
There are other times of the year and certain fishing conditions that cause more popular gamefish that we often associate with the big bait theory to target smaller prey, apart from specific fish that live on small meals. There are times when using big baits to catch these fish won’t work, and it varies across different regions and different species.
Cold Water and Warm Water: Going Small
When a cold front passes through the area, fish often become less active and selective when it comes to their prey. The larger lures, baits, and flies that have been doing so well can be ignored in favor of smaller offerings. These items are more plentiful and easier to capture than larger food sources when the metabolism of the fish is at its lowest. To illustrate this point, Pyramid Lake in Nevada is an example of a body of water that never gets truly warm, thus the fish living there sustain themselves on very small meals.
James Mugele, an experienced angler from Pyramid Lake, expressed his surprise at the feeding habits of Lahontan Cutthroat – being some of the largest trout in the US. Even though they could easily take big meals such as suckers, these fish tend to opt for tiny chironomids and midges due to the cold water temperatures. It’s truly remarkable how these monsters can grow to such sizes on small baits, as Mugele has himself faced when fishing there during winter – often resulting in a catch of one of his biggest fish!
Warm water can be especially advantageous to aggressive fish like pike and muskie that frequently feed on prey several times their own size, such as trout, walleye, bass, even turtles, ducks or muskrats. These hearty meals allow them to eat only one or two times a day and so, anglers often use bigger baits in the hope of catching one. However, some are now aware that larger ones may not be necessary when targeting pike and muskie during summer when smaller baitfish and panfish are more active– which then causes these predators to be more opportunistic with their feeding habits.
In my opinion, big pike and muskies will eat big meals once or twice a week during the summer, and then fill in with smaller prey while that big thing digests, Minnesota fishing guide Wil Neururer told MeatEater. There are times when throwing that big pounder for muskie and pike will work and times when there’s nothing better.”
For Neururer, timing is everything.
Neururer told MeatEater that a big factor to consider when using baits is the time of year. Starting in August when the cold air front moves into the area, it’s a great opportunity to use bigger bait. However, for the majority of the summer when water temperatures are higher, he opts for smaller options, like small bucktails and double blades, and relies on upping speed rather than increasing size. In sum, if you want to be successful at this time of year; seeking out smaller baits moving quickly is likely a better bet than s slow-moving large one.
Despite the fact that big baits can catch fish, the old adage is a little vague to provide concrete advice.
Neururer said that while the big bait thing is true, it’s not the only way to catch big fish. Many people troll giant suckers during the fall, which does catch fish, but I wouldn’t recommend that when it’s hot. It won’t give you the returns you want. By the time big bait stuff really gets going, most people have put their boats away for the winter.
When there is a lot of food in the water, think small
At times when there is an abundance of smaller forage, big fish won’t necessarily be attracted to large baits. Trouts, for instance, will become more active and devour insects during hatches like those of flying insects or stoneflies as the energy expended on catching them can provide similar calorie count with less effort. The same goes for other large predators living in places such as the Great Lakes where they will feed on whatever is most conveniently available to them.
“Big fish seem to eat whatever they want and when they want to,” walleye guru and MeatEater contributor Ross Robertson said. “I target giant walleyes on the Great Lakes and I enjoy watching them eat.” In addition to releasing all the big walleyes personally, I have found that spending some time in the livewell can provide some great insight, since they often spit up their last meal.”
By sorting out not just what they’re eating, but also where they’re feeding, this survey method teaches anglers how to target big fish in a more nuanced way.
Robertson told MeatEater, “One day, the biggest fish will eat small shiners, but the next they’ll eat giant perch, gizzard shad, white bass, or even gobies.” I can use this information to determine the lure size I can use, but the best information I get is where the fish are located. According to research, species such as perch and gobies tend to be more bottom-oriented, whereas white bass and gizzard shad tend to suspend higher in the water column.
Sharing it with others
In order for a giant fish to be considered a trophy, it has to be rare and special. If you caught a monster on every cast, those truly gargantuan specimens wouldn’t hold the same weight as they do now. It’s almost like we adhere to the big fish eat big bait mentality because it gives us an excuse for not always catching the big fish we’re looking for while at the same time declaring our intent to catch it.
Letting a buck pass or attempting a double black diamond ski trail gives your efforts added significance and makes success even more sweet. Regardless of objections, the big fish eat big bait belief will endure, perpetuated by experienced anglers eager to pass along incredible stories that will spur generations of fishermen on in their pursuit of a catch-of-a-lifetime.
Sources: The Meat Eater, Feature image via Tosh Brown.
