How to fool a fish

by Carl Hyland on 23 Jul 2012 As we all know, there are many products available today to fool fish and fishermen. Unfortunately, I have been fooled many times, but in saying that, so have the fish I have been targeting.

How often have you bought a bit of fishing kit either through advertising or recommendation by fishing mates?

As I indicated, there are many lures and other items available to help you in your quest to catch more or bigger fish and via this article; I hope to be able to help you do this with more success. There is nothing like collecting and using your own bait. I can guarantee that if you are sitting at home, wondering what to do because you or the kids are bored, if you suggest a bait gathering exercise, you will be a winner. Kids love being outdoors and sure you will need towels and gumboots and even sunscreen, just for those time when someone falls in or gets nipped by a pink nipper or a crab.

Whilst you are gathering your bait for a future outing(fresh is best) you are getting excise, fresh air and the kids(plus yourself) are learning a bit about nature and the species you will be targeting, plus perhaps saving a dollar. The old joke, you can always eat the bait, does ring true also if the fish aren’t biting, but I don’t know what sandworms or earthworms would taste like (prawns would be okay).

Pippis are a bait to be treasured. Sure you can buy them bagged and frozen from a tackle store but if you get your own, they are far superior. Look for old discarded pippi shells. Pippis like tidal waters. You will need a rake and perhaps a small trowel. Dig down about 200mm and with luck you will score enough pippis to keep you going. Pippis like the combination of soft mud and sand as they are filter feeders. Keep them covered with water from whence they came and they should last for your outing. What’s left can be snap frozen and they keep for a time in the freezer. They are great bait for whiting, bream, mullet, garfish and other species of salt water fish.

Sandworms are a different kettle of fish, in that they are harder to obtain plus they don’t keep well.



Once you have caught your worms, store them in a container of damp sand and they are dynamite on whiting, flathead, dart and many other species, particularly those caught in surf zones.

Failing catching live worms, there are some fantastic soft plastic worms available from Berkley (which I use a fair bit) and if jigged or used as a lure, they will often out fish the real thing. The thing I like about the imitation worms is that you can use them again and again but the toad fish down here in Tasmania love them too and they can be a real pain.

The humble earthworm is as good bait as any in freshwater and saltwater also. Many people are surprised that earthworms will work in saltwater, but species such as whiting, bream sea trout all love them as they are a staple food for them in flooded or brackish waterways. Just present two fat specimens on a long shanked hook either fish under a float in dirty water or in surf zones and you should have luck. Take only what you need for an outing and remember fresh is best.

The same applies for wattle grubs or bardie grubs as they are known on mainland Australia. Relatively hard to obtain, the witchetty grub is a real cracker bait for freshwater and species such as Murray Cod and trout (check local regulations). Great thing is, there are many imitations about now. I made the first wooden grub lures for the Australian market 23 years ago and now there are heaps of imitations out there but the most realistic plastic ones I have seen are made right here in Tassie by Joe Warmisham… http://www.warmisham.com.au/

As a bait for the aforementioned species, they are second to none and do fetch high prices in stores or from sellers.

I’ve mentioned mud eyes before and if you can get your own, well it’s like having money in the bank.

Over the coming weeks, I will devote more time talking about how to rig some of these baits.

Take care.