As experienced fisherman know, the best live baits often are those you catch yourself - baits that can't be purchased at bait shops. This book contains dizens of photos of live baits in their natural environment, and shows you where, when, and how to collect them. You'll learn about the most effective methods and equipment for capturing live bait, including many home-built traps and collecting devices that are just as effective as those available for purchase. Catching your own bait can be almost as rewarding as fishing with it.

Whether you buy your bait or catch it yourself, live bait should be kept fresh and lively. Active, fresh bait is what catches fish. And you can save money by learning to keep your bait alive. This book shows the best techniques for keeping every type of live bait, whether for an afternoon outing or a long fishing junket.

Many fishermen are stubborn when it comes to choosing baits and rigs. They stick with familiar combinations for hours one end, and grudgingly switch baits just about the time the fish stop biting altogether. When testing a new live bait, give it a fair trial before switching back. You just might discover a new bait that is destined to become your old favorite.