What is the the best forage fish?

A lake without bait or forage fish?

• A little about the lake (PLEASE READ EVERYTHING) I fish at this 165 square acre lake in middle Ohio. It is in a gated community (Cinnamon Lake). It isn't the healthiest body ...show more

• Answer:

  You're screwed. Actually, those bluegills are considered "forage fish" in lots of places. Of course, they are not the most ideal form of bait in which fish to feed on, but they're a still a fish that is eaten quite commonly. The most common forage fish are american shad, gizzard shad, mooneye, shiners, etc. Not many minnows for 'em to feed on? I'm sure crayfish are present. Go to a local creek and catch some crayfish and use them as bait. A 1/0 or 2/0 hook with a crayfish hooked through the spine or tail will catch nice bass and catfish. Use enough split shot to hold it on the bottom or close to it. As far as lures go, jig 'n craw combinations, deeper diving crayfish crankbaits, "crawdad" colored plastic worms, ETC ETC. will all work. If crayfish are not present, well... Frogs? Bass (and sometimes catfish) will eat frogs. Try a topwater frog, either hard or soft. These work great in weedy waters where frogs are present. But hell, throw 'em where you don't see any grass. The bass will think it's something they haven't seen and nail it... No offense, but your lake sounds crappy.