# Panfish baits?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panfish-baits/500508>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 21, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panfish-baits/500508 "2009-06-21T21:27:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panfish-baits/500508/1 "2009-06-21T21:27:24Z")

</div>

I’m looking to resume fresh water fishing as a hobby and I’m mostly interested in grappie and bluegill cause I like to catch them and they’re yummy.  
I’m in the San Francisco bay area, close to the San Pablo resevoir, not that’s germain to my question.  
So, what’s good bait? I’d like something the trout will mostly leave alone. Secret doughball recipes, etc would be cool. Technique advice would also be nice.  
When I was a kid we used stuff like cheese and bread dough made from squishing up white bread, or even bare treble hooks. I wish to be more sophisticated. 😉  
Thanks,  
mangeorge

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/panfish-baits/500508/2 "2009-06-21T21:33:22Z")

</div>

Sections of night crawler, just enough to cover the hook with 1/4 inch sticking out, work well for me. Run the hook through the tube of the worm and bring the hook out 1/4 inch from the end. More just gets nipped off. Use a small hook, lightweight line (4-6 lb test) and a small bobber. Do not overgun the tackle.