Fathead Minnow

   The fathead minnow is the most popular type of baitfish. Anglers prefer these minnows because so many fish eat them and they are easy to keep alive. They live long in a bait bucket and in cooler weather they will live for several days just by placing them outside.These minnows work well for bass , crappie , walleye , and perch.

 

                Golden Shiner

   Golden Shiners are one of the best baits for catching bigger fish. They work well for bass , northern pike , walleye , catfish , and even muskie. TRheir back is a green to olive shade and their belly is a silvery white. They can grow up to a foot long but most bait shops carry them in a 4-6 inch range.

 

                                       Creek Chub

   Creek chubs can be found in many bait shops and you can catch them in shallow creeks and streams with a small piece of worm or corn. I run acroos a lot of them fishing for perch in small streams.They are one of the top bait fish for targeting big game fish.

 

                      Redtail or Hornyhead Chub

   Redtail / Hornyhead chubs are great for catching larger fish but they are harder to find. Most bait shops don't carry them but you can  catch your own in most southern Missouri streams using with a worm or other small bait.

 

 

                               Sucker

Suckers are a great bait for bigger fish because they get so big. Suckers in the 5-8 inch range work well for big largemouths  and for pike or muskie you can go even bigger.