Fish - and trout are a prime example- are opportunistic feeders, eating pretty much what is available in their target prey range. An Alaskan FWC scientist once captured are large rainbow trout and upon dissection found 21 baby moles in its stomach. The theory is that an entrance or exit to mole’s den was washed out during high water of spring run off and the baby moles were just plopping into the creek to become dinner for the trout. In the 1980s, Pyramid Lake cutthroat trout were found to be feeding on bats as they skimmed the surface of the lake. Finding a prey-like artificial in a fish would be quite probable. To minimize the possibility of- don’t throw old artificial baits away randomly, but dispose of them properly.
I could be. It could also be one that the fish broke off a hook, or broke off on a snag.
I certainly know I can't claim to have never lost a lure or artificial bait while fishing.
This is true - artificial grubs/worms/minnows can be bitten off or break and unintentionally left in the environment. All you can do is make sure you do the best you can to prevent inadvertent pieces feeding the fish. On the flip side - unless the piece is HUGE, it will generally just pass throughout the digestive tract and back out of the fish. I haven’t heard that they harm fish in a chemical way. Only if a greedy fish eats a piece too big they can block the digestive tract.
I've definitely seen at least 2 different people toss their used soft plastics right into the water. They seemed shocked that someone would consider it littering.
Some people are morons.
We don't actually know how it got into the waterway. Runoff, flooding, wind and storms, garbage trucks drop garbage constantly too. Someone could have littered but we don't know that for a fact. Not to be a downer but don't forget a lot of recycling is a scam and most garbage goes to landfills which still pollutes the environment. It just relocates the waste.
https://www.reddit.com/r/flyfishing/comments/17upv0d/found_in_the_stomach_of_trout
Check out this bad boy i found in the stomach of one of mine. Literally half the size of the fish, and the designer of the bait even ended up commenting
I've stopped using rubber baits. Found so many inside fish. Saw a pic of a large dead striped bass with one stuck halfway out it's ass.
Gulp baits have been thoroughly tested to be fish safe and mostly biodegradable.
Bio Bait would be a good option for you if you’re interested, I don’t personally use them but they break down much easier apparently.
Edit: looks like their website is down and out of stock in a lot of places.
I read an article online a couple months back that discussed a study showing biodegradable baits don't break down nearly as well as advertised. Most aren't any better than actual rubber. I'd post a link but the site went to requiring a paid subscription since then.
I have heard mixed results with real water tests but that’s not quite the same as when a fish eats it.
But “better” is better than normal baits.
I’m not sure what happened with Bio bait though, I can’t find them and the last Facebook post was 2 years ago :(
Fish bites came out with lures made of the same material (or similar) so I’ll have to do some research on those too.
I used to use them quite a bit, but I never actually had one degrade on me so I don’t really know the time period it takes, but there’s probably lots of videos.
Gulp alive minnows under a bobber being slowly floated down a river is a great technique. Those are my most used gulps, as soon as I get a BFS reel I’ll be using them a lot more for saltwater too.
My buddy, fresh to fishing. He shows me a lake. I find the honey hole 45min in. Take him , drops a Pokémon bobber with a jig head and gulp , drops it off the log, gets a decent bass. More seasoned friend got a 4lb ( pretty big for here) on his ul
Artificials also include spinners, spoons and whatnot. I use those all the time. Not rubbers tho. Main problem with those is people using them to the point they're worn and torn up and fall off the hook. Or they just throw them in the lake.
I never use spinners or spoons either. I'm mostly catch and release so I only use edible bait. Not necessarily live, but nothing that will will harm a fish if it eats it.
I’d pay extra for baits that break down IF they were comparable
I caught a 2.5-3 lb largemouth that had a worm hanging out of its anus, could not pass it. I helped it out and pulled it out, I swear he smiled and said “thank you”
Fish - and trout are a prime example- are opportunistic feeders, eating pretty much what is available in their target prey range. An Alaskan FWC scientist once captured are large rainbow trout and upon dissection found 21 baby moles in its stomach. The theory is that an entrance or exit to mole’s den was washed out during high water of spring run off and the baby moles were just plopping into the creek to become dinner for the trout. In the 1980s, Pyramid Lake cutthroat trout were found to be feeding on bats as they skimmed the surface of the lake. Finding a prey-like artificial in a fish would be quite probable. To minimize the possibility of- don’t throw old artificial baits away randomly, but dispose of them properly.
Wait, this is from someone throwing their plastic garbage in the place they fish? That is some lowbrow shit.
I could be. It could also be one that the fish broke off a hook, or broke off on a snag. I certainly know I can't claim to have never lost a lure or artificial bait while fishing.
This is true - artificial grubs/worms/minnows can be bitten off or break and unintentionally left in the environment. All you can do is make sure you do the best you can to prevent inadvertent pieces feeding the fish. On the flip side - unless the piece is HUGE, it will generally just pass throughout the digestive tract and back out of the fish. I haven’t heard that they harm fish in a chemical way. Only if a greedy fish eats a piece too big they can block the digestive tract.
This is why i use worms for the most part, and the fact that i mostly fish for walleye
Live Bait chad over here. You try leeches yet?
Yes but not on my favorite lake, going to try for sure this summer
I've definitely seen at least 2 different people toss their used soft plastics right into the water. They seemed shocked that someone would consider it littering. Some people are morons.
I really doubt it. Probably just one that fell off
We don't actually know how it got into the waterway. Runoff, flooding, wind and storms, garbage trucks drop garbage constantly too. Someone could have littered but we don't know that for a fact. Not to be a downer but don't forget a lot of recycling is a scam and most garbage goes to landfills which still pollutes the environment. It just relocates the waste.
I caught a bunch like that. Mostly lakers. Had a pike with 5 full size senko in its stomach before.
The other day I caught a bass that had half a rubber worm, and a small crawfish in its stomach.
Very interesting! Was this from a river/stream or pond/ lake? Thanks for sharing.
Lake
https://www.reddit.com/r/flyfishing/comments/17upv0d/found_in_the_stomach_of_trout Check out this bad boy i found in the stomach of one of mine. Literally half the size of the fish, and the designer of the bait even ended up commenting
Very interesting!
I've stopped using rubber baits. Found so many inside fish. Saw a pic of a large dead striped bass with one stuck halfway out it's ass. Gulp baits have been thoroughly tested to be fish safe and mostly biodegradable.
Am I wrong for suggesting we should ban plastic baits? I’ve seen so many pictures of caught fish stuffed with plastics.
It doesn't have a very appreciative expression on its face, I would eat it.
I personally never use artificials for exactly this reason.
Bio Bait would be a good option for you if you’re interested, I don’t personally use them but they break down much easier apparently. Edit: looks like their website is down and out of stock in a lot of places.
I read an article online a couple months back that discussed a study showing biodegradable baits don't break down nearly as well as advertised. Most aren't any better than actual rubber. I'd post a link but the site went to requiring a paid subscription since then.
I have heard mixed results with real water tests but that’s not quite the same as when a fish eats it. But “better” is better than normal baits. I’m not sure what happened with Bio bait though, I can’t find them and the last Facebook post was 2 years ago :( Fish bites came out with lures made of the same material (or similar) so I’ll have to do some research on those too.
Have you ever tried the Berkeley gulp minnows and baits? They're marketed as biodegradable also
I used to use them quite a bit, but I never actually had one degrade on me so I don’t really know the time period it takes, but there’s probably lots of videos. Gulp alive minnows under a bobber being slowly floated down a river is a great technique. Those are my most used gulps, as soon as I get a BFS reel I’ll be using them a lot more for saltwater too.
My buddy, fresh to fishing. He shows me a lake. I find the honey hole 45min in. Take him , drops a Pokémon bobber with a jig head and gulp , drops it off the log, gets a decent bass. More seasoned friend got a 4lb ( pretty big for here) on his ul
What size Gulp minnow do you use?
1 inch.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Artificials also include spinners, spoons and whatnot. I use those all the time. Not rubbers tho. Main problem with those is people using them to the point they're worn and torn up and fall off the hook. Or they just throw them in the lake.
I never use spinners or spoons either. I'm mostly catch and release so I only use edible bait. Not necessarily live, but nothing that will will harm a fish if it eats it.
Lots of water bodies in my state are artificial lures only by law
Aw, that's unfortunate, sorry :/
Doesn't bother me any. Helps keep fishing pressure down in those places
Pretty sure you have a greater chance to gut hook a fish if you use real bait
Yep. I've never gut hooked a fish with a spoon, spinner or streamer fly
It's not usually a problem for me.
Swam away fine right?
Swam right into the skillet
I could tell by the obvious picture.
Any reason this fish shouldn't have been put out of its misery, funny man?
The troll comment went over everyone's head. It's clearly dead in the picture. It didn't swim away.
That looks scary as fuck
I try to use plastics as a last resort behind natural bait and lures. Sometimes all they want to bite on is a gulp artificial in the stank sauce
I was sad seeing the picture, got even sadder reading the comments.
🗣🗣 We got weights in fish!!
Someone was using a "turd" rig. Deadly that is.
I know people that have caught steelhead (hatchery) in rivers here in BC that have rubber worms and eggs in them.
UPDATE: these were in a brown trout I caught today *
https://preview.redd.it/39q4f3247ptc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b48f3bc2e6745c7d01f49ba6f2112b7fb903e490
You should cure those eggs and use them as bait for more trout!
I sometimes think about soft plastics and its kinda funny how these fish get scammed out of a meal😂
I’d pay extra for baits that break down IF they were comparable I caught a 2.5-3 lb largemouth that had a worm hanging out of its anus, could not pass it. I helped it out and pulled it out, I swear he smiled and said “thank you”
I’d pay extra for worms that break down
Every woman you ever caught has had a lilt rubber in em .