Based in Oregon, Cody Gotchall divides his time between completing schoolwork necessary for his accounting degree and enjoying hobbies. One of the many activities Cody Gotchall enjoys is fishing.

Worms, crickets, snails, and other types of live bait attract fish naturally, thanks to their odor, color, and texture. Although artificial lures attempt to mimic these traits, they cannot fully replicate the features of live bait. In fact, there are several species of fish that can often only be caught using live bait.

Beyond that, live bait is best for hiding the hook on a line. This keeps a fish from recognizing the trap before it, increasing the chance that it bites. Once the fish bites, fishers can feel more confident the hook is actually set since fish often swallow the bait trap.

While there are plenty of reasons fishers prefer live bait, it is not without weaknesses. Once fishers get live bait, they must keep it alive until they go out on the water. For this reason, many anglers get their bait the morning before a fishing trip, so it’s as fresh as possible. Live bait also cannot be reused, since fish will usually eat it once it’s put in the water.