Is Bacon Good Fishing Bait? A Complete Guide

Bacon is one of those foods that seems to go with everything. From breakfast to burgers and even desserts, the salty, smoky, and fatty flavors of bacon complement all sorts of dishes. But can bacon also complement your fishing? Is bacon actually good fishing bait?

The short answer is yes, bacon can make excellent bait for catching fish. But there are some important things to know to use bacon bait effectively and ethically.

In this complete guide. we’ll cover everything you need to know about using bacon as fishing bait

Why Use Bacon as Bait?

So what makes bacon work well as fishing bait? There are a few key reasons:

• Strong Smell – The distinct smoky, salty, fatty aroma of bacon carries far through the water to attract fish from a distance. Catfish in particular have a strong sense of smell and are drawn to scents like bacon.

• Oily Texture – Bacon has a nice oily texture that allows you to thread it easily onto hooks, and helps it stay on without sliding off. The oil also disperses through the water to attract fish.

• Buoyancy – The fat content in bacon helps it float well on the water’s surface. This makes it ideal for topwater fishing.

• Visibility – The white color of bacon stands out in the water, making it easy for fish to spot.

• Soft Texture – Particularly when slightly aged, bacon gets nice and soft so that fish can nibble off pieces easily once attracted.

Best Type of Bacon for Bait

Not all bacon is created equal when it comes to fish bait. Here are some tips on selecting the best bacon for catching fish:

• Thick Sliced – Thicker sliced bacon holds onto hooks better than thin or chopped bacon.Aim for at least 1/4 inch thick slices.

• Slab Bacon – Slab bacon (uncured pork belly) is ideal since it’s very thick. You can cut it into large cubes that stay on hooks well.

• Smoked – Smoked bacon has the strongest fish-attracting aroma. Go for hickory or applewood smoked.

• Slightly Aged – Bacon that’s been aged for a week or two in the fridge will get nice and soft while still retaining scent.

• Avoid Pre-Cooked – Pre-cooked bacon variants like turkey bacon don’t have the same oil content and texture.

When prepared right, a thick slice of smoked slab bacon can make one of the best baits for catching all types of fish.

Best Fish Species to Catch with Bacon

While bacon can potentially attract many types of freshwater and saltwater fish, it’s especially effective for these popular sport fish:

• Catfish – The strong smell and taste of bacon is nearly irresistible to catfish. It’s one of the top baits for catching channel catfish, blue catfish, and flathead catfish.

• Carp – Common carp are attracted to the rich oils and flavors in bacon. Boilies wrapped with bacon are a carp-catching favorite.

• Crappie – Slab crappie love the smoky flavor of bacon. Use small bacon chunks or strips on light jigs and tackle.

• Largemouth Bass – Bass are drawn to the scent trail and visibility of bacon in murky waters. Bacon works for bass on all setups.

• Northern Pike – Big pike are lured by bacon’s aroma and will strike out of ambush. Use on quick-moving spoons and plugs.

• Redfish – The texture and buoyancy of bacon makes it perfect for catching reds on the flats.

So in fresh or saltwater, bacon can tempt lots of fish species when used properly. It’s especially effective for oily fish like catfish, carp, and bass.

Best Fishing Techniques for Bacon

Bacon is versatile enough to be fished many different ways. Here are some top fishing techniques for putting bacon to work:

Baited Hook/Rig

• Thread a full slice or chunk of bacon onto a hook and sink it to the bottom for catfish, carp, and more. Can add other bait like worms.

Whole Baited Hook

• For catfish, skew a whole strip of bacon onto a large hook rather than a piece. Easier to nibble.

Dip Bait

• Soak bait chunks like shrimp or cut fish in liquid bacon grease for extra scent.

Chum/Groundbait

• Grind bacon into chum or groundbait to release oil and scent. Disperse near fishing spot.

Boilie/Dough Balls

• Mix bacon bits, grease, or oil into boilies and dough bait for carp and catfish.

Strip Bait

• Cut bacon into thin strips and attach to lures and jigs to add scent. Works for crappie, trout, walleye.

Topwater

• Use bacon rinds or extra oily pieces for topwater bass and pike fishing. Cast and retrieve.

As you can see, bacon can easily be adapted into most fishing presentations. It adds fish-attracting qualities to hooks, rigs, lures, and groundbait when used properly.

Best Practices for Fishing with Bacon

To get the most out of bacon for catching fish, keep these best practices in mind:

• Check Local Regulations – Make sure bacon bait is permitted where you’ll be fishing. Some areas prohibit livestock-based baits.

• Use Fresh Bacon – Old or rotten bacon will not stay on the hook well. Use the freshest possible for best results.

• Keep it Cold – Store bacon bait in the fridge or cooler until ready to use. Warm bacon deteriorates quickly.

• Pre-Salt Thick Slices – Salting and drying thick bacon slices makes them easier to thread onto hooks.

• Bring Extra – Have plenty of extra bacon on hand. Fish will nibble it off quickly once attracted.

• Use Strong Hooks/Rig – Bacon can tear free from weak hooks. Use strong bait hooks and the right rig.

• Watch Your Rod – Closely monitor your rod once bait is in the water. Bacon draws fast strikes.

Follow these tips and bacon can be clean, effective, and ethical bait for catching all kinds of fish.

Fishing with Bacon – Pros vs Cons

Like any bait, bacon has both advantages and disadvantages to consider:

Pros

• Potent fish attracting aroma
• Visible color stands out in water
• Oily texture appeals to fish
• Buoyancy makes it perfect for topwater
• Cheap and easily obtainable

Cons

• Can come loose off hooks easily
• Warms up and deteriorates quickly
• Raw pork controversial in some regions
• May require frequent rebaiting
• Can be messy and greasy to handle

While very effective when used properly, bacon does require more effort than commercial readymade bait. Its advantages tend to outweigh its drawbacks for many anglers.

Better Alternatives to Bacon

While bacon can certainly catch fish, there are some alternative baits that avoid the potential downsides of bacon:

• Scented Fish Oils – Oils like anise, salmon, and shad create a strong scent trail like bacon.

• Prepared Catfish Bait – Dough baits and stink baits made for catfish work well.

• Chicken/Turkey Livers – Just as oily and aromatic as bacon for cats but stays on hooks better.

• Shrimp – Fresh dead or frozen shrimp is a good scent bait for many species.

• Sardines – Oily and durable, sardines are a classic bait for big gamefish.

• Cut Baitfish – Fresh cut mackerel, herring, skipjack, etc makes excellent bait.

With the right technique, these alternatives can catch just as many fish as bacon while avoiding some of its difficulties.

Key Takeaways on Fishing with Bacon

To summarize, here are the key points on using bacon for bait:

• The strong scent, oiliness, color, and soft texture make bacon effective at attracting fish.

• Look for thick, smoked bacon slices for the best bait. Aged slightly is even better.

• Catfish, carp, and bass respond especially well to the flavors of bacon.

• Bacon can be used on hooks, dough baits, lures, topwaters, and in groundbait.

• Follow best practices like checking regulations, pre-salting, and rebaiting to optimize it.

• Alternatives like fish oils, prepared baits, and cut bait avoid some downsides.

While not the perfect bait, bacon certainly has a place in the