Most polls on Favorite Freshwater Live Baits end up fairly evenly split between Earthworms and Shiners with worms usually winning and all the rest merely also rans. If the wording was changed slightly to What is your Favorite Freshwater Live Bait for Catching Lunkers I believe the Shiners would not only win, they would bury the worms, which would make them happy ;-)

GOLDEN SHINER

(Notemigonus chrysoleucas)

Description - A golden hue with reddish fins is typical of this species that has a small soft-rayed dorsal fin and like other shiners has a lateral line (the series of sensory holes along the side of a fish) that dips downward.

Range - Widely distributed along the east coast of North America from Canada south and throughout Florida and as far west as the Dakotas.

Habitat - Typical of vegetated ponds and lakes, also found in slack waters of rivers.

Spawning Habits - Shiners lay their sticky eggs primarily on vegetative substrates. In hatcheries mats are laid out to collect the eggs. Breeders are over one year old and typically 3-8 inches long. Males are significantly smaller than females at the same age.

Feeding habits - Shiners consume small insects, tiny mollusks, small fishes and perhaps algae.

Age and Growth - They live up to about 5 years and reach a maximum size of nearly one foot.

Sporting Qualities - Golden shiners are one of the most popular baits used by anglers seeking trophy bass. However, their small delicate scales dislodge easily and they require careful handling. See here, for how to collect your own and fish with them.

Note: Each Tuesday Florida Fishing Blog will bring you a specific Bait Spotlight. You can see all similar posts by clicking on Bait in the right column.

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