Most anglers would agree that they would use whatever they had to catch a fish. Some spend $30 or more on a crank bait, or buy a better boat, a super expensive rod and reel or… Whatever it takes.

As a kid, I remember watching the tropical fish in my parents’ aquarium. The big Angel Fish would poop, and another fish would eat it. When I was ice fishing on Canyon Ferry one day, I remembered that and modified my Rapala jig to mimic the poop presentation. The small treble hook was removed from the mid underneath body, and I tied a 6-inch tippet to a small glo jig. I added a piece of maggot to the sharp hook and began slaying the perch. Back then, the perch limit was fifty perch per day, and we loaded the buckets. 

We have all used some strange baits over the years. Vienna sausages, Playdo, cheese, corn, bread balls, gummies, and many other crazy baits. I won a few bets catching fish using a cigarette butt fly. Why not Poop?

 Fish eat what fish eat. A bait targeting “turds” is the new secret weapon. Really small thinner hooks are helpful for a more natural presentation. Some of these new baits even float and can be presented from a bottom sinker rig. Longer, thinner worms will work well. Bow Worm Noodles on a #4 hook, also wrangle in big bass.

Poop is an organic material with an odor and flavor that fish are attracted to. Bass anglers have started using Poop Baits to target Largemouth Bass. Some tournament anglers use these turds as their #2 choice. 

“Scat Baits”, “Poop Baits”, and turd like soft plastics are the “Sh3t”. These soft intestinal sculptures come in various sizes from 3 ½ -6-inch baits. When attached to a 3/0 or larger hook, they flush out the Big Bass. A lift and drag technique will entice the bass to bite. Injecting air into the plastics will make them floaters. The presentation can wipe out a school of bass in a hurry. 

You fish the “Turd Tackle” where the fish are congregated. The more fish, the more excited fish are to feed. Competition is a part of how fish survive. Feeding on whatever is available is how it is. 

So, would you eat a fish that you caught using Poop Bait, or is this a guaranteed Catch, Flush, and Release?

Montana Grant