Choosing fishing bait can be confusing when you're just getting started. Walk into a tackle shop and you'll find everything from maggots and worms to pellets, boilies, groundbait and countless different flavours, colours and sizes. The good news is that you don't need to understand or try all of them to start catching fish.
The right bait will depend on a few things, including the fish you're hoping to catch, the type of fishing you're doing and the water you're fishing. Some baits are useful all-round options, while others are better suited to particular species or methods.
In this guide, we'll explain the main types of fishing bait you're likely to come across, what they're used for and how to narrow down your options. We'll also look at hookbait and feed, how much bait to use and the role that size, colour and flavour can play, so you can make a more informed choice when choosing bait for your next fishing session.
What Is Fishing Bait?
Fishing bait is anything used to attract fish and encourage them to take your hook. It can include natural baits such as worms and maggots, everyday foods such as sweetcorn and bread, or purpose-made fishing baits including pellets and boilies.
You'll often hear anglers talk about hookbait and feed. Hookbait is the bait presented with your hook for the fish to take, while feed is introduced into the water to attract fish to the area and encourage them to stay and feed. Depending on how you're fishing, the same bait can sometimes be used for both.
Artificial lures are slightly different. Rather than using food to encourage a fish to feed, lures are designed to imitate prey or trigger a fish into striking. You'll commonly come across them when fishing for predatory species, so we'll keep this guide focused mainly on baits that fish actually eat.
There are plenty of fishing baits to choose from, but you don't need a tackle box full of different options to get started. A handful of common baits account for a lot of the fishing you'll come across, and understanding what each one is will make choosing between them much easier.
Common Types of Fishing Bait
Maggots and Casters
Maggots are one of the most widely used fishing baits and are particularly popular in coarse fishing. They can be used on the hook and fed loose or through a feeder, making them a versatile option for species including roach, bream and perch. Casters are maggots that have developed into the pupal stage and provide anglers with a slightly different presentation.
Worms
Worms are another traditional and versatile bait. They can be fished whole or cut into smaller pieces depending on the size of fish you're targeting, and they're used for a wide range of species. Different types are available, including larger lobworms and smaller dendrobaenas.
Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is an inexpensive and easy-to-use bait that can be fished directly on the hook or hair rig and introduced as loose feed. Its bright colour and convenient size make it a popular choice for species such as carp, tench and bream.
Pellets
Pellets are manufactured fish feeds available in a wide range of sizes and varieties. They can be introduced as feed, used in feeders or, depending on the type, presented as hookbait. Pellets are widely used for carp and coarse fishing, particularly on commercial fisheries.
Groundbait
Groundbait is a mixture that's prepared with water before being introduced into your swim. Rather than simply being a hookbait, its main job is to attract fish into the area and encourage them to feed. It can be introduced by hand, with a catapult or through a feeder depending on the fishing method and venue rules.
Boilies
Boilies are round, manufactured baits most closely associated with carp fishing. They're available in different sizes, flavours and formulations and are commonly presented on a hair rig rather than directly on the hook. Boilies can also be introduced as feed around the area you're fishing.
Bread
Bread is a simple bait that's been used by anglers for generations. It can be presented in several ways, from small pieces or pinched bread on the hook to larger pieces of crust, and can also be used as feed. It's particularly useful because it's inexpensive and readily available.
Particles
Particles are a broad group of prepared seeds, grains and pulses used mainly as feed or hookbait. Common examples include hemp, maize and tiger nuts. They're particularly associated with carp fishing, although some particle baits are also used for other species. Some particles need to be prepared correctly before use, so beginners should use ready-prepared products or follow the manufacturer's preparation instructions.
Which Bait Should I Use?
There isn't one fishing bait that will always be the best choice. What works well on one water or for one species might be much less effective somewhere else, so it helps to narrow your options down before deciding what to use.
Start by thinking about the fish you're targeting and the type of fishing you're doing. The venue matters too. Fish can become accustomed to particular baits, and some fisheries have rules about what you can use, so it's always worth checking before you start fishing.
If you're unsure where to begin, the examples below give you a simple starting point for some of the most common types of fishing.
Which Bait Should I Try?
These are useful starting points, not fixed rules. Fish can respond differently depending on the venue, conditions and fishing method.
Remember: always check the rules for the water you're fishing, as some fisheries restrict particular baits or how they can be used.
Hookbait vs Feed
When choosing fishing bait, it helps to understand the difference between your hookbait and the feed you introduce around it. They work together, but they don't necessarily have to be the same thing.
Your hookbait is the bait presented with your hook for a fish to take. Depending on the bait and rig, it might be placed directly on the hook or presented alongside it, such as on a hair rig.
Feed is introduced into the water to attract fish and encourage them to feed in the area. This could include loose maggots, pellets, particles or prepared groundbait, and it can be introduced in different ways depending on the method you're using.
You can use the same bait for both jobs, but you don't have to. For example, you might feed pellets while using sweetcorn as your hookbait, or introduce groundbait containing small food items while presenting a different bait on the hook.
How Much Bait Should You Use?
Knowing how much bait to use can be just as important as choosing the bait itself. Adding more doesn't automatically mean you'll attract more fish, and putting too much food into the water can sometimes work against you.
If you're unsure, starting with a smaller amount and adding more gradually is a sensible approach. You can always introduce more bait if fish are feeding confidently, but once you've put it into the water, you can't take it back out.
How much you need will vary depending on the species you're targeting, the number of fish present, the conditions and the method you're using. A busy commercial fishery on a warm day may call for a very different approach to a quieter water where bites are harder to come by.
Pay attention to what's happening while you fish. If you're getting regular bites, you may need to keep introducing small amounts of feed to hold fish in the area. If bites slow down or you're struggling to get a response, simply adding more bait isn't always the answer.
Start cautiously. You can always introduce more bait, but you can't take it back out.
Does Bait Colour, Flavour & Size Matter?
Once you start looking at fishing bait, you'll quickly notice how much choice there is. The same type of bait can come in different colours, flavours and sizes, but that doesn't mean you need a large selection of each to catch fish.
Colour can change how easily a bait stands out against the lake or riverbed. A bright hookbait may be easier for fish to notice, while a more natural-looking bait can blend in with the feed around it. Neither approach is automatically better, and what works can vary between waters and conditions.
Flavour and scent are commonly used in manufactured baits such as boilies, pellets and groundbait. Anglers often experiment with different options, but there isn't one flavour that will consistently outperform everything else. If you're new to fishing, there's no need to get too caught up in choosing between dozens of flavours.
Size is often a more practical consideration. Your bait needs to suit the way you're fishing, the tackle you're using and the fish you're hoping to catch. Smaller baits can be useful when targeting smaller species or when bites are difficult to come by, while larger hookbaits are commonly used when targeting bigger fish.
Rather than trying to find a perfect combination of colour, flavour and size, start with a straightforward bait that suits your fishing. You can experiment with different options as you gain experience and learn what works on the waters you fish.
Check The Bait Rules Before You Fish
Before deciding what bait to use, check the rules for the water you're fishing. Fisheries can have their own restrictions on certain baits, how much you can introduce and the ways in which bait can be used.
There are also fishing byelaws that can affect bait use depending on where you're fishing. If you're unsure, check the venue rules and the relevant local regulations before your session rather than assuming that a bait or method is permitted everywhere.
So, What Bait Should a Beginner Start With?
If you're new to fishing, you don't need a huge selection of bait. Starting with a few simple, versatile options makes it easier to learn how different baits are used and see what works on the water you're fishing.
For general coarse fishing, maggots, worms, sweetcorn and pellets are all useful options to become familiar with. If you're specifically targeting carp, pellets and boilies are widely used, while sweetcorn can also be a straightforward option.
Rather than buying lots of different flavours, colours and varieties straight away, choose bait that suits the fish you're targeting and the rules of the venue. As you spend more time fishing, you'll naturally start to learn which baits and presentations work well for the waters you visit.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to keep things simple. Good bait choice matters, but how and where you present it can be just as important as what's on the hook.
This is particularly important when using fish as bait for predator fishing, where additional rules and restrictions can apply.
Choosing Fishing Bait
Choosing fishing bait becomes much easier once you understand what the different options are and how they're used. You don't need to try every flavour, colour or bait on the shelf. Start with something suitable for the fish you're targeting, consider the water and method you're fishing, and check any venue rules before you begin.
As you gain experience, you can experiment with different baits, feeding approaches and presentations to see what works for you. For now, keeping your bait choice simple gives you one less thing to worry about and more time to concentrate on your fishing.