Snakehead fishing bait: advice on choosing bait and fishing line for catching large snakeheads effectively
For this very reason, fishing for snakehead is by no means straightforward. As well as requiring skill and careful preparation of your fishing tackle, selecting the right bait and choosing the appropriate fishing line are also crucial factors for a successful snakehead fishing session.
What is the most effective bait?
Each method of snakehead fishing has its own suitable type of bait. Currently, most anglers use techniques such as lure fishing with real frogs, or artificial lures such as frogs that float slightly on the water’s surface, or sinking lures designed to scrape the riverbed.
Alternatively, there are traditional methods from the past, such as soaking snakehead bait or using a duck to catch snakehead… Each method will yield different results depending on the specific situation and location. Let’s take a look at some effective methods for catching snakehead below
Live frogs
Choosing the right bait is the most important factor when it comes to snakehead fishing. So, which bait should you choose for snakehead fishing – artificial or real?
The most effective? Indeed, live frogs are the most effective because snakehead fish are natural predators that love to hunt frogs when they are near the bank or when they leap onto the water’s surface; with a powerful strike, the prey has no time to react
Frogs as bait
In fact, you can certainly use both types of bait. However, as with any fish species, they naturally prefer live bait to artificial bait. When it comes to live bait, frogs and ducklings are always excellent choices for catching snakehead fish. In addition, easily found bait such as earthworms, maggots and small fish can also be used to catch snakehead.
By using the trolling technique and the right way to hook the bait for snakehead fishing, a frog hopping about on the water’s surface is like teasing and provoking them, isn’t it?
With a real frog as bait, as well as trolling it on the surface, you can also attach a sinker to fish it submerged; depending on whether the fish are bold or shy, you can fish it submerged or on the surface for better results.
Artificial snakehead bait
If you don’t have time to prepare natural snakehead bait, anglers can use artificial snakehead lures. These can be bought ready-made or made yourself, as they come in a wide variety of types and price ranges.
Another highly effective lure worth mentioning is the artificial frog known as the Frog Toon V4. This artificial frog is regarded as the nemesis of snakehead and catfish; having evolved through several generations from version 1 to 4, the V1 and V4 models are currently highly rated
Frog Toon V4
The Frog Toon series comprises four models: V1, V2, V3 and V4. Of these, the Frog Toon V1 and V4 offer good value for money and deliver excellent fishing results.
Frog Toon models from 1 to 4
The Frog Toon V4 artificial frog lure comes in two sizes:
- Frog Toon v4 artificial frog lure, 8g
- Frog Toon v4 artificial frog lure, 10g
The Frog Toon V4 artificial frog lure is made from smooth, ultra-soft rubber; consequently, once a fish takes the bait, it will swallow it whole and be unable to spit it out.
A key feature of this lure is its two spoons, shaped like ovals or teardrops. Thanks to this design, when the lure is worked across the water’s surface, it creates a vigorous splash. The spoon at the rear of the Frog Toon V4 lure flutters and rotates continuously to attract fish. When lured by the bait, snakehead fish will strike and swallow it whole. The two spoons not only churn the water but also create a noise to attract even more fish.
What’s more, this lure is fitted with a pair of ultra-sharp hooks from Thailand.
It is not just the fourth generation of the Frog Toon lure that is sensitive; right from the very first generation, Vietnamese anglers have recognised its true value, with numerous reviews from anglers across various online communities.
The first V1 version is consistently in high demand
Sinking lures
1. Vib lures – for snakehead fish
The OROCHI sinking lure for snakehead fishing is dubbed the ‘bottom-layer assassin’, striking fear into snakeheads.
This lure is made of zinc and features two ultra-sharp triple hooks. The OROCHI sinking snakehead lure is suitable for fishing in depths of 1.2–1.5 metres. It is particularly effective in wild, rugged terrain with many floating obstacles.
OROCHI sinking metal snakehead lure, 40k per piece
2. Soft baits
A type of bait that cannot provide sufficient sensitivity to detect bites when the fish are wary; soft baits with sharp AR15 hooks are now worth considering
Soaked cricket bait
To make soaked cricket bait, you can use either field crickets or house crickets.
The method for making soaked cricket bait is also very simple:
Once you have the crickets, fry them in pork fat until they become fragrant
When fishing, hook the cricket onto the large hook in the opposite direction, from the tail towards the head
To maximise the effectiveness of soaked cricket bait, you should go fishing at night.
In addition to the snakehead fish baits mentioned above, loach bait is also quite effective.
Perhaps, at this point, many of you are curious and wondering why people fish for snakehead using ducklings? Do snakehead really eat ducklings?
Advice on choosing a snakehead fishing rod – find out more here.
Fishing for snakehead using a duck
In fact, fishing for snakehead with ducks is a unique and rather unusual technique found only in the Mekong Delta. They do not use the duck as food for the snakehead fish, but rather to create noise, as the duck constantly paddles its feet in the water, attracting the snakehead fish. At that point, the snakehead fish, thinking a flock of ducks is attacking its young, will come to defend them.
Fishermen select a duckling, attach two hooks beneath its feet, or use two rods to guide the snakehead into biting the bait. In addition, tie the duckling to a piece of cloth to prevent it from being injured; one end is tied to a line suspended from a fishing rod, whilst the other rod is used to catch the snakehead fish. Please note that you should use a live, healthy duck that can quack as loudly as possible to attract the snakehead. At this point, the snakehead, thinking the duck has come to eat its young, will rush to chase the duck away to protect its young, and in doing so will accidentally bite one of the two hooks attached below. With this method of using a duck as bait for snakehead fish, the snakehead is caught whilst the duck remains unharmed.
However, many anglers nowadays also use artificial bait when fishing for snakehead. Yet to achieve high success rates, anglers must be skilful and quick-witted to arouse the snakehead’s interest and provoke it. This is precisely why experienced anglers believe that to demonstrate one’s skill in snakehead fishing, one should use artificial bait; fishing for snakeheads with live bait is simply too easy for any angler.
Snakehead fishing line
Firstly, to choose the right snakehead fishing line, you should be aware of the different ways to present the bait to suit your choice of lure.
- Surface layer: As the bait will be used at the surface of the water, you should use a line that floats on the surface but is not too visible, so that the snakehead fish do not spot it. However, you should choose the appropriate line based on water clarity, as some surface techniques are carried out amongst vegetation.
- Mid-water zone: Using crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits when fishing at this depth will prove more effective. To select the correct, suitable line, you should take into account the water clarity and the type of lure you are using.
- Bottom layer: Generally, plastic lures or jigs are best suited for bottom fishing, so most lines used here are sensitive, low-visibility and have a low breaking strain. You should use sinking line when fishing for snakehead in this layer.
Here are some types of snakehead fishing line currently favoured by many professional anglers that you may wish to consider:
- Bulava Win Max LS 8 PE line
- Copolymer line (Super Line)
- Fluorocarbon ‘invisible’ line
- Braid fishing line
We hope you have a great time, feel fantastic and achieve excellent results on every fishing trip!
