What comercial bait ?

[Celt6]

I am reading all these threads  about herring, sardines etc. my question is this, can you go to a fish store, or supermarket? what would you buy? Can you put some strip of Haddock filet out there? hook thru the skin.?

[oldman50]

I used to fish a large marsh that held some pretty big pike but back then we used to go to the supermarket and buy smelt. At the time they were in a container that was celliphane wraped over the top. We just hooked them in the dorsal area so they hung completely horizontal. Don't know if it still would work but I still use alot of dead bait. Early and late in the season. Dead suckers work best for me. Always wondered about the gulp stuff. The main ingrediant for any sort of dead bait is patience, patience, patience. Most guys try it for a day or so and give up. You won't get alot of flags like you do with live bait but the ones you do get are usually big pike.