Determining which Bait fish to use?

[nhdeadhead]

Going to be fishing some new territory and trying to decide which bait(s) to bring.  I'm curious to as if there is a source to determine which bait fish inhabits each body of water?

[james]

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/bathy_maps.htm

It's limited, but i use the F&G maps & corresponding legends for what's in the lake. If no Smelts than i assume it must have shiners.

[nhdeadhead]

I've pulled a lot of those maps and they don't seem to list any types of bait fish other than rainbow smelt. I was hoping there would be a list or something similar of the different species of shiners, chubs, dace, etc.. particular to certain bodies of water. I'd like to try to match the 'natural' bait and also would like to know where different species of bait fish are located for trapping purposes.

[perch boy]

I've pulled a lot of those maps and they don't seem to list any types of bait fish other than rainbow smelt. I was hoping there would be a list or something similar of the different species of shiners, chubs, dace, etc.. particular to certain bodies of water. I'd like to try to match the 'natural' bait and also would like to know where different species of bait fish are located for trapping purposes.

Just go to your lake/pond of choice and drop a bait net. It is all trial and error. Most guys and for good reason won't tell you where to go because they want the spot for themselves so just keep trying,little ponds or little pools under a bridge don't be afraid to try places you don't even think they are in.  you'll get em. good luck.

[dickbaker]

    The common golden (Arkansas) shiners works well on all lakes and ponds.  Sometimes just a matter of whether to use small, medium , or large??    Even if you can purchase smelt , they are almost impossible to keep alive for more than a day!!
Rarely does ice fishing reaquire you to match the bait fish hatch!!

Dick

[dunphy11]

Clark`s NH Fishing Guide does list some baitfish types per body of water.

[pirkaus]

For the most part shiners work eveywhere for everything, I like to use suckers for pike and lakers
Pirk