LIVE Bait debate

[ikeslayer]

i know in the past there was a little bit of debate as to what was live bait and what wasn't and apparently the same thing is going on right now on the pro tour as well. As it turns out i just read on bassfan that the FLW tour has banned the use of foodsource lures because they are made of 100% natural stuff making them a non artificial lure. I think the line is getting fuzzy. What do the rest of you think. here is the article

FLW lure ban 3/13/2007

FoodSource Lures today issued a press release that said use of its lures is now prohibited in FLW Outdoors bass events. According to FoodSource, its baits are 100% natural – "The only molded fishing lures made entirely of ingredients that fish can eat and want to eat."

FLW Rule 10 states, "Only artificial lures may be used, with the exception of pork trailers." FoodSource president Ed Rogers said in the release that he and BFL competitor Danny Everett of Kentucky were told by an FLW Outdoors official that under Rule 10, FoodSource baits could not be used.

Rogers added: "It's easy to speculate from the ruling that because FoodSource lures are 100% food, they might give an unfair advantage over anglers using plastic baits. FoodSource lures create a scent trail that plastics can't emulate and because they're food, fish tend to hold on to them. We can't argue with the FLW ruling. To be legal in FLW bass tournaments, a lure has to be artificial, and FoodSource lures are 100% natural, not artificial."

A call to FLW Outdoors for clarification was not returned.

BASS confirmed it does allow FoodSource baits, because BASS Rule 7 states: "Only artificial lures and biodegradable artificial lures may be used."

Additionally, the FLW prohibition of FoodSource raises the question of whether Berkley Gulp! baits could potentially be banned. Gulp! is used with regularity in FLW Outdoors events. For example, the Culpepper brothers won last weekend's Lafitte FLW Western Redfish Series on Gulp!.

FoodSource and Gulp! products are different, however, since Gulp! utilizes a water-based polymer and is thus not 100% "natural" – although it includes natural products and scents.

Rogers noted: "We're hopeful that FLW Outdoors will change the rules in the future. They haven't said they will, but they've indicated it's something they'll consider."

> Berkley sponsors both FLW Outdoors and BASS. FoodSource does not sponsor FLW Outdoors, although its products are sold in Wal-Mart, which is the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors.

Love to hear what everyone else thinks of this controversy.

ike

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I think thats a little crazy. When I think live bait i think of something that is just that, living. You cant just cast out a food source minnow or worm and let it sit and expect to catch very many fish as you might with a live minnow giving off action.

[Bobb-o]

so how long till Gulp is banned then? or is this because Berkeley doesnt want any competition?

[river rat316]

IMHO there both dump, there stiff and have very little action, Im sure berkely had something to do with it though.

[DinkADunk]

What a bunch of dump. Any manfactured bait, as opposed to preserved, dried, dehydrated, nuked, whatever is artificial (not real) regardless of what it's made of. A 100% natural artificial bait is not an oxymoron. For example, a Jackalope is an artificial creation made from 100% natural ingredients. The FLW is demonstrating it has the collective intelligence of a small kitchen appliance.

[Daze Off]

I've seen enough guys catch some very nice fish with Gulp to doubt that there is something to it. That said, I have never used it because I feel like it is hardly different than fishing with a doughball or corn kernel and neither of those options appeal to me. It is for the same reason that I will not use some of the "fish attractants" that spray, squirt, or rub on purely artificial baits. So, from my little corner of the universe - hurrah for FLW.

Daze Off

[ocf1]

doesnt live bait have to be living??? LoL

[Wayne Ek]

Food source was one of the newer products I wanted to try this year and still will. Berkley (Pure Fishing) is not one of the companies I field-staff for. But do not rule out using Gulp. I have won one tournament last year thanks to Gulp and cashed a check on a second. I just wish the bungee leech would come out in a Gulp product, it is hands down the best drop-shot bait I've used for muti-species fishing.

[ikeslayer]

here is my question at what point does live bait no longer become live bait? I am sure no one would let me fish a shiner minnow in a tourney. but what if i killed the shiner first? no proabably not good enough. but what if i killed the shiner and injected it into my homemade senko molds? I dont' know. That is where the line gets fuzzy for me as well. it will be interesting to see what happens in the future. ike

[Wayne Ek]

Ikeslayer, injecting dead shiners into your senko molds would probably get fuzzy and very stinky

[bassphish2005]

Live means moving####

Powerbait

Gulp

Yum

all are dead,never living

so I will use them,and have since day one

I dont even bother with minnows anymore

all these new/old 'bio' baits fish so well,live bait doesn't even make in my boat for even panfish anymore