Grasshopper: one of the most effective and natural summer baits for surface fishing

Grasshopper: one of the most effective and natural summer baits for surface fishing. The grasshopper is a classic summer bait, a staple of anglers in central Russia and Europe for decades. A live grasshopper (especially the large green and gray-brown varieties) offers the perfect combination of properties: natural movement, a bright visual irritant, and a strong smell and sound when it hits the water. It provokes even the most cautious and passive fish to attack—ide, chub, rudd, large roach, asp, perch, and even pike. Grasshoppers are especially effective from June to August, when fish are actively feeding near the surface, and also during the mass emergence of insects. They work best in shallow waters, along the edges of reeds, in backwaters, under overhanging branches, and in riffles. In unique protected areas like the Putorana Plateau, home to thousands of crystal-clear lakes and majestic waterfalls and home to trophy taimen, the grasshopper could be an excellent bait for catching surface predators and peaceful fish (if they were present), although these areas are still primarily associated with trophy taimen fishing, which uses completely different baits and a strict catch-and-release policy to preserve the unique ecosystem.

Advantages of grasshopper as bait

The grasshopper has a number of outstanding qualities:

• Maximum naturalness is real natural food that fish encounter in the water during the mass fall of insects.
• A strong visual and acoustic stimulus - bright green or gray color, a loud splash when falling, active movement in the water.
• Excellent game - even a dead grasshopper in the current or when retrieved looks like a living one.
• High catch rate - especially for ide, chub and rudd in June-August.
• Excellent for catching small fish; large grasshoppers attract medium and large fish.
• Accessibility - easy to assemble yourself in a field or near water.
• Versatility– suitable for float fishing, spinning, fly fishing and even bottom fishing.

Disadvantages and difficulties

• Delicate - easily damaged during casting, biting or prolonged exposure to water.
• Seasonality - available only during the warm season (May–September).
• Storage difficulties: it doesn’t last long (2–8 hours in a warm place, up to 1–2 days in a cool place).
• Difficulty casting - easy, often gets tangled when casting long distances.
• Not suitable for all methods - not suitable for heavy equipment and strong currents.

The best types of grasshoppers for fishing

1. The green grasshopper (Tettigonia viridissima) is the most popular and effective. Large (up to 4–6 cm), bright green, and juicy, it's ideal for ide, chub, and rudd.
2. The gray grasshopper (Decticus verrucivorus) is gray-brown, large, and dense. It works great on large roach and bream.
3. The short-eared grasshopper is small but very agile. Suitable for perch and small chub.
4. The forest grasshopper is brown-green and lives in the grass. It's good for ide and rudd.

How to collect and store grasshoppers

Collection:

• The best time is morning and evening (after dew or at dusk).
• Places: meadows, fields, forest edges, river banks with tall grass.
• Catch with a net, hands or a bottle with the neck cut off.
• Collect in a spacious jar or box with air holes.

Storage:

• A spacious box or jar with a lid and ventilation.
• Add fresh grass (meadow or nettle).
• Remove droppings daily.
• Store in a cool place (cellar, refrigerator +8…+12 °C) - they live for 1–2 days.
• In hot weather – up to 4–8 hours maximum.

How to properly bait a grasshopper

• Hook No. 4–10 (with long shank).
• Through the chest is a classic: pierce between the front and back legs - the grasshopper remains alive and actively moves.
• Over the head - for long casting: pierce behind the head - it holds better.
• Through the abdomen - for cautious fish: the sting is hidden in the abdomen.
• You can use 1 large or 2-3 small ones.
• For fly fishing - a special hook with a spatula.

Efficiency by fish species and seasons

• Ide and chub are the best bait from June to August.
• Rudd - bites consistently on the surface.
• Roach and white bream are actively taking large specimens.
• Perch - sometimes takes, especially the big ones.
• Pike is rare, but trophy specimens do occur.

Season: May–September, peak: June–July.

Helpful tips

• Collect in the morning after the dew - grasshoppers are sedentary and easier to catch.
• Use gloves - some species can "shoot" a caustic liquid.
• When fishing in the current, hook the bait through the chest to prevent it from flying off.
• For wary fish, use a light float and slow retrieve.
• If the grasshopper is damaged, replace it immediately.
• In hot weather, store in the shade and water frequently with grass.

The grasshopper isn't just a bait, it's a true "summer hit" for catching wary and large fish near the surface. Its naturalness, movement, and strong scent make it one of the best options for June through August. Wishing you successful bites and trophy specimens!