i run a small line that consists of 2 doz. bucket sets, and several dirtholes, ect. i have been using catfood/fish oil/vanilla extract mixture for bait in bucket sets. i pre-bait them also, to get the coon on a routine. are there any concoctions or different bait/lure that would increase my catches? i have also heard about spraypainting buckets bright colors on the inside. i have averaged fifty coon a year for the last 3 yrs from about 15-20 bucket sets, but would like to push for 75 this year, so i will be buyin more 220's, ect, and trying other baits/lures. thanks for any help

I just use a large chunk of fish like a head. And squirt some fish oil, and sometimes a lure.

Fish Oil, take an ounce of Shell Fish Oil and Mix to a Pint of Fish Oil, that will give it the extra Calling Distance....I ball up grass about the size of a soft ball and pour it on that, then put a lil dobbins Coon Candy on a stick and throw it in the back...

Too much shellfish.

The critters can smell it much better than you can.

I use about an oz to a quart.

At least I did until I quit using it in favor of a better mix, A 4 oz bottle of good lure in a qt of pressed fish oil.

works for me. I'll use a LDC lure in very cold weather.

instead of buying fish oil, i just seine for shad and put one in the back of my bucket. sometimes i use carp from bowfishing too.

I put a couple pieces of sardine in the bucket with oil, last a long time and kills the coons and oppies.

oh yeah i forgot sometimes i run out of shad, and during ice up, well they are hard to get. so i buy cheap sardines and tuna at walmart. both work good.

sweet bait in early season and fishy in late season.

Try some "HARDCORE" coon lure.VERY strong sweet smelling lure.Keep's the grinner's out of the set's also.I don't remember who make's it,but it is a amber colored bottle with orange sticker.

Chunk of fish in bucket&lure on upper rim works great here

I was thinking Quart and said Pint....

Try shad easy to catch ( if you know what to look for ) sardines, heck any thing that you wouldn't eat. lol

hey now dcoon, lol..weeze from Missipee, we eats dems dares Sourdeens with some slteen cracka's.....lol

I think the bottle your talking about is made by Wildlife Research.

thanks guys. this will save me time trying out lures. has anyone had results with different colored buckets, or any other factor?

well...some of my sets have those yellow 3 gallon buckets, others have white 5 gallon buckets, and some are 4 gallon square buckets. If I set them near a road, I put a bucket that is Camo Painted and either a leg hold or coni on a drowning slide so No one will see a bucket and say to themselves,"wonder if it is in good condition to keep."

Ain't nuttin wrong with sardines and saltinees and a drop or two of hot sauce! haha

i use a chunk carp and some fish oil

Only is Mississippi would someone say that !

Ye I know I do eat them but I knew if I put that someone would say something bout me bein nasty or a redneck lol.

Hey man I don't know bout you but if I see a good bucket on the side of the road I'll be danged if I don't pickit up!

nope in NY we do to(or I do anyway) when it floods the ditches are plastered w/ buckets, while haulin wagons w/ the tractor i'll slow down and look and see if they are worth my time gettin off the tractor LOL

i use some sardines or oysters...4 for a $1...and then some fish oil w/ shellfish

I was implying that you people think it through too much. Here in Kansas (and many other states) it's automatic. No thinking or talking to it.

Get me some of them sardines I had to pay 50 cents a piece.

Something to be noticed here is that almost everyone agrees with the fish as a basic; I do too. I've never had good luck(even in colder weather) with any red meat type baits for coon.