February 28, 2020
By Keith Sutton
Beetle grubs are ugly creatures but they make great bait for bluegills, perch and other panfish. (Photo courtesy of extension.sdstate.edu)
If you live in the eastern half of the United States, the white, C-shaped grubs of Betsy bug beetles are common natural baits you can gather and use to tempt bluegills, perch and other panfish. The big glossy-black adult beetles lay their eggs in hardwood logs that have fallen and begun to decay. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on predigested wood from the adults, and they are easily found and collected by rolling and breaking open rotted oak, elm and other hardwood logs that have sawdust littered around and beneath them. The grubs are ugly but harmless and can be kept alive several days in a small container with some wood chips stored in a cool place.
Encouraging the growth of Betsy bug grubs is as simple as leaving fallen hardwood trees to rot on the forest floor. The grubs of Japanese beetles, June beetles, chafers and others also work great as bait, but instead of eating rotted wood, they usually feed on grass roots and other organic matter in the soil. To find spots where they are abundant, look for holes dug by raccoons, skunks and armadillos, all of which love to dine on the large, mature grubs. Dead patches of grass on your lawn are another key sign that grubs are present, and if you pull these back like pieces of loose carpet, you’ll sometimes find a dozen or more grubs squirming around underneath. Fish love them, and a grub dangled on a small hook in your favorite lake, pond or stream is almost certain to be devoured by one sportfish or another. Few natural baits work better.