i don't live bait fish for bass. but when the fish are pulling the line that is what it is all about. if a guide uses live bait it is surely to get his customers what they paid for (a fish on the line) i hold no hard feelings if someone live bait fishes. the best fisherman i know was 90%live bait, 10% floating rapala, worm (purple or black) that is all my grandfather used. i still have 2 of his rapala's i use them some times when i am thinking of him