The best bait I have come across is a small octopus. While fishing out of Ucluelet BC. I hooked a ling that puked out an octopus in the fish hold. Got to thinking, why not put it on the nordic. It turned out to be the best bait that I've ever used for the lings. Ferociuos hits that were easy to set the hook on. It lasted all day. Caught so many I lost count after 20. Am still wondering If I got my first ever fishing injury after that trip. I think I got what I call jiggingitis.It sets in in the elbow and the trapezia areas and gets real painful when I don't have rod and reel in my hand.