Where to hook bait fish
May 17, 2021 20:02:51 #
A Buddy of mine and I always argue about this. I generally always come in below the bottom lip, and up through the nasal passage out the nostril. Most game fish to my knowledge hit the bait head first. My buddy has always hooked them from behind the dorsal, to the tail depending on the bait. what say y'all?
May 17, 2021 20:09:16 #
Depends on the type of bait fish your fishing with anchovies and sardines several different ways to hook them one is straight through the nose the other is just behind the Gill plate at least that's the way we do it out here in California
May 17, 2021 21:05:26 #
FishFearMe 420 wrote:
A Buddy of mine and I always argue about this. I generally always come in below the bottom lip, and up through the nasal passage out the nostril. Most game fish to my knowledge hit the bait head first. My buddy has always hooked them from behind the dorsal, to the tail depending on the bait. what say y'all?
What kind of bait are you talking about and what are you fishing for. I fish off shore for kings and put it through the nose with a trailing leader with a treble hook in the middle of the top side of the back and a another one dangling behind it.
May 18, 2021 07:27:31 #
Kinda depends on what I'm fishing with and for. Live lining finger mullet I'll usually go the dorsal fin route. Smaller baits I'd probably lip hook.
May 18, 2021 08:31:08 #
FishFearMe 420 wrote:
A Buddy of mine and I always argue about this. I generally always come in below the bottom lip, and up through the nasal passage out the nostril. Most game fish to my knowledge hit the bait head first. My buddy has always hooked them from behind the dorsal, to the tail depending on the bait. what say y'all?
Which of you catches more fish?
Personally, I try to make the bait look as natural as possible. When jigging, I hook through the lips or with large jigs in the mouth and out the gills. When still fishing on a thin, wire hook occasionally through the back or tail.
May 18, 2021 14:05:24 #
bapabear
Loc: Blaine, Washington
Keep in mind that a bait will swim up or down depending upon if they are hooked forward or aft of the dorsal fin. I hook forward of the fin when bottom fishing in salt water to reduce the chance of the bait hiding in a rock craves.
May 18, 2021 16:31:43 #
Bohanan66
Loc: Ohio
If fish swallow the bait head first, then a hook located at the dorsal fin should be positioned to catch the inside of the upper jaw
May 18, 2021 16:42:37 #
bapabear
Loc: Blaine, Washington
Bohannan66, I am confused regarding a hook going in at the dorsal and coming out at the upper jaw. Can you send a photo or a photo of a diagram? Thanks
May 18, 2021 16:48:57 #
bapabear
Loc: Blaine, Washington
bapabear wrote:
Bohannan66, I am confused regarding a hook going in at the dorsal and coming out at the upper jaw. Can you send a photo or a photo of a diagram? Thanks
Never mind. I believe you are talking about both the bait fish and the target fish. I was reading it as both fish being the bait fish. Sorry.
May 18, 2021 21:32:30 #
Jwid
Loc: Lake Killarney, Ironton, MO
Using bluegill as bait for large catfish and bass I think the fish prefer a head first swallow. The scales will not be a problem. I have lost big fish that spit bait trying to turn it. I have caught some big LMB by waiting until they come back and get it head first. I like a tail hook on baitfish bigger than a couple inches. Minnows doesn’t seem to matter.
Jul 21, 2021 09:01:15 #
Largemouth Bass, Redfish. That rigging you described doesn't leave much chance of missing your prey, even if he is just sniffing it, lol. Here's to hooking the hawgs. TY for your reply.
Jul 21, 2021 09:09:46 #
Right, like I stated, head first hit to avoid the spines in the sail/dorsal with Blue Gill. Shiners don't have the spines bass will hit them front or back but they much prefer head first. Pretty cool to see them grab one, once they got it right, they will spit out the golden scales in one big blow. thanks for your input.
Jul 21, 2021 09:10:06 #
I don't fish for Largemouth but Reds when I use a mud minnow. I hook it just like you. When using live shrimp I hook it in the top of the back about middle ways back. When using dead shrimp, I use a grub head and thread the shrimp on to look like its the body of the grub.
Jul 21, 2021 09:12:05 #
Jul 21, 2021 09:17:45 #
Thanks for the Shrimp input. I've always hooked the shrimp like I do crickets. at the back/base of the kneck the spot where the plate separates, I've always gone in through there and come out about a half-inch down the back. You get decent life span the way you do it I'm sure. I'll try it. thanks
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