Splash

What is the best way to hook bait fish, lips,head or tail?

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Use a quick strike rig, but there is always risk of killing the fish, so it had better be legal size!

Joeband Loc: Roselle, IL

Use a quick strike rig more humane for musky, when sucker grabbed by musky reel down and set rig hard , let fish go away from best

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

If you're using it under a bobber hook it just under the dorsal fin. Not lower or it will die. And don't jerk the cast or your bait will tear off. Nice and easy, it doesn't have to go 50 yards out.

harleypiker Loc: WA

We can't use live bait in most of the west so when ice fishing with smelt or herring, i will cut a small slit along the back bone behind the head and ahead of the tail. then push the trebles into the sits burying them. Pike and muskies often carry the bait several feet and then drop it. Perhaps feeling the hooks if installed external to the bait. This gives you a little more time to get to the tip up and set the hook. You can do the same under a bobber summertime but set the hook quickly to prevent swallowing the hooks.