HOW TO HOOK BAIT

WORMS – Worms are used in all fishing. Earthworms and manure worms are usedfor freshwater fishing; bloodworms and sandworms are used in saltwater fishing.To hook worms on tiny hooks for small fish, cut the worm into pieces and thread one or more pieces onto the hook. To keep the bait from sliding off, pushthe point and barb into the end of the worm. This technique works for all worms in all fishing.

Another method is to use several worm pieces and thread the hook through the center of the body
so that the worm pieces dangle from the side of the hook. You can also thread small whole manure
worms onto the hook the same way. Thread big worms on larger hooks by running the hook
through the worm at several places on the body, with the tail extending for attraction.

MEAL WORMS AND GRUBS – Small baits such as meal worms and grubs are available frommost tackle outlets. Thread the bait onto the hook by running the hook lengthwise through the body or threading through the side of the meal worm, adding several worms or grubs to hide the hook.



MINNOWS – How you hook live minnows depends upon how you are going to fish them. If you arefishing a minnow to troll (drag the bait) or repeatedly cast and retrieve it, hook the minnow through the upper and lower lips with the hook point up so that the minnow will "swim" naturally. You can use this same method for hooked minnows fished from a single- or two-hook rig or from a float and sinker combination. A better method for float-and-sinker fishing is to hook the minnow through the back, but avoid the spine so as to not paralyze the baitfish. This allows more natural baitfish movement. For fishing a minnow that you allow to free swim without a weight or float, hook it through the tail so that it can swim naturally to attract game fish.

CUT BAIT – Cut bait is made from fish, eels, or minnows and is cut into chunks for still fishing(fishing from one spot) or into strips for trolling (dragging a bait behind a moving boat). For still
fishing, cut the bait into squares or hunks that can be easily threaded onto a hook. For best results, keep the skin on the bait to help the penetrating hook hold in place. For trolling (dragging bait), retrieving bait and drifting bait in a current, cut the bait into a long "V"-shaped strip. Hook through the skin at the wide end of the "V" strip so that when retrieved the bait will resemble a swimming minnow or eel.

DOUGHBALLS – Doughballs can be purchased or prepared with a homemade recipe.Prepared commercial "paste" bait that can be formed into doughballs is available for carp, trout, panfish, bass, catfish and other freshwater game fish. Home-made doughballs can be made from a doughy mix of hot water, flour, cornmeal and flavoring. To hook doughballs, thread the hook through the doughball or form the doughball around the hook so that the bait completely hides the hook. Some treble hooks include wire springs to help hold dough in place.