Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Using Live Bait
• Method 2 of 4: Using dead or artificial bait
• Method 3 of 4: Making a bridle
• Method 4 of 4: Live Bait Bridle
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Find out how to attach all common types of bait to your fishing hook! There are some suggestions for when to use each of them, but be sure to ask an experienced angler or a tackle store employee about the specifics. Read on to learn how to learn from how to bait a worm to making a long-lasting bridle for live bait.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Using Live Bait

1. 1 Use worms and mealworms when in doubt. This lure is widely used in many types of fishing. Use earthworms or dungworms in fresh water and bloodworms or sandworms in seawater. Mealworms and other live larvae are usually used for trout and perch.
   • Ignite a few small worms, or halve them to hide the hook in the pile of moving worms. Some hooks come with a small shank on the sides for this purpose.
   • With large worms, thread one worm along the hook until the base or hook is completely hidden.
   • For very large worms, pierce them with a hook in several parts of the body. Leave the rest of it wriggling to attract fish.
2. 2 Use minnow as target bait or for other types of fish. Many fish feed on minnow, but make sure to choose the correct size that your target fish can swallow. Ask the tackle shop what local fry your target fish feeds on.
   • If you are pulling the bait behind you in a moving boat (plumb line fishing), hook the fish up from under the lower lip or simply through the upper lip for extra large fish. Alternatively, you can pass the fish through both nostrils. Any of these methods will be as natural as possible, with the ability of the fish to swim with the flow to attract predatory fish.
   • For quiet or slow fishing, thread the hook on the back of the live bait, just in front of the dorsal fin. Pass it under the spine so as not to paralyze the live bait. This will cause the fish to swim more desperately, head downward, attracting attention. You can fine-tune the depth by placing the hook in front of the dorsal fin to make the fish swim downward at a lower slope.
   • If you fish with a floating lure without a lead or float, you can attach a hook near the tail, which will make the bait float forward. To keep it from floating down, insert the hook into your mouth through the gills.
3. 3 Bait certain types of crayfish. Fish that are attracted to crayfish, such as smallmouth bass, catfish, pike perch.
   • Pass the hook shallowly across the back or near the head of the crayfish, pushing it out on the same side. Do not push deeper than necessary, you could get under the main shell segment or kill cancer.
   • Alternatively, thread the hook through the fleshy tail. This can hide most of the hook and will not damage one of the vital organs of the cancer. Start at the end of the tail and pull out the hook just in front of the body.
4. 4 Use shrimp when fishing near the coast. Shrimp is a common, inexpensive bait that feeds a wide variety of coastal fish such as sea bass, barracuda, grouper. Shrimp are similar in structure to crayfish, you may need a thinner hook for smaller varieties.
   • Pass superficially over the body or tail.
   • Remove several layers of carapace to enhance their flavor.
5. 5 Bait insects for freshwater fish. In summer, when insects are plentiful, fishermen can simply catch adult insects from the ground or larvae from the surface of the water to provide bait, which is part of the diet of local fish. Trout are especially attracted to insects.
   • Insects must be handled with care and are easy to kill while baiting on the hook due to their tiny size.
   • Tie a flexible thin wire to the bar of the hook, then wrap it carefully around the insect to attach it to the forend.
   • If you cannot attach it with wire, hook it through the back of the case with the hook. Vital organs located in the front should be avoided. It does not matter in what position the insect is located.

Method 2 of 4: Using dead or artificial bait

1. 1 Use fish pieces to catch the attention of fish that hunt by smell. There are many marine fish such as sea trout and bluefish, as well as freshwater fish that feed on bottom remains such as carp and catfish.
   • If you're fishing in one spot (quiet fishing), cut the fish into fairly large pieces to hide most of the hook.
   • If you are pulling the line behind a moving boat (plumbing), cut into long, thin V-shaped strips. Poke the hook through the wider end to simulate the movement of live fish.
2. 2 Make money with the tail of a crayfish in fresh water and the tail of a shrimp in the sea. Any fish that hunt crayfish, such as pike or catfish, may be interested in a hooked tail that is worn longitudinally inside the meat. In the same way, you can bait the tail of a shrimp to attract shore fish.
3. 3 Apply balls of dough for your type of fish. Ball masses are available in a variety of varieties that appeal to perch, trout, and a few other specific types of fish, or you can make them yourself with boiled hot water, flour, cornmeal, and molasses for a few minutes, then let cool. ... Fishermen can also add both cheese and garlic to this recipe to enhance the flavor that attracts certain types of fish.
   • Form the mass into a ball over the entire hook. Press it down so that the hook is completely hidden. Some hooks have wire springs that hold the dough balls in place.
4. 4 Use shellfish and other soft meats. Shellfish are excellent bait for fish in their native water. Shellfish, mussels, liver and other soft meats should be left to harden in the sun, or pre-frozen food should be partially thawed before use.
   • After the meat has hardened, thread the hook through it in many places to hide the end of the hook in the meat.
   • If it still doesn't stick to the hook, or you suspect the fish will be able to peel it right away without swallowing the hook, reinforce the meat with thin wire or thread.
5. 5 Buy artificial bait at the correct depth. You may find baits that sink, float, or remain below the surface of the water. In addition to tailoring fish habits, you can find artificial baits designed to attract specific species by smell or appearance.
   • To pierce a standard artificial bait, thread the hook through the mouth of the bait to the top until it reaches the eyes. Push the end of the hook through the stomach of the bait.

Method 3 of 4: Making a bridle

1. 1 Learn how to use a bridle. The bridle connects the hook and live bait, which allows you to keep the bait alive for a long time, and increases the chance to strengthen the hook well, it is tightly tied with a bridle.
   • The bridle is often used in saltwater fishing because it is used to catch large fish, since the bait is proportionally larger, the bait needs to be changed less often and it is easy to operate.
2. 2 Use thick, synthetic line or tackle thread. Thick lavsan rope is also suitable (called terylene or lavsan outside of the US). Do not use thin threads as they can break directly inside the live bait.
3. 3 Tie the ends of the rope together. Make a loop 6-12 mm, leave the ends of the rope sticking out.
4. 4 Tighten the knot as tightly as possible. Pull both ends to secure the knot as tight as possible without pulling on the ends of the rope.
5. 5 Use a lighter to melt the ends of the line (optional). Melt both ends until they reach the knot.
   • Pull on the knot as hard as possible, check that it does not fall apart.
6. 6 Prepare your bridle for crocheting. Place the hook at the top of your bridle on a flat surface. Follow these steps to tie the hook and bridle together if you are unsure how to tie a lanyard knot.
   • Place the end of the knot on the bend of the "J" shape hook (or in the middle of the "O" shape of the round hook), and pass the other end of the bridle down the hook and pull at the bottom of the bend.
7. 7 Place the end of the loop over the fish hook and under the knot. Pass the end over the J bend between the two sides of the rope and exit to the starting end of the loop.
8. 8 Tighten the knot securely. Pull the hanging rope so that it rests snugly around the curve of the hook.
9. 9 Secure the bridle in place. At the top, there is a loop close to the end of the hook, pull it tightly to the hook. Then it will not slide on the hook.
   • Make a double knot to secure it more firmly.
10. 10 The bridle is ready to tie the live bait. Many fishermen prepare bridles of different sizes for various live baits that come across. You can also bring your own bait in a bucket or practice with dead bait.

Method 4 of 4: Live Bait Bridle

1. 1 Prepare your bridle ahead of time. If you want your bait to stay alive for as long as possible, attach it with a secure bridle, not a hook.
   • Ask an experienced fisherman to make it for you, or follow the recommendations on how to make a bridle with your own hands.
2. 2 Pierce the bait with a knitting needle. You can stretch it above or in front of the eye sockets (but not through), or pass it between the head and the fin.
   • You can also use a live bait needle instead of a knitting needle.
3. 3 Attach the bridle and guide it through the fish. At the end of the needle, attach a bridle to the loop and pull it through the fish.
   • Secure the loop as the fish wriggles to avoid repeating the piercing again.
4. 4 Pass the hook through the loop on the opposite side. Now you need to release the rope and hold the hook and fish.
5. 5 Twist the hook several times. Twist the rope, bringing the hook closer to the fish's head. Do this until there is a gap between the fish's head and the twisted rope.
6. 6 Pull the hook into the gap between the fish's head and the twisted rope. Thread the hook through the loop, just above the fish's head.
7. 7 Drop the line and gently lower your live bait into the water. If the bridle was done correctly, you can use your bait for several hours, the live bait will not escape and die. But we hope you will be already with the catch by that time!

Tips

• If you are unsure, ask the tackle store which bait is best for the area.
• If the bait jumps off the hook, swap it for a multi-barbed hook, or whichever is more suitable in size and shape for your target fish.
• Hold your rod securely and release enough line to easily place the hook.

Warnings

• Use only live local bait and do not discard excess bait to avoid contaminating the local environment.

What do you need

• Bait (any kind)
• Hook
• Gloves (if you prefer not to get your hands dirty)
• Knife and cutting board (for cutting bait)

Making a bridle:

• Thick line
• Knitting needle or needle for live bait eye sockets
• Lighter (optional)