How to Bait a Hook
Baiting a hook may sound like scary business for a newbie, but that need not be the case. Read on to learn more about how to hook a live a non-live bait without causing injury to yourself. Remember, a well-hooked bait means a higher chance of catching that fish!
Hooking a non-live hook, like fish meal, is much easier. To do this, make sure that your bait is in balled up. Insert the hook through the upper right portion of the ball, and exit through the lower left portion of the ball. Push up until the bait is slightly on the upper portion of the hook’s curve.
Worms of any kind are the usual live bait for most people. Look for a worm that is at least twice the size of the hook. If the worm is too big, cut it into two.
To hook a worm without it slipping off, think of the worm as a foot and the hook as a sock. Insert the hook through the head portion of the worm and continue pushing it through the majority of its body, like the aforementioned foot through the sock. Finally, push the tip of the hook out of the lower part of the worm’s body. The top part of hook should be over the top portion of the worm when you’re done.
Another way to hook a worm is by again, inserting the hook into the upper portion of the worm’s body. Wrap the worm twice or thrice around the hook and insert it again at the lower portion of the worm. This will also secure the worm more easily and securely.
Artificial worms are hooked the same way as real worms. However, you’ll need a little more strength when hooking them as they are tougher than the real ones.
You can also use gang hooks to make hooking a worm bait easier. Gang hooks are basically a pair of smaller hooks that will stretch out the worm to make it easier to insert the hook all the way lengthwise through the worm’s body.
When you’re hooking an insect, insert the hook through its abdomen, let it run down a bit lengthwise and make it come back out of its back. Use a fine, flexible wire to tie around the insect to make it stay on snugly.
When using a crayfish for bait, run the hook through the meaty part of its tail and body.
When using a live minnow as bait, insert the hook through the minnow’s mouth, running it through the minnow’s body without touching its spine.