Sometimes live bait is enough to attract fish. You can learn how to prepare a live bait rig by attaching them to a normal hook, and develop the best techniques to safely attract your prey. The techniques and hooks to use vary according to the type of fish you want to fish and the bait available, but the basic principles remain the same. With the help of a little "cunning", practice and experience, preparing a live bait rig is not difficult. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Obtaining and Maintaining Live Bait
Step 1. Learn about the laws regarding live bait fishing in your area:
it could in fact be prohibited or restricted to particular types of bait or fishing waters (for example, the use of small fish could be prohibited). Make sure that the technique used and the type of bait are allowed in the chosen area, also informing yourself about regional and municipal laws.
Step 2. Get a good variety of live baits, or choose from those available
The choice of the right type of bait is entirely determined by the fishing area, the type of fish sought, and the availability. If, for example, a grasshopper infestation is in progress, don't waste time trying to catch a school of small fish: instead, take the opportunity to get your own live bait and at the same time help solve a collective problem! The most common live baits include:
- Pimephales promelas (also called "big head fish" from the English "fatheaded minnows")
- Red fishes
- Barbatelli
- Earthworms
- Larvae of eristalis tenax insects (called "mouse tail" due to their shape)
- Corn borers
- Crickets or grasshoppers
- Small shrimp
- Small frogs or salamanders
Step 3. Keep the baits alive
Find a place to create a small habitat to keep the bait alive until it's time to go fishing. Make sure there is always plenty of moisture, air circulation, and food (blades of grass or leaves) for sustenance until you are ready to use them. Try to limit the stay of the bait in this environment to one or two days, or they could die, unless they are worms, which can survive in the damp earth for even longer periods.
Step 4. Wait for the last moment before casting to attach the bait to the hook
The main reason live bait is used is that fish are attracted to them wiggling in the water, so it's important to keep them alive for as long as possible. If the bait is hooked too early it will die before it reaches the water. Keep it handy, attach the hook to the line and get ready to fish.
Part 2 of 2: Prepare the rig with live bait
Step 1. Carefully remove live baits from their habitat
This is easier said than done, particularly when it comes to minnows. If your live baits are minnows, catching one can be very difficult. Pull the fish out of the water by grabbing it firmly to prevent it from struggling. Hold it steady with one hand and bring it closer with the other.
Step 2. Insert the hook into the body of the little fish behind the dorsal fin
It is usually possible to thread the hook without complications just behind the dorsal fin, and then cast the line immediately and with a gentle motion, letting the bait fall easily into the water and stay alive.
Alternatively, you can stick the hook into the fish's mouth, between the lower lip and jaw, to keep it alive longer. Hooking behind the dorsal fin is safer, but causes the little fish to wriggle more and consequently die quickly. By inserting the hook into the mouth, however, the fish will not go down as quickly, but will move in the water in an unnatural way. By inserting the hook in the nostrils, the little fish will live even longer, but you run the risk that it will be able to free itself and escape
Step 3. Hook the hook to the tail or head of shrimp, salamanders and frogs
Like minnows, shrimp also have a number of options for hooking them. Be sure to hook the hook deep into the tail and close to the abdomen to keep it firmly in the body and not risk losing the bait due to its struggling. By sticking the hook into the head, the bait will be firmer but will not stay alive for long.
For salamanders and frogs, stick the hook into the body towards one of the hind legs. They will wriggle a lot, but it is very unlikely that they will be able to free themselves
Step 4. Hook worms, earthworms and larvae to the hook by folding them back on themselves
Start near one of the two ends and fold the worm (or other similar insect) back on itself several times - at least 3 - to secure it securely.
Step 5. Hold the lure firmly as you prepare to cast
Be careful not to lose it before it reaches the water. Hold it steady as you prepare and make a quick cast, but without yanking or using too much force, bringing the lure where you want it.
Step 6. Use a split-shot rig with a split lead shot on the line
The popularity of this type of rig is due to the fact that the split sinker, by exerting the right weight on the line, allows you to keep the bait at the most appropriate depth and control the line in order to optimize its position for the type of fish you are targeting. wants to fish.
Crickets, grasshoppers and other small insects can be left floating on the water, depending on the type of fish sought. If you want to let the bait float, remove the sinker
Step 7. Hold the line with a light hand
Be careful not to jerk the hook and bait. The effectiveness of this type of rig depends on the bait staying alive for as long as possible before falling into the water. Good fishing!
If unsuccessful, remove the bait if it is no longer alive, and prepare the rig again. Try to figure out what the problem was with the previous bait, and readjust the way to hook the hook accordingly
Advice
- If before you catch something you notice that the lure is dying, try hooking the hook in a different place on the lure. Also, always make sure the water in the bait tank is at the same temperature as the water you are fishing in.
- The most common types of rigs for live bait fishing are the sliding lead slip-sinker, the split-lead slip-shot and the float slip-floater. The first mount is the most effective, but also the most difficult to use; the second is the most common and finally the third is the simplest, but also the one with the least guarantees of success.
- If you are using minnows, tie the hook to the line and use a split sinker to add weight. Hook the fish to the hook under the backbone and simply let it swim in the water, or bring it back by wrapping the line.
- If you are using crickets, add a sinker. Tie a swivel and hook it together to create a split frame. Hook the hook on the cricket's chest and pull the barb into it. To fish, cast and rewind near the surface in the morning.
- If you are using worms instead, use the swivel to attach a pyramidal sinker under the hook to keep it on the bottom. To hook the worm on the hook, start at the end and continue to skewer it until you reach the other end. Pull the barb to collect it together and avoid any dangling parts remaining.
