How to give live baits maximum mobility and longevity.
Let Them Live
Steve Dougherty
When fishing live baits such as pilchards, goggle-eyes or threadfin herring, there are numerous scenarios that call for specific rigging techniques. Sometimes you want to bridle the baits in the shoulder, or hook them by the tail, but when free-lining live baits, nose-hooking often provides the best presentation. Story and photos by Steve Dougherty / Doughertyphotos.com.
Whenever you are using a needle-sharp hook, the point can double back and impale the baitfish in its gillplate. This will result in a spinning bait that no predator will want to eat, and the early demise of your live bait. To avoid this issue all together, place a small glow bead on the shank of the hook. This keeps the hook placement right where you want it and the bait can not ride back up the hook and get impaled in the gill.
Owner makes a line of glow beads that fit along the hook shank and prevent the aforementioned scenario that results in a less-than-ideal presentation.
Carefully slide the bead over the barb of the hook to the middle of the gap in the hook. If your hook has an offset, make sure you insert the hook so the offset is pointing toward the bait's nose.
This is how you want your hook to look before you nose-hook a live bait. This simple tip will prevent the bait from doubling back and impaling itself. The longer your live baits live, the better your chances of hooking a tournament-winning game fish. It'll also save you time and money.
