How to Bait a Hook With Dead Fish

Live bait is always the preferred choice when trying to catch fish, but not always a viable option. Bait fish are usually easy to catch and are in plentiful supply at your local marina bait shop. However, if the shop is closed or their live supply has run out, dead bait becomes your next best option. Hooking the dead bait so that it appears to still be alive is the key to success.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine what type of dead bait to use; the best dead baits are fish that, when alive, are native to the body of water in which you are fishing.

    • 2

      Bait the hook based on your preferred style of fishing; for example, if you are trolling slowly behind a boat, hook the dead fish through the mouth to make it appear as if it is swimming.

    • 3

      Hook the dead fish either through the mouth or the tail for drift fishing so that it stays straight in the water; simulate movement by jerking the rod tip slightly.

    • 4

      Place the hook through the back of the fish if you are bottom fishing or using a float; this will allow the dead bait to remain in an upright position while floating and appear to be still alive.

    • 5

      Cut larger bait into chunks centered squarely on the hook for catching smaller fish. Use meatier sections first and parts of the head and guts when you begin to run low.