How to Fish With a Flagel Hook

A Flagel hook is a specialized piece of fishing tackle that connects a small triple-pronged hook to a live minnow. Sometimes called a minnow harness, the small fish is used as live bait. The hook attaches to a long metal leader. The leader is inserted like a needle through the body of the live minnow, so that game fish are attracted to bait that is within their normal diet.

Things You'll Need

  • Flagel hook (sometimes called a minnow harness or bait rig)
  • Minnow
  • Fishing pole
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert the steel leader line down the throat of the minnow so that it pierces the tiny fish, and exits the minnow near its tail fin. Bend the metal leader line toward the head of the fish to a 45-degree angle, and then upward so that the end of the bait rig is 8 to 10 inches above the minnow.

    • 2

      Attach a small triple hook to the front end of the Flagel rig, at the minnow's mouth.

    • 3

      Attach the fishing line to the top end of the bait rig. The bait rig is now ready to use. The oils of the dying minnow will hide the scent from your hands from the game fish, and the minnow will flail about in the water to attract large game fish.

    • 4

      Cast the line without a bobber, and slowly reel the line back toward you. As game fish smell and see the wounded minnow, they are genetically programmed to strike.