The Best Setup for Fishing With Water Dogs

Many people think of leeches, minnows and worms when they think of live fishing bait. They often do not think of water dogs, which are the larval stage of tiger salamanders and sometimes called "mud puppies." But water dogs can be effective live baits, especially when anglers want to catch large fish.

  1. Rod and Reel

    • Anglers can fish water dogs with either bait-casting or spinning rods and reels. Either way, medium to medium-heavy action rods work well when paired with reels loaded with 8 to 10-pound test monofilament fishing line. Long fishing rods of 7 feet or more also are good because they give anglers more leverage over larger fish and allow them to make soft casts. The latter is important because water dogs become stunned when they hit the water hard, which makes them less active and less effective as bait.

    Live-Bait Rig

    • The same live-bait rig that fishermen use to present leeches, minnows and night crawlers also works well for presenting water dogs. Cut a 24 to 36-inch piece of fishing line and set it aside for use as a leader. Thread a sliding sinker onto the end of the fishing line. The sinker should be heavy enough to drag the water dog to the bottom and keep it there. Tie a barrel swivel to the fishing line with a Palomar knot. Tie the leader line to the other end of the swivel. A hook tied to the end of the leader completes the rig.

    Hook Size

    • Choosing the proper hook size is paramount in fishing with water dogs. A hook that is too large impedes their movement. If the hook is too small, it may come free from the water dog. For water dogs that are 8 inches in length or less, a size 3/0 hook suffices. Move to a 4/0 hook if the water dog is between 8 and 10 inches, and to a 5/0 hook if the bait is longer than 10 inches. To hook a water dog, insert the hook point into the lower jaw and bring it out its nose. If the hook comes out further back than the nose, you risk the hook hitting the water dog's brain and killing it.

    Presentation

    • Water dogs are not meant to be fished quickly. Instead, drop them into the water and let the rig sink to the bottom, then slowly drift or troll through likely areas. Those include drop-offs, reef edges and weed edges. Water dogs also perform well on rock piles. When water dogs reach the bottom, they will begin moving around. Feel for any extra weight on your line, and watch your line for sudden movement, which could indicate a fish is nearby and the dog is trying to move away from it. Most bites will feel like extra weight. When you feel it, play line out for 15 to 20 seconds to give the fish time to get the water dog -- and hook -- in its mouth. Reel so the line is tight and then set the hook with a hard, upward motion.