How to Fish with Live Bait: Mastering the Rig and Hook

If you've ever felt the thrill of a fish tugging on your line, you know there's nothing quite like it. Today, we're diving into one of the oldest and most effective fishing methods out there: fishing with live bait. So, grab your tackle box, and let's explore the ins and outs of this tried-and-true technique.

Live bait mimics the natural prey of many fish species, making it (almost) irresistible to them. When you use live bait, you're offering them food that looks and smells the way they’re used to, which often means more bites and better catches.

The way live bait moves and reacts in the water can attract even the most cautious fish, giving you a better chance to hook that trophy catch. Plus, they can be used in most fishing environments for most activities.

A live bait rig is a fishing setup designed to present live bait in the most natural and enticing way possible to attract fish. Knowing how each part of the rig functions can make a huge difference in your fishing success. Let’s look at the components of a fishing rig for live bait.

• Main Line: This is the primary fishing line spooled onto the reel.

• Leader: A section of line, usually stronger or more abrasion-resistant than the main line, that connects the main line to the hook. It helps prevent fish from seeing the line and provides extra strength.

• Hook: The hook is attached to the leader and holds the live bait. The hook should be matched to the bait size and the fish being targeted.

• Sinker: A weight used to help sink the bait to the desired depth. The sinker is usually placed above the hook on the leader or main line.

• Swivel: A small, rotating connector that prevents line twist. Swivels are used to connect the main line to the leader or to attach the sinker.

• Float/Bobber: A float or bobber suspends the bait at a specific depth. It also serves as a bite indicator by moving or submerging when a fish takes the bait. The float can be attached directly to the main line or leader.

Whether you’re fishing in freshwater lakes, swift-moving rivers, or the vast ocean, live bait can be a game-changer. Each environment and target species requires a slightly different approach, from selecting the right bait to mastering specific techniques. Let’s dive in!

Surface fishing with live bait, also known as topwater fishing, is a technique that allows you to target fish feeding near the water’s surface. To get started, you’ll need a light to medium action rod and reel paired with either monofilament or braided line for the right balance of flexibility and strength.

Here’s how to surface fish with live bait:

• Choose the Right Bait: Opt for live bait that naturally stays near the surface, such as minnows and shiners.

• Rig Your Line: Attach a float or bobber to your line about 2-3 feet above the hook. This setup keeps the bait at the surface and helps you detect strikes.

• Casting Locations: Cast your bait to areas where fish are likely to feed on the surface. Look for spots near weed beds, lily pads, logs, or overhanging trees.

• Bait Movement: Allow the bait to swim naturally. Occasionally, twitch the rod tip to give the bait some enticing movement and attract fish.

• Casting Technique: Limit your casts to avoid disturbing the water too much and scaring fish away.

Suspended fishing with live bait is a great technique for targeting fish that are not on the surface or the bottom, but hanging out somewhere in the middle of the water column. To effectively fish this way, use a medium action rod and reel with monofilament or fluorocarbon line to limit its underwater visibility. Our top tips for suspended fishing with live bait are:

• Rigging Your Line: Attach a slip bobber to your line. This allows you to adjust the depth at which your bait is suspended. Use split shot weights or a small egg sinker to help keep the bait at the desired depth. Attach the weight 12-18 inches above the hook to allow natural movement of the bait.

• Setting the Depth: Based on observations or readings from a fish finder, set the bobber stop to the desired depth where the fish are suspending.

• Casting Locations: Cast your bait to areas where fish are likely to be suspending. Look for spots such as drop-offs, ledges, or thermoclines.

• Bait Movement: Occasionally, twitch the rod tip to give the bait some movement and attract fish. This can mimic the natural movement of prey and entice fish to bite.

• Patience is Key: Be patient and allow the bait to remain at the set depth for a while before reeling in and recasting. This gives the fish time to notice and strike at the bait.

Bottom fishing with live bait is an effective method for targeting fish that dwell near the bottom of the water. To set up for bottom fishing, use a medium to heavy action rod and reel, and opt for a strong monofilament or braided line to handle the weight and potential snags. To start bottom fishing with live bait:

• Rigging Your Line: Attach a sinker to help keep the bait on the bottom. Common sinker types include egg sinkers, pyramid sinkers, or drop shot weights. Place the sinker 12-24 inches above the hook using a swivel to prevent line twist.

• Casting Locations: Cast your bait to areas where bottom-dwelling fish are likely to be. Look for deep holes, ledges, drop-offs, or underwater structures like rocks or wrecks.

• Sinking the Bait: Let the bait sink to the bottom and ensure it stays there by feeling for slack in the line. The sinker should hold the bait in place, even in moving water.

• Monitoring the Line: Keep your line taut and watch for any movements or taps indicating a bite. Bottom-dwelling fish often nibble before taking the bait fully, so be ready to set the hook when you feel a strong pull.

Drift fishing is a technique that lets your live bait move naturally with the current or wind. To get started, use a medium action rod and reel setup, and choose either a monofilament or braided line, depending on your preference and the conditions. Here’s how to drift fish with live bait:

• Rigging Your Line: Attach enough weight to your line to keep the bait at the desired depth while drifting. Depending on the depth and current speed, you can use split shot weights, egg sinkers, or drop shot weights.

• Positioning Your Boat: Position your boat up-current or upwind from the area you want to fish. Allow the boat to drift naturally with the current or wind while keeping the bait in the water.

• Adjusting Bait Depth: Adjust the depth of your bait periodically to match the changing depth of the water and the location of the fish. This helps keep your bait in the strike zone.

• Casting and Drifting: Cast your bait out and let it drift along with the boat. Keep the line taut and watch for any movements or taps indicating a bite.

• Using Technology: Use a fish finder to locate schools of fish and adjust your drift path accordingly. This can significantly increase your chances of finding and catching fish.

Live lining is a highly effective technique that allows live bait to swim freely. This method is particularly successful in targeting predatory fish that are actively hunting for food. Use a medium to heavy action rod and reel, and opt for either a monofilament or braided line for strength and sensitivity. Begin live lining with live bait by:

• Rigging Your Line: Depending on the depth you want to fish, you may add a small weight to keep the bait at the desired depth. If the bait spins, use a swivel to prevent line twist.

• Casting Your Bait: Cast your bait out and allow it to swim freely. The natural movement of live bait can be very enticing to predatory fish.

• Monitoring Your Line: Keep the line taut and watch for any movement. Predatory fish are often quick to strike live bait, so be prepared to react.

• Positioning and Depth: Adjust the position and depth of your bait as needed, depending on where you are fishing and the behavior of the target species.

Trolling with live bait is an effective method that involves pulling live bait behind a moving boat to cover a large area of water. You’ll need a medium to heavy action rod and reel and either a monofilament or braided line for durability and strength. Here’s what you should know to start trolling:

• Rigging Your Line: Attach a trolling sinker or downrigger to control the depth of your bait. Use a swivel to prevent line twist from the bait's movement.

• Maintaining Speed: Maintain a steady trolling speed, typically between 2 to 4 knots, depending on the target species. Adjust the speed based on the behavior of the fish you’re targeting.

• Monitoring Your Line: Keep the line taut and watch for any movement. Use rod holders to manage multiple lines and increase your coverage area.

• Covering Water: Steadily move your boat to cover a large area of water, increasing your chances of encountering fish.

Still fishing, also known as stationary fishing, involves casting your bait and waiting for fish to come to it. This technique is ideal for anglers who prefer a more relaxed approach. To set up for still fishing, use a light to medium action rod and reel with a monofilament or braided line. Here’s how to still fish with live bait:

• Rigging Your Line: Use a float or bobber to keep the bait at a specific depth and to detect bites. This setup helps keep your bait in the strike zone and makes it easier to see when a fish bites.

• Casting Locations: Cast your bait to areas where fish are likely to be, such as near structures, drop-offs, or vegetation. Fish looking for food often frequent these spots.

• Letting the Bait Settle: Allow the bait to settle and remain stationary. The natural movement of the live bait will attract fish to your location.

• Monitoring Your Line: Keep the line taut and watch for any movement. Use a sensitive rod tip or bite indicator to help detect subtle bites and ensure you don't miss any action.

There are two ways to get live bait fish: buying them at a sports and outdoors store or catching them yourself. Catching your own gives you access to fresh bait and allows you to use bait that is naturally found in your fishing environment, increasing your chances of success. If you choose to catch live bait fish, you can find them in the following areas:

• Lakes & Ponds: Search near the shoreline, especially around weed beds, fallen trees, and docks. These areas provide shelter and food for bait fish, making them ideal spots.

• Rivers & Streams: Focus on slow-moving sections and near structures like rocks, logs, and undercut banks. These calm areas are often teeming with small fish.

• Reservoirs: Look around submerged structures such as old trees and brush piles, as well as near inflows and outflows where bait fish gather for food and shelter.

• Coastal Waters: Target areas around piers, jetties, and docks, and in estuaries and bays. These locations are hotspots for bait fish due to the abundant food supply and protection from predators.

• Marinas & Harbors: Check near boat docks, pilings, and in calm waters where bait fish can find refuge and feed on algae and small invertebrates.

• Reefs: Search around coral reefs and rock outcrops. These complex structures offer plenty of hiding spots for bait fish and attract various species.

Catching your own live bait fish can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to enhance your fishing experience. In this section, we'll guide you through the top techniques for catching bait fish.

Chumming is a technique used to attract fish by dispersing a mixture of food into the water. This method creates a feeding frenzy, making bait fish easier to catch. Here’s how you can catch bait fish using this technique:

• Preparing the Chum: You can buy ready-made chum from bait shops or make your own using simple ingredients like bread, fish parts, canned cat food, fish meal, and crushed baitfish. Combine these ingredients in a bucket with water to create a thick, soupy consistency.

• Distributing the Chum: Gradually throw handfuls of chum into the water to start attracting bait fish. For a more controlled release, use a chum bag or chum pot (a mesh bag or container that slowly releases chum as it drifts with the current). This method can help sustain attraction over a longer period.

• Catching the Bait Fish: Once you notice bait fish gathering in the chummed area, it’s time to catch them. You can use a cast net, which is thrown over the fish and traps them as it sinks, or a bait net, which is dipped into the water to scoop up the fish. Alternatively, a Sabiki rig — a line with multiple small hooks often tipped with bait — can be used to catch several bait fish at once.

Catching bait fish with a casting net is a straightforward and effective technique. This method involves throwing a circular net over a school of bait fish, allowing it to sink and trap the fish inside. Here's how you can use a casting net to gather live bait:

• Prepare and Position: Hold the casting net by the yoke (the center rope) and fold it for easy throwing. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding the yoke in one hand and a section of the net in the other.

• Throw and Aim: Throw the net in a spinning motion to spread it out fully before it hits the water. Aim for areas with visible bait fish activity to cover the area with the net as it sinks.

• Retrieve and Collect: Once the net has settled, pull the retrieval line to close the net and trap the fish inside. Pull the net towards you, gather the fish from the net, and place them in a bait keeper.

Sabiki rigs use multiple small hooks adorned with attractors to catch multiple bait fish at once. This method is particularly effective when you need a lot of bait quickly. Use a sabiki rig to catch live bait by:

• Set Up and Cast: Tie the main line to the top swivel of the Sabiki rig and attach a small sinker to the bottom to help it sink to the desired depth. Cast the rig gently to avoid tangling the hooks, then lower it straight down and jig it up and down to attract bait fish. If casting from shore, retrieve the rig slowly with occasional jerks to mimic small prey.

• Detect Bites: Watch for movement and hold the line between your fingers to detect the subtle bites of bait fish. The attractors on the hooks help lure the fish in, making bites more frequent.

• Reel In and Collect: Reel in the line smoothly to avoid shaking off the bait fish. Remove the bait fish from the hooks gently and place them into a bait bucket or live well.

Using traps is a convenient and efficient way to catch live bait fish. Common traps include minnow traps, fish baskets, and bait cages, which can be left unattended to gather bait over time. Here’s how to trap bait fish:

• Set Up and Secure: Submerge the trap fully in the water, ensuring it is stable and won’t be moved by currents or waves. Use a rope or line to secure the trap to a fixed point to keep it in place.

• Wait and Monitor: Leave the trap in place for several hours or overnight. Periodically check the trap to ensure it is functioning properly and to collect any caught bait fish.

• Retrieve and Collect: Carefully retrieve the trap by pulling the rope or line slowly to avoid startling the fish and causing them to escape. Gather the bait fish and place them into a bait bucket or live well.

To keep your bait alive, use a well-ventilated bait bucket or live well with a secure lid to prevent bait from escaping. Ensure the container has a built-in aerator or add a portable aerator to supply oxygen to the water. Regularly change the water to keep it clean and oxygen-rich. If you use tap water, make sure it is dechlorinated because chlorine can harm bait fish.

Maintaining the right water temperature is also important, as most bait fish thrive in cooler conditions. Use ice packs or frozen water bottles to keep the water cool, but avoid direct contact with the fish to prevent shock. Ensure the bait fish have enough room to swim freely, as overcrowding can lead to stress and oxygen depletion.

You also need to feed your bait fish. They should be fed sparingly with appropriate food such as crushed fish flakes, small bits of bread, or commercial bait food to keep them healthy without fouling the water.

Whether you’re targeting bass, trout, or saltwater giants, the way you hook your bait can affect its movement and how enticing it looks to your target catch. Some of the most effective ways to hook bait fish are:

• Through the Nose: Insert the hook point into one nostril of the bait fish. Carefully push the hook through the nostril and out the other side. The hook should only pass through the thin, tough cartilage of the nose.

• Through the Lips: Insert the hook point through the lower lip of the bait fish and push it through and up out of the upper lip. The fish should still be able to open and close its mouth.

• Through the Back: Insert the hook point just below the dorsal fin through the meaty part of the back. Be careful not to go too deep, as this can injure the bait’s spine and vital organs. Push the hook through so it is securely anchored in the back without impeding the bait's natural movement.

• Through the Middle: For worms or leeches, insert the hook point into the middle part of the body, threading the hook through the central segment. Avoid piercing the digestive tract to keep the bait alive longer. For small fish, insert the hook point just behind the dorsal fin, through the fleshy part of the back, ensuring it does not damage the spine or vital organs.

• Through the Dorsal Fin: Insert the hook point just in front of or behind the dorsal fin, through the fleshy part of the back. Be careful not to go too deep to avoid damaging the spine or vital organs. It should not hinder the fish’s ability to swim.

• Through the Shell: Insert the hook point through a soft spot on the side of the shell, typically near the back leg or the carapace (top shell). Avoid the center of the shell, as this could kill the bait.

• Through the Tail: Insert the hook point through the upper part of the tail, just below the dorsal edge. Be careful not to go too close to the base of the tail fin to avoid damaging vital structures. The hook point should not restrict movement.

• Through the Mantle: Insert the hook point through the top part of the mantle (the main body section above the head and tentacles) near the base, avoiding the vital organs inside. The hook should pass through the thick part of the mantle.

• Through the Head: For fish, insert the hook point through the hard part of the head, typically just in front of the dorsal fin or through the nostrils. Ensure it goes through a bony part that can hold the hook securely. For shrimp, insert the hook through the base of the head, avoiding the dark spot (the shrimp's brain) to keep it alive longer.

• Through the Thorax: Insert the hook point through the side of the thorax (the middle part of its body between the head and abdomen). The hook should pass through the thick part of the thorax.

Presenting your live bait effectively is key to enticing your target fish and increasing your chances of a successful catch. Our top four tips to help you get the most out of your live bait are:

• Tailor Your Bait to Your Target Species: Different fish species have different preferences, so choose your bait accordingly. For example, if you’re targeting bass, opt for minnows or shiners. For catfish, try using worms or small fish. Research the dietary habits of your target species to select the most appealing bait.

• Use Scent Attractants: Enhance the appeal of your live bait by using scent attractants. These can be natural oils, gels, or sprays that mimic the scent of prey. Applying a scent attractant to your bait can make it more irresistible to fish, especially in murky waters where visibility is low.

• Keep Your Bait Active and Lively: Ensure that your bait remains as lively as possible. Live bait that moves naturally is more likely to attract predatory fish. Hook your bait in a way that allows it to swim freely, and avoid handling it too much to keep it vigorous.

• Match the Hook Size to Your Bait: Use a hook size that is appropriate for the size of your bait fish. A hook that is too large can hinder the bait's movement, while a hook that is too small may not secure the bait properly.

There are nearly endless live bait options out there, but some are more common than others because they’re reliable, effective, and versatile. To help you start fishing with live bait, we’ve broken down the most common types of live bait and their uses below.

Fishing with live bait is an age-old technique that can bring a whole new level of excitement and success to your fishing adventures. With these tips and a bit of patience, you're well on your way to reeling in some impressive fish. If you need to stock your tackle box before your next outing, check out the wide selection of fishing gear and equipment available at Academy Sports + Outdoors!