If you are a walleye fisherman using bait fish as a live bait presentation is your best chance for success. There are many ways to rig bait fish for walleyes such as using a slip sinker rig with a plain hook, a slip sinker rig with a floater a slip bobber rig, a split shot rig, a jig and a minnow, a spinner rig with a slip sinker or bottom bouncer, a jigging spoon with a whole minnow, or spin rig with a minnow. The rigging method you select will depend on the size of the baitfish you are using and the size of the walleyes you are targeting, and whether you are going to use your bait fish as a live bait presentation or fish them as strips of cutbait or dead bait.
The norm walleye, saugeye , and pickerel live bait fish of choice consistently are 2 inch to 4 inch fathead minnows, shinners, madtoms daces and bluntnose minnows. The standard hook range when you are going to fish with live bait for walleye, saugeye , and pickerel ranger from a number 8 to a number two size. The type of hook that seem to work very well is the circle hook.
Hooking Methods:
* Hook your bait fish through the lips. Push the hook from the bottom up.
* Many walleye, saugeye, and Pickerel fisherman have started hooking their fathead minnows and other bait fish through the snout because it leaves more of the hook exposed and it is easier to set the hook.
* Hook your bait fish out of the gill through the back. Push a long shank hook point through the mouth out the gills and through the back. This method will hold the baitfish securely but will usually kill it.
* Hook your baitfishes through the nostrils. Slide the hook through the nostrils with the barb pointing to the side.
* Hook your baitfish through the tail. If you are going to free-lining for walleye this is the best method for hooking.
* Hook your bait fish through the back.Slide your hook through the back right behind the dorsal fin, make sure the hook back is pointing upward.
Stay tuned for some more walleye, sauger, and pickerel fishing articles on how to fish with bait fish in the future. Have a nice day ! I sincerely hope the information I have provided will help you on your next fishing trip.
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