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Keeping Live Bait on the hook

3K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  twaskom 
#1 ·
Hey Everyone,

I've been having a heck of a time with my live bait (bullheads, sunnies and bluegills) coming off the hook. Last night I had 3 rigs where either the bait got stripped off the hook or came off casting (it was dark so I couldn't see if it flung off....pretty sure it didn't though).

I hooked the bullhead behind the dorasal fin, same with the blue gill and hooked the sunny through the nose thinking it wouldn't come off. I was using 8/0 J hooks.

I thought maybe I got turtled, but figured either my clicker would have gone off or there would be half a chomped fish left on.

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!
 
#5 ·
I would call it a "medium" cast, between 15- 30 yds from the bank. I try real hard to lob the cast as I lost lots of bluegills when I started out last summer. I've been trying out hooking them deeper into the body so they don't tear off.

I'll try the stopper method next go around. I'm taking 2 weeks off as I've been skunked my last 3 outings and the water is super low. Time to find new bait and to do some more research.
 
#7 ·
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I find the actual program better that Tapatalk.
 
#9 ·
I wouldn't think with a lob type cast that you would be throwing the live bait off. Especially when using a bullhead. Might just try going during the day to see what is happening.

good luck
 
#14 ·
I am thinking if these baits are coming off during casting, they are not getting past that barb on an 8/0 hook. Generally when you cast and lose a bait the hook has been ripped out. Using a stopper would be a good way to check on what is happening but a fishes skin is very tough, especially a bullhead's skin. I would be interested in figuring out what is happening.
 
#15 ·
Went out last night and tried a bait stopper on my hook. Took a plastic bass worm and cut small chunks off, put live bait on and ran the plastic worm chunk on the hook.

Worked a lot better, still lost 2 baits. (1 was because I had my spoll tension too tight and the other was a channel cat victim).

Ended up catching this guy, which is by far my biggest flathead. My scale was broke, but I would guess around 30?

Spent a lot of time on the river, got skunked a lot, lost sleep, and got frustrated this last month. Appreciate all the help from this post and from this group in general. Feels good to finally land a decent one.
Catfish Fish Leg Recreation Bass
 
#16 ·
Went out last night and tried a bait stopper on my hook. Took a plastic bass worm and cut small chunks off, put live bait on and ran the plastic worm chunk on the hook.

Worked a lot better, still lost 2 baits. (1 was because I had my spoll tension too tight and the other was a channel cat victim).

Ended up catching this guy, which is by far my biggest flathead. My scale was broke, but I would guess around 30?

Spent a lot of time on the river, got skunked a lot, lost sleep, and got frustrated this last month. Appreciate all the help from this post and from this group in general. Feels good to finally land a decent one. View attachment 314134
Kyle; Thats a great catch!!! Good Job!!!! If you use the rubber donuts that I talk about in my thread I think you will see that they will keep bait on the hook better than the soft plastic worm material. The rubber donuts fit the hook tight and will not slip at all. When you use the rubber donuts the bait is there to stay, and the only way the bait can tear off the hook is if the bait is soft...not fresh....in that case the bait may rip, but the donut will not budge, and depending on how soft the bait is, the donut may even keep a softer bait on the hook as well.
 
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