What rig is best for live bait?

When drifting down a river with live bait, a three-way rig is best for catching trout. You can use a swivel or tie loop knots for the two leader lines. The shorter line (about 3 inches long) holds a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce bell sinker; a second 18-inch leader has a #10 or #12 hook for worms or salmon eggs.

Should I use a sinker with live bait?

Use a split-shot rig with a sinker. To keep the live bait at an appropriate depth and control the line for the kind of fish you want to catch, it’s usually common to rig your line up with a split-shot sinker to weight things down.

How do you keep live bait off your bottom?

Start off by securing a small hook to your line by using a strong knot. Then, pinch a couple split sinkers roughly 6-14 inches above your hook. Using a set of pliers to secure each split shot tightly to your line will help prevent weights from sliding around.

How much weight should I use for live bait?

Bottom Line Any extra weight simply makes it harder to feel a fish bite, and much more difficult to cast. Cranking a 12-ounce weight up from 130 feet of water after you lose your bait gets real old, real quick. If 4 or 6 ounces will get your bait down, it means a lot less wear and tear on your arms and shoulders!

What size hooks for live bait?

Best for Live Minnows and Leeches, the short shank with a wide gap on an Octopus hook is great for hooking large fish. Use a smaller #6 or #4 for 1-2″ minnows and small leeches to target Perch and Crappie. Use the medium size #4 & #2 on larger 3-4″ minnows and jumbo leeches for Walleye.

How do you fish saltwater with live bait?

Shrimp are common live bait, which means they can be eaten by anything while they’re on your line, but if you have some readily available in murky waters they make easy bait for Redfish. Just pinch off the tail or head, hook it on the line and cast it out to attract the fish to the scent.