Fishing for bass can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially when done with the right bait. One of the most successful types of bait for bass fishing is the minnow.
To ensure your success in catching a bass using a minnow, it’s important to know how to properly hook it.
In this article, we will provide detailed instructions on how to hook a minnow for bass fishing.
Minnow Fish as a Bait
Minnow to fishermen refers to any small fish used for bait, which may or may not be one of the members of the minnow family.
Minnows are a popular baitfish for species such as bass, bluegill, crappie, brown trout, walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge. Use minnows as bait fish when they are baited correctly.
Everyone knows that the best way to catch a fish is to use live bait. What kind of live bait should you use though?
Pros and Cons of Fishing with Minnows
Anglers often select minnows as a fish bait, but it is important to remember its advantages and disadvantages prior to using it.
Pros
• Have a lot of Variety to select from.
• You can buy it from your local pet shop when you need it.
• Can attract all types of fish.
Cons
• Illegal to utilize in some states.
• Making it alive is a challenge.
How to Hook a Minnow in Different Ways
Fishing for bass with minnows is one of the most popular and effective methods for catching these tasty fish.
Knowing how to properly hook a minnow for bass fishing can mean the difference between a successful day out on the water, or coming up empty-handed.
If you have live or dead minnows, the way you hook them encloses whether you do so with live or dead minnows alive or dead.
Follow these steps, regardless of the minnow you use.
Live Minnow
It’s tricky to hook a live minnow, because you have to be certain that you handle them carefully so they will survive. Two methods you can use for a live minnow to hook.
Lip Hooking
Let your minnow swim naturally as you throw it into the waters. To do this, hook it through the lips. Thread the hook on its lower lips first, going through its upper lips.
By hooking it on the tail of its bottlenose, the minnow can still swim even when upside down. The fish also prevents water from getting into its mouth and flowing from its gills, compromising its health.
Back Hooking
To prevent minnows from drowning, attach them to a back hook. Back hooking allows for minnows to live longer than those lip hooked. To lengthen its dive, use a sinker.
Dead Minnow
For dead bait fishing, it’s ideal to use at least 8 to 12 inches minnow. Using a smaller dead minnow will tempt your non-targeted fish.
To keep them in good form, freeze them completely, but thaw them halfway so you can still quickly hook them. If you have a new minnow on your trip, you can store it in the freezer until your next fishing trip.
A dead minnow will appear like a wounded fish that is still attractive. You may need to use a sinker to avoid it from flowing downward.
In conclusion, Fishing for bass is a popular pastime for many anglers, and one of the most common baits used to catch them is the minnow.
Knowing how to properly hook a minnow can make all the difference when it comes to successfully catching bass.
In this article, you have learned the necessary steps on how to correctly hook a minnow in order to maximize your chances of catching bass.
