Bait Fish – How to Hook Minnows to Catch Walleye

If you are a walleye fisherman using baitfish 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 minnows you are using
• the size of the walleyes you are targeting
• whether you are going to use live bait

Some of the most common live bait that anglers use to catch walleye on a regular basis are 2 1/2″ to 4 inch fathead minnows or shiners.

To hook bait fish for walleye fishing use hooks from a number 8 to a number 2 size with a short shank.

Circle hooks make great bait fish hooks for walleyes.

Here are the Best Hooking Methods for Live Bait

• Hook your walleye minnows through the lips. Push the hook from the bottom up.
• Hook your baitfish through the snout. Hooking through the snout will leave more of the hook exposed especially the barb tip, which is very important when you 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.