When it comes to catching fish, the pattern of hook and how you hook your bait really does matter. For soft baits like maggots or meat, poor hooking can burst them, split them, or even cause them to fly off on the cast. Equally, if your hook point is hidden, you’ll struggle to hook anything at all. These two simple issues are exactly what led to the invention of the hair rig.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best ways to hook some of the most popular coarse fishing baits, from maggots and casters to meat and sweetcorn, so you can avoid common mistakes, improve your bait presentation, and ultimately, catch more fish.
THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU CATCH YOUR FIRST CARP.
Maggots
Wriggly and lively, maggots are a classic hookbait. They can be hooked either end, but to get the most movement and avoid bursting them, go in through the blunt end. You’ll see two tiny black dots; those are breathing tubes. Gently nick the hook between them, and you’ll keep the maggot alive and kicking. Top tip, if fishing two maggots on the hook, hook one through the pointed end the other the blunt end, this will stop them spinning like a propellor when you retrieve them on the waggler or feeder causing your line to twist up.
MAGGOTS WILL HELP YOU CATCH YOUR FIRST FISH, SO WILL THIS GUIDE.
Casters
Casters make a great bait, they are firm but soft in the middle, and the key is not to burst them. Push the hook gently through one end and out the other so the point is left showing. The gape of the hook should be wide enough to take one or even two casters, depending on the size of the bait and the fish you're targeting.
CASTERS ARE A GREAT BAIT FOR FISHING SHALLOW ON COMMERCIALS.
Worms
All types of worms can be awkward, as they writhe around and often end up masking the hook. The best method is to hook them through the ‘saddle’, just below the head. For a more robust presentation, particularly on the feeder for tench or bream, try hair-rigging segments of worm on a bait spike or quick stop. Some call it the “worm kebab”, and it works a treat.
USE ONE OF THE BEST FISHING POLES FOR FISHING WORMS.
Sweetcorn
Sweetcorn is a brilliant and simple to hook thanks to its tough skin. Hook it through the softer bottom and out the firmer part of the grain, roll it on just like a pellet. This leaves the hook point showing nicely. You can easily fit two grains on a larger hook or mount them on a bait spike for an ultra-neat setup that bigger carp can't resist.
SWEETCORN IS A GREAT BAIT FOR TENCH, LEARN HOW TO CATCH YOU FIRST TENCH.
Meat
Depending on the fat content,luncheon meat can be soft and tricky to hook. Keep your cubes uniform in size and use a big enough hook to pass cleanly through without splitting the bait and always leave the hook point showing. If you struggle with meat falling off, try punching out uniform cylinders and mounting them on a bait spike or quick stop. It’s a deadly method, especially on commercial waters.
CATCH YOURSELF A BARBEL WITH A BIG PIECE OF MEAT AND THE BEST BARBEL RODS.
Boilies
Boilies are boiled or steamed to create a firm outer skin and are specially designed to catch bigger fish. Due to this, they are difficult to side hook without splitting them and that is where the hair rig comes in. To do this, simply push a baiting needle through the bait, attach it to the loop on your hair rig and gently pull it backthrough the boilie. Once through, slide a bait stop through the hole in the loop and pull it back into the bait, so its sits flush against it to secure it. This can be done with most larger bait.
IF YOU WANT TO START CARP FISHING, YOU NEED ONE OF THE BEST FISHING BIVVIES.
