bait a hook

[Fishaholic]

whats the best way to bait a hook with bait fish? i like to run it threw the fishes nose or in the middle of there back by there spine and throw a half hitch in. also do stergeon take bait fish head first?  I heard some old timer talking about it and was wondering if it was the truth. if it is could i run my leader threw it and hand my hook out of the smelts mouth and throw a few half hitches on the fish?    thanks ddjj1991

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Most time they eatem head first. Hook in the head and half hitch a few times. Sounds like you are hookin up right. Wish i had a pic?

[h20hunter]

I've seen it where the hook is pushed through under the "chin" and out the top of the baits head...then half hitches are run up the body to the tail.

[jechicdr]

For smelt, I take the old strip of metal from windshield wipers and cut off the barbs.  I cut one end at an angle to make a point and the other end I bend around to form a loop.  You can then put the loop of your leader in the metal loop and run it through the mouth of the smelt, along the spine and exit the body just past where the dorsal fin is.  Pull the hook so the shank is in the mouth and the bend of the hook is exposed.  Then I tie a couple of half hitches around the tail and you are ready to go.  I am not sure if it is true, but I think sturgeon do take the bait in head first.  Of course, since I bait them this way, and a sturgeon is swimming upstream to my bait, the head is the first thing it encounters.