What exactly IS bait presentation?

**How-do-you-hook-a-penguin** · 13-03-2007, 19:25

I've heard people saying that is important. Don't quite know what is meant by it. Can someone give me an example of good bait presentation please? Much appreciated.

**GrumpyBloke** · 13-03-2007, 19:33

I think mainly putting the bait on the hook so that it doesn't move and mask the point after you cast out.Although I think some people like it to look pretty.

**lewis888** · 13-03-2007, 19:38

Originally Posted by How-do-you-hook-a-penguin

I've heard people saying that is important. Don't quite know what is meant by it. Can someone give me an example of good bait presentation please? Much appreciated.

In my book, a well presented bait should be streamlined for casting, whipped with elastic (if need be) so that it won't disintegrate when it hits the water and the hook point should be well exposed with few loose ends to prevent fish from just ripping your bait off the hooks.

You could also include things like using pennel rigs or bait stops to stop the bait just sliding around the bend of the hook. Also when using worms I prefer to have a small fat lump of (say 5) worms bound with elastic around the hook giving a compact bait as opposed to having the same 5 worms threaded in single file up the line which would result in line bites and less chance of the fish hitting a hook when it takes the bait - this is my idea of bait presentation

**sallysludgebucket** · 13-03-2007, 19:41

IMHO bait presentation is the above as well as how it 'works / moves, or fished static etc. A bait nailed to the bottom will be effective for certain species at certain times of the year, tides and conditions where a moving bait popped up off the bottom, long flowing traces can be deadly for all the same reasons.

**dabcatcher** · 14-03-2007, 08:34

bait presentation......

presenting the bait your using to a fish in a way that will attract it most.

this could be 5 blacks on a 5/0 pennel. threaded neetly, pushed up together, no loose worms hanging off. streamlined for casting.

maddies .. a bunch of small rag head hooked threaded up the hook, only on the hook and lots of wriggly tails to attract the fish.

mackerel strip... below a float needs to be the right width and length matched to the species your after and simply hooked once in the wide end. hook it twice and it wont be as effective.

crab ... cut in half and whipped to the hook to form, a nice parcel. for eels pass the hok through the crab a few times and idealy no whipping.

the list could go on and on.

it really depends on the bait your using and the species your after. if your after a specific species or using a bait your not familiar with just ask here for specific advice before you go.

lots of times i see people hooking a raggy chunk of squid on a 4/0 hook for whiting. they wonder why they are missing good bites. a whiting will pull at any loose bits hanging off a hook and can get a badly threaded off a hook without getting caught. a dab or flounder will suck at loose ends of worm again pulling from thr hook. baits need to be kept neat and tidy with no loose ends apart from your small mackerel/squid tip thats right next to the hook point.

**Mike_N** · 14-03-2007, 17:49

Heres a few pics on bait presentation...

**Mike_N** · 14-03-2007, 17:51

heres a few with peeler crabs..

I usually use these as a genral rule of thumb main thing is to make sure the hook point is clearly protuding from the bait.

**John Mason** · 15-03-2007, 18:09

Pretty much that posted in the replies above. Half the time the fish don't get a look at the bait as it's dark (when night-fishing) or the water's coloured. Main points are getting the bait to where it's meant to go without it disintegrating and then when a fish has a go at it making sure it'll be hooked either when it moves off or you strike the bite.

In clear water daylight conditions it's a bit more important as some species will be hunting by sight, hence presentations like the ragworm pix above, but I wouldn't want to try casting that very far!

Cheers - John

**Mike_N** · 15-03-2007, 19:43

As john just pointed out with the ragworm pics.. you dont want to be trying to launch it very far..

When i use this for flounder Im aiming to put it only around 30 to 50 yards max.

**John Mason** · 15-03-2007, 21:32

Originally Posted by Mike_N

As john just pointed out with the ragworm pics.. you dont want to be trying to launch it very far..

When i use this for flounder Im aiming to put it only around 30 to 50 yards max.

I very much remember learning that lesson myself Mike!

Bloody good bait to use though as apart from anything else it makes you put the casts shorter - often that being the key to bagging up on yummy species instead of dogfish!

Cheers - John