How to Bait a Hook with a hot dog
Hot Dogs Are Very Good Artificial Bait
Hot dogs are well-known as catfish bait, but hot dogs are very effective for many different kinds of fish. These meaty, salty morsels are tempting for many meat-eating fish and they are always available in a grocery store. Some people like to let their hot dogs rot or ferment so they are extra stinky to attract fish. Go ahead and let them get stinky, but they should work just fine even if they are right out of the grocery store.
How to Bait the Hook
Baiting the hook properly is key when using any type of bait. Bait that falls off of the hook is a waste of time and money. You want to bait the hook so that the bait does not fall off, but the hook’s point is exposed. Use this technique with a hot dog, by burying the “shank” (long part) of the hook deep in the hot dog, including the eye of the hook, while the point of the hook sticks out to hook the fish.
Best Hooks for Artificial Bait
Good hooks are key to success. Gobs of artificial “dough” baits (including hot dogs) work because of their scent, so you want a hook with a wide “gap” that allows for plenty of bait on the shank. Weedless hooks are an option in thick vegetation, but you usually let dough baits sit in the water and release scent instead of reeling through weeds and structure.
Gamakatsu wide-gap hooks are excellent for holding dough bait like hot dogs, power bait, or artificial catfish bait.
Mustad treble hooks are great for holding dough baits and hot dogs, but make sure treble hooks are legal where you are fishing. Make sure the bait is on the shank and the hooks are exposed.
Berkley wide-gap weedless hooks are great for gobs of dough bait, hot dogs, and power bait. Drop the bait down into thick vegetation or structure where the fish are waiting, and let the bait do the work.
