from the Missouri Department of Conservation
action.
Generally, use as light tackle as you can. Holding your bait on
the bottom of a pond on a calm day, for example, doesn’t require
a large sinker. One or two split shot will do, and the lighter
Filling the reel spool
Follow the instructions that come with your reel and line before
start. Tie one end of the line to your reel spool with an overhand
knot, and then reel it on. Most spools of line come with
The reel is full when the wrapped line is about 1/16 of an inch
from the outside edge of the spool. Don’t allow knots in your line,
cast.
How a drag works
with light lines.
point of the line is reached.
making a clicking sound. Learn to recognize when the drag is
Similarly, use a small, streamlined
bobber and balance it with enough
pull your bobber down without much
resistance.
What you should use for bait also
after. The best all-around bait is
probably a worm or a part of a night
crawler, both of which will catch
larger species. Hook the worm
part of a night crawler and run the
hook through it. Keep baits fresh.
With few exceptions, fresh bait will
attract more bites than old bait.
one of the following:
• Fish
•
• Worms
• Insects
• Frogs and other amphibians
Live bait
responsibly and don’t dump unused bait into Missouri waters.
The following live or processed baits work well:
• Fish
• Crickets and grasshoppers
• Worms
•
Other baits
The following food-based items work well as bait:
• Cheese
• Hot dogs
• Chicken livers
• Stink bait (a fermented mix of cheese, chicken livers,
• Dough bait
Run the end of the line through the eye of a hook about 6” and
rotate the hook about ten half-turns. The doubled line between
twist and the hook eye.
Bring the tag end of the line back through the loop made by the
it helpful to use the
to help you guide the end
through the loop.
Pull on both the line and
the tag end to tighten the
knot and shut it up to the
eye. The knot will come
together more smoothly if
you moisten the line with
saliva before tightening.
Trim the tag end about
1/4” away from the knot.
Don’t expect bluegills, for example, to eat a big minnow or
Bait and lure suggestions
crankbaits, jigs, minnows, night crawlers,
plastic worms, spinnerbaits
dough balls, worms; usually do not strike
cheese, stink baits, worms; occasionally take
crankbaits or jigging spoons
jigs, minnows, small crankbaits, spinners, worms
bucktail spinners, large minnows, oversize plugs
crankbaits, jigging spoons, jigs, minnows, night
crawlers
Fish
Bass
Bluegill
Carp
Crappie
Muskellunge
Trout
Walleye
Missouri Department
of Conservation
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180
www.MissouriConservation.org
/www.MissouriConservation.org