How to Rig a Bead Chain on Bait

Bead chain rigging a bait fish foils rear striking game fish.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Rigging needle
• Bead chain with hook
• Copper wire
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Hold the bait fish, belly up, in one hand.

2. Place a finger on the belly of the bait fish, at the base of the fin located near the fish's head (pelvic fin). Apply pressure downward and slide your finger toward the anal fin located near the tail of the bait fish, removing the contents of the bait fishes stomach and bowels. Repeat until no material pushes from the fish's anal vent.

3. Break the bait fish's spine at multiple points by pressing hard on the fish's back with a finger or bending the fish from side-to-side. Multiple break points in the spine produce a natural movement for the bead chain rigged bait.

4. Rinse the bait fish with water.

5. Push the point of the rigging needle into the anal vent and out the fish's mouth, leaving the hook end of the rigging need protruding from the bait fish's anal vent. You can reverse the procedure by threading the hook end of the rigging needle into the mouth of the bait and pushing it through its anal vent.

6. Slide the eyelet of the bead chain onto the hook of the rigging needle.

7. Pull the point of the rigging needle toward the mouth of the bait fish. Move slowly to keep the bead chain on the rigging needle.

8. Cut a 12-inch piece of copper wire with the wire cutters.

9. Push the copper wire through both eyes of the bait fish, pull the wire toward the fish's mouth and tie the fish's mouth closed by either wrapping the wire around the mouth with ballyhoo or with the rigging needle with small-mouthed bait fish.

10. Rinse the bait fish to complete the bead chain rig.