how do you best use launce as bait ????

[steol5589]

i already made a post trying to find out how to hook sandeels best, and got some very good responses with an extremely helpful video by alan yates. i got the hang of putting them on a hook fairly quickly. i went out feathering for mackeral and caught about 5 big launce so i brought them home and froze them to use as bait. when i tried to put them on the hook, using the same method as sandeels, tail and head off and thread the hook through the tail end, i found it impossible due to the larger size of the launce. my question is how do u best get launce on a hook for bait, everybodys suggestions appreciated.

[saving private brian]

ive used launce and wouldnt put it on whole on a 1/0 or 2/0,,,if i was it fillet it or cut it up into sections to suit the hook size,,,if you wanted to use it whole put it on a pulley pennel etc for big rays or bass

[evan699]

You can use fillets but if you want to use them whole, the way i do it is cut the head and tail off, pass the hook into the fish where the tail used to be, push it out through the skin about an inch down the body, pull hook out of the fish so the launce is threaded up the hook snood, then pass the hook back into the skin about an inch from where the head used to be and back out through the end of the bait so the hook is where all the blood and scent is. Whip the lot with bait elastic. The same method can be used if using a pennel. Just nick the pennel hook into the fish back up where the tail was. Hope this makes sense. Hard to explain.

[thebigman]

First thing I'd do on the boat is chuck it back down as a livebait, can be deadly. But the other posts describe the deadbait usage perfectly. Basically treat them the same as blueys.