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Home / Fishing / How to Fish / Bridle A Bait

Bridle A Bait

Jan 17, 2017 by Capt. Scott Goodwin

Bridling live baits is nothing new to the fishing world, but is still very localized in geographical zones.

The benefit is a quick way to attach a bait to the hook that is very secure and allows free motion of the bait. It does not close the mouth or hinder the enticing quiver of a live fish.

Often used to attach a circle hook, the method can be used on other hook styles. A little practice helps you perform the operation quickly, thus ensuring the survival of the subject, at least till he is eaten.

Bridle Baits

Let’s get started. Match the loop material to the size of the bait you will be using. I use a medium rigging floss for most normal sized baits. You could also use dacron.

Pull off a length of rigging floss, but don’t cut it, as we will put a series of loops in a row and then come back and cut them free from the chain.

bridle fish

Now make a surgeon’s loop in the doubled floss and pass the loop through the knot three times before cinching tight. Less than three passes can pull out later. The length of the loop depends on the size of the bait, but an average size would be a finished loop about thee inches long.

rigging bridle

Continue to make these loops down the length of floss. Make extra while you’re at it and then snip them free with scissors just below the knot.

Fish Bait

Now take your pre-sharpened hooks and lay them across the floss loop. Make sure the knotted end of the floss loop is up by the hook and pass the un-knotted end through the middle opening of the loop. The knot in the floss should end up against the hook so that it does not get pulled through the bait.

offshore bridle

Go ahead and load plenty of hooks with loops ahead of time and then when you tie a hook to your leader, it will be ready to attach to the bait.

bridle baits

You will need a bait needle and there are several styles. The goal is to thread the floss loop through the forward part of the bait’s eye socket. Don’t poke him through the eyes because that would be mean…. and reduce his friskiness.

Fish Bait

Practice will help provide speed and the quicker you can get from bait tank to ocean, the better your bait will perform. Have the needle hooked to the floss before you pull out the bait. Then pass the needle in front of the eyes, pulling the floss loop with it.

wiggle of fish

Now that the loop is through, hold it down so that the wiggle of the fish doesn’t pull it back out. You are done with the needle now, so set it somewhere safe and handy.

Bait fishing

Now you pass the point of the hook through the loop on the opposite side of the fish.

fish hook

Next you will begin to twist the hook, which will take up the slack in the floss and draw the hook towards the bait’s head.

hook for fishing

Now take up the slack until there is just enough to turn the hook and pass it under the floss on the head as the picture shows.

finished bridle

Now the finished bridle will give a very durable, but flexible connection to your bait. It is used for slow trolling, kite fishing and bottom dropping.

finished bridle

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Capt. Scott Goodwin

Capt. Scott Goodwin

Capt. Scott Goodwin started fishing in the lakes of Kentucky where he grew up. A move to Florida, however, brought him into a whole new realm of fishing. After receiving a bachelor's degree in biology from Eckerd College, he decided that he liked catching fish more than studying them and thus began his career as a captain. Scott began working as a mate on a charter boat and worked his way up to captain. He has been fortunate to fish in some of the top locations on the globe, including Florida, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and the Bahamas. Scott has learned from some of the best captains in the sport and has more than 29 years experience as a professional fisherman. He openly shares his knowledge and fishing tips on BD. Scott is now the editor of BDOutdoors.

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