Live Bait

• 1). Select a 6- to 7-foot, medium-action rod paired with a reel spooled with 4- to 8-pound-test monofilament fishing line.
  
  
• 2). Cut a 36- to 48-inch piece of fishing line to use as your live-bait rig leader.
  
  
• 3). Slide a walking-style sinker onto the main fishing line. The sinker must be heavy enough to keep the rig on the bottom. In calm conditions and in water less than 10 feet deep, a 1/4-ounce sinker works well. In deeper water, a 1/2-ounce sinker or larger is better.
  
  
• 4). Tie the main fishing line to one end of a barrel swivel, and the leader to the other end of the swivel. Attach these lines to the swivel with a Palomar knot.
  
  
• 5). Attach a size-2, -4 or -6 hook to the end of the leader. Size-2 hooks are best if you are fishing with minnows. Size-4 hooks are good for night crawlers, and size-6 hooks are best for leeches.
  
  

Artificial Bait

• 1). Select a 6.5- to 7-foot, medium- or medium-heavy action rod. Pair it with a reel loaded with 8-pound-test monofilament line.
  
  
• 2). Tie a snap swivel to the end of the line using a Palomar knot.
  
  
• 3). Snap a crank bait onto the snap swivel with the metal eye on the bait. Choose a crank bait that runs slightly deeper than the depth of the water. The bait attracts fish as the lip digs into the bottom sediment.