Need some advice from seasoned anglers: How should I rig/hook live bait (bluegill, etc.) for distance casting? I typically use a 3/0 to 5/0 circle hook on a 2 foot leader below a sinker slide (Fishfinder Rig) and sometimes the live bait comes off the hook when cast. Any advice on better ways to hook the bait?

Thanks everybody!

Years ago when I lived on the coast there was a surf casting rig that clipped the hook down by the weight. When it hit the water it released the hook and bait making it like a three way swivel rig. Keeping the bait and weight together while casting creates less drag and gets more distance. Cant remember what they were called but search some surf casting sites and they will give you lots of ideas on casting distances.

Did a quick search and found it...Breakaway Tackle in Corpus Christi...has some good videos on the site.

I usually only keep mine alive when fishing for flatheads. For flatheads I use a #10 circle hook and a 6" bluegill. Hook the sunfish through the lower lip and out the top lip so the hook is pointing back toward the main line. Clip one of the pectoral fins so he swims crazy. Longer rod the better for casting. Get it into some bone if you really gotta sling it. You are limited on distance if you want to keep him lively for long. I fish Texoma floodgate for monsters from time to time but we always use 1.5 lb drum or 12-14 in river shad. Hook em with #10 circle hook in bottom lip through top bone with a #10 stinger hook in the tail. Works for me and my buddies.

Hook them twice .

Got to playing around the other day and built a bait canon ,probably not real good for live bait but will get your bait out there. Depending on bait and weight size I believe I can get 150 to 200 yards.i will have a quick video of a test fire up in a few.

Video is not loading! I will figure it out later, sorry guys.

Balloon fising is another great way to get your line WAY out there. Just setup on side of lake with tail wind and blow up a regular party balloon. Tie ballon to a 3 way swivel. Use large circle hook and a live blue gill that you cut lightly on sides to make it bleed to give off scent as it drifts. Or large shad head or whole 6 to 8 inch shad works great for bait. I setup up so bait sits about 6-7 feet underwater depending on lake depths and use a small weight to keep it down in heavy winds. If you have 400 to 500 yards of line you can cover alot of ground and land some monster blue cats and others.

Hook the bait in a strong place, depending on the bait, get your weight close to the bait, a sliding weight comes to mind.....learn how to cast with your spool tension at 0, and lastly, learn to cast softly. When I say softly, I mean avoiding snapping action. It's more of a side lob. I hope that makes sense....it comes with Practice.

A long rod definitely plays a part too.

I have been practicing long distance casting with live bait for a while . I usually use 50lb shock leader on top of line i am using so there won't be any issues with line snapping cause i like using 12ft setup with 5oz weight . Make sure to double hook the bait depending on hook size you are using . Also depending on wind i like pushing bait out with baloon rig . Worked like charm at tawakoni couple of weeks ago all they were hitting on was live bait.