Baitholder Hook
A J-hook with one or two extra barbs cut into the shank - they grip nightcrawlers and soft bait so it doesn't ball down to the bend on the cast.
Thread a nightcrawler onto a plain hook and one hard cast sends it sliding down into a useless wad at the bend. The baitholder fixes exactly that: one or two small backward-facing barbs (baitholder slices) on the shank grip the worm along its length and hold it stretched and lively. It's the beginner's worm hook and a bank-fishing staple for good reason.
What it is
A J-hook with additional barbs slit into the shank to hold soft natural bait in place along the hook.
When to use it
Worms, cut bait, dough and other soft natural baits for panfish, catfish, trout and general bottom fishing - anywhere a bait wants to slide off.
How to rig & set it
Thread the worm up over the point and onto the shank so the baitholder barbs bite into it; leave a lively tail. Fish on bottom or under a float and set like any J-hook - firm sweep on the bite.
Sizing
J-numbering; sizes 8-1 cover most worm-and-cut-bait work.
Strengths & weaknesses
Keeps bait on through casting and short strikes, cheap, forgiving for beginners. Weakness: the shank barbs make unhooking a swallowed hook slower and rougher on released fish - use a circle for dead-sticking releases.
Common mistakes
Overloading with too much bait so the point buries, using it for catch-and-release soaking (the barbs and self-set problem), and leaving a dead stub of worm that outfishes nothing.