how do you hook blue gills / crawdads for bass?

How are you hooking blue gills and crawdads for bass fishing?  I have tried to hook blue gills through the face, inbetween the eyes but never had any luck.  I have also tried crawdads through the tail so they would travel backwards (pinchers away) without any results. 

I used to hook the Bluegills on the back right behind the dorsal fin.  Theys stay active and alive for a long time.

Behind the dorsal near the tail.

I used to hook the Bluegills on the back right behind the dorsal fin.  Theys stay active and alive for a long time.

Same method, Love using them for Striped bass around Rio Vista. As far as the Crawdad I do it on the tail or in the middle, depends but I usually use bobber sliping knot on it.

Ive hooked crawdads under the first plate coming off the main body. Just slide it under carfuly. They will come off after a bit this way and sometimes you injure them tho. I now go thru the beak between the eyes in the hard part of the face. Hook pointed up. Stay on much longer and doesnt hurt them at all.

I use the thru the beak method but have a lot more success with River2sea Stand'n Yabbie.

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