A weighted keeper having an elongated cylinder and a plurality of protrusions thereon. The plurality of protrusions may comprise a wide variety of different shapes and configurations for maintaining bait on the weighted keeper. In one embodiment, a weighted keeper with conical barbs may be disposed about a pin or wire to support live bait or an artificial dressing. The keeper wire may provide a keeper eye at one end of the weighted keeper and a wire tip at the opposing end of the weighted keeper. The keeper eye may be attached to the eye of any fishhook known within the art and the wire tip may assist in piercing and mounting the bait onto and about the surface of the weighted keeper. The attached bait is provided with beneficial performance characteristics that more accurately mimic or replicate the movement of live bait fish.
