Legality/technique question

[cruiser1234]

Hit up Farrington on Tuesday. Came away with a trout and nice perch, few smaller ones as well. But my step dad also caught a pike. About 20 inches 3ish pounds. He caught the pike on a trout hook! Right where we were catching the perch. I'm guessing it may have been coming to get a perch saw the shiner an went after that instead. My question is if I catch a small perch, sunny, etc. that's in season and of legally size can I re hook it and use it as bait and if so how would you rig that up? Weigh it to the bottom? Let it swim free? Wounded it? Where would you hook it? Any advice/ info would be appreciated.