Spinner Blade and Bead Loop-hole for fishing trebles

[bobber_down_1979]

Don't get me wrong, if I fish a treble I follow the regs and add the blade and beed. Just curious though, do you really think a conservation officer would fine you if you did not have it on. For example if you using a tip-up, it is pretty clear your not snagging. I suppose it is kind-a a pointless question, but just curious. Anybody ever get fined for it?

[Boar]

I also think the spinner an bead has to be within so many inches of the trebble to be considered a lure. And yes a Con. Off. would ticket you. Why not, you would be breaking a rule.

[Steve Foss]

I agree that tip-ups would be a low odds way to snag fish.

I've not seen or heard of anyone getting fined over it, but I've got to believe tickets have been written. It's there on the books, so you know a C.O. will write you up if he/she thinks its warranted.

[PerchJerker]

Years ago I was tying up a 2-hook spinner harness in my boat when a CO pulled up. We were chatting away and he saw the 2 hooks I had snelled together (they were laying on the floor in my boat) and he told me it wasn't legal to use like that. I showed him the beads and blade I was getting ready to put on and he said good. I wasn't using it yet and didn't even have it tied to a fishing rod, but he obviousely saw it and knew about the law.

[matthothand]

I think that's a rediculous question. C'mon man..

[bobber_down_1979]

I think that's a rediculous question. C'mon man..

Really? Looks like others have found it worth discussing.

[Gus]

I think this answer tends to vary from one CO to the next. I've been checked and been warned by one and the other said it was fine. However, since the first time I tried circle hooks for pike, I've been hooked. Once getting the hang of letting the fish set the hook on themselves, I've had much better hook up percentages than using even a quick strike rig. Just putting this out there as another option for you. Easy hook outs too. Most of the time right in the corner of the mouth and away from those razor sharp teeth.

[huskie0302]

When you use those circle hooks, what size do you normally use? How do you set them up??? I'm curious because i'm not a big fan of using trebel hooks in the first place. Thanks

[Steve Foss]

When you use those circle hooks, what size do you normally use? How do you set them up??? I'm curious because i'm not a big fan of using trebel hooks in the first place. Thanks

A circle hook is set up the same way as any other hook. When the fish runs away with the bait all the way down its mouth and you slowly tighten the line, the hook turns, moves along the inside of the side jaw toward the lips, and works its way into the corner of the mouth over 90 percent of the time.

It just takes some getting used to. Best to tighten the line on a running fish, and you can't give it a big jerk or the hook will bounce out pretty often without grabbing the corner of the mouth. For pike with decent sized deadbaits, a 2/0 to 4/0 is often about right, but different styles of circle hooks look a bit different and seem to be sized somewhat differently.

Some don't use steel leader material when using circle hooks for deadbait winter pike, but I would. If you tie the line directly to the hook, those teeth can still cut it as the hook works its way along the mouth. I might tie directly if I had pretty heavy superbraid, like 50lb, but with mono I wouldn't. And pike show absolutely no reluctance to take/hold baits when steel leader material is used.

Just the way I look at it.

[Gus]

I couldn't tell you exactly what size circles I use as I don't have any packaging anymore. I do go at least 1 size larger than I would with a standard hook. I fish a split shot about 2 foot above the hook and about a 3 to 4 foot leader. Usually fish halfway down the water column when in less than 15 feet of water. Over 15 feet I go 6feet off the bottom and sometimes try one right under the ice.

I do not use steel leaders, I use 25-50lb fluorocarbon leader material. Pline CFX leader to be exact. I can't remember the last bite off I had. I do retie if I get any kind of knick in the line. To be fair to the steel leader guys, the lakes I normally fish do not hold abundances of over 36" fish.

I may try dead bait this year, normally I just go with large shiners or suckers.