Rattle reel set up

[Chumba]

So we missed 8 bites last week, I am definitely a little frustrated. Is it a smart move to switch to treble hooks on the reels instead of a plain single hook? Should I switch half of them in my house and see how it goes? And split shot, 1-2 feet above? Would higher make a difference? Thanks for any tips!!

[chrishalvy]

I'm not positive, but since I've never heard of anyone using a Treble hook on a rattle reel, that it may be frowned upon....

[tunrevir]

I"d first check the hook for sharpness. Are you fishing with a large enough hook for the bait and the fish you are after? Experiment with the amount of time you are letting the fish have the bait. Up on Red earlier this year, I was having a devil of a time with walleyes taking shiners and just holding them and had to give them extra time to swallow the bait before setting the hook. Once I gave them a little extra time, my hooking percentage went up. Another option would be using circle hooks but it takes a bit of getting used to not setting the hook but just using a steady pull to bring in fish.

Tunrevir~

[Hawg]

Could be small walleyes or perch.

[bk_MN_iceman]

I've put a treble hook (buckshot, etc...) on a rattle reel before. give it a little jig every now and then and let it swim with a decent fat head on it. Have caught fish on it as well.

[chrishalvy]

He said he was thinking of just using a treble hook.

Is that legal?

I know its legal if you use a lure with a treble hook. But what about just a plain treble hook with a shiner/fathead?

[minnbowhunter]

Just a plain treble hook with live bait is not legal. I use a Jimmy Rig. Never miss.

[chrishalvy]

If you throw a blade on there, is it now considered a lure?

[scott b]

Isn't that a new rule this season with the defined How many hooks to a rig? I'll look it up.

[scott b]

Yup Page 9 of the New Regs. Trebles are now legal. No need for a spinner. Says nothing about spinners anymore. Does mention the quick strike rig use of multiple hooks (treble). Bout Time!

I will still use a single hook over a treble. This was our choice when I lived in WI and fished tipups for Walleye. Many more hookups on a single hooked shiner.

[EJ]

Trebles are legal now. You may also want to try a SMALLER hook not a larger one when having hook up problems.

[dougger222]

For live bait I run regular hooks and a split shot. When running 6-8in suckers use a size 4 hook.

[chrishalvy]

gamakatsu octopus

Favorite color: chartreuse

Size 6

[Stick in Mud]

You're not the only one who misses fish on a rattle reel...I've missed one or two in my life.

That being said, sharp hooks, properly sized, will do a lot. And sometimes you need to give them a bit of line; I always wait until the bobber gets under the ice (unless there's 24'' of it). And as someone else said, it's very possible that you were missing small fish, though it's tough to know until you catch one.

[KING]

try the vmc suresets, kind of best of both worlds, u can catch the episode of IDO where they are using them under tip ups.