Hook type/size/diameter...sorry...

[buzbunni]

I know this info is on the site somewhere...but I can't seem to find it.

I'm at the store(which doesn't seem to carry an ample, nor adequate supply of cat-type hooks), and it occurs to me that I need some more information on what hooks to load up on.

Do you all use the 2X, 4x strength hooks? Man they are thick! I don't want a hook to straighten, but these things seem like they could pull up a truck. When should I consider using them? Or should I?

I know Mr. Steele mentioned he only uses circle hooks for channels, and(if I recall correctly) Kahle or O'shaughnessy style for the flats. Agree? I've never tried the circles, but I'm going to try them this year; we'll see what happens. I want to be prepped for channels as well as flatheads.

Pandoras box is open(again) for all who want to give advice on hook size/strength, et al.

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SERIOUSLY! It was THIS big!

[Fisher Dave]

The best advice I can give without going into a long story...

Match your hook size to the size of your bait... whether you are using a 1" chunk of meat, or a 2 lb sucker.

When using live bait be sure to use the lightest wire hook possible, without getting too wimpy to avoid killing your bait prematurely.

good luck

[Dennis Steele]

Dave sums it up pretty good.

I have never used a 2X or better hook.I beleive that the large diameter hooks cause a lot of damage to your bait,thus killing it sooner.You don't want a dead bait.I haven't had that many hooks straighten out on a fish.

You are right about the hooks I use for each species.It is just my preference.

I do however use Kahle or wide gap hooks for channels also.They are good hooks when fishing with liver.You can wrap a lot of liver on them. I typically use 4/0 when fishing with liver.
Flatheads on the other hand I always go with a 7/0.I only use them when hooking my bait in the dorsal or lower on the tail.I strat by putting the hook at an angle from the tail to the head so that when the hook is set in the bait the point is pointed toward the tail.If the hook has an offset make sure the point is pointed up and not back against the bait.I try to hook the bait as lightly as I can just under the skin.This prevent you from doing to much damage to your bait(killing it) and allow the bait to pop free when you set the hook.Got to get the hook out of the bait an into the fishes mouth.

You can also use O Shaugnessey hook int the dorsal or tail but I think they are best when hooking a bait in the mouth.I hook only through the upper lip so that the bait can open and close its mouth to get oxygen to its gills.You can suffocate your bait by hooking it through both lips.I like sizes up to 10/0 but typically use hooks in the 6/0 or 7/0 range.

Octopus Hooks are also a very good choice.For flats I like larger 4/0 all the ay up to 8/0.For channels I like hooks any where from 2/0 to 4/0.Depends on the size of the fish I am catching.

And of course the circle hooks.I like wide gap or Nautalis circles.There is more throat on these hooks.You need to go a couple sizes larger with circles.I use 4/0 to 6/0 for cut bait.If your going to try them for flatheads go with largest ones wide gap circles you can find.

[Canuck]

I use Eagle Claw 2/0 Wide Bend. I find the wide bend helps preventing hooking up in the eye of the kitties. The Eagle Claw has a slight twist and it seems to really help hooking up in those hard mouthed kitties. I use only cut bait and frogs (when in their migration) so don't really care about the hook type for live bait.

No matter what hook U use they have to be SHARP. I put a file to every hook after any bite, do matter if a hook up or not.

In Manitoba it is the law that any kitty over 24" must be released and is amazing how many kitties we find with hooks still in their mouths, (forget about the barbs not being pinched) as somebody has been using stainless steel hooks. These hooks don't seem to disolve. For this reason I will NOT use any style, shape or make that is stainless.

[korn_fish]

I never use the 2X, 4X or whatever they are. I have to admit that I bought some through online and catalogs when I was looking for big 10/0 and bigger hooks. When the hooks arrived, they went right in the dumpster because they were way too thick.

I use 5/0 - 7/0 Kahle Mustad hooks that Dennis mentioned for flatheads in 99% of my situations.

3/0 - 5/0 Gamakatsu hooks worked well for me as well for cut bait, but I liked the placement that I was getting in the fishes mouth better with the mustad kahles. 10/0 Gammakatsu Octopus hooks are great as well and are the thinnest 10/0 hook that i have found if you want a large thin hook for large baits.

I haven't been sold on circles yet as I can't even remember ever "gut" hooking a cat. But I have used them on occasion when I use my Berkley Reflex rod as a make shift limb line rig.

[Canuck]

Gut hook on a wide bend??????? I have never had a gut hook on them. Mind U I never let the kitties run before setting the hook.

[DARK30]

I like that "limb line" analogy Korn! That's basically what circle hooks do....hook the fish so you don't have to. I will use them once in a while (for channels) and I do have an assortment in the box but I like holding the rod and feeling them strike more so. I've been using worm hooks of all things and they have been working well for me for both channels and Flatheads.

I like the Gamagatsu G-Mag for the live bait and smaller versions of the same for cut bait and crawlers. I'm gonna try those new Gama Big River Hooks this year too. Nothing wrong with the octopus style hooks either...I guess the bottom line is, If someone is using a hook...Its the best one. If we all fished the same way for the same thing, it would a really boring river!

WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[169Sportsman]

You can't leave out the old standby Eagle Claw 084 plain jane straight shank hooks. At like 25 cents a piece they are tough to beat. Especially if u fish like i do and lose a hook to a snag like every third cast. Wait a minute what am i saying i make way more money on the $4.00 packs of hooks, Ozzy's gonna yell at me for this one.

Tom

[buzbunni]

Lots of good advice as always. Thanks for the pics Dennis.

I tend to keep a pretty active(some would say anal) watch/feel on my line, and I like to set the hook myself as well. I guess I hadn't fished for cats enough to know whether or not an angler needed to let the fish run with the bait. I HATE gut hooking anything.

Fished with the FishinLogician this weekend on the MN river, and he caught the first channel for this team. Just a couple of taps, real light bite. The bait clicker was set as light as it could go and didn't even budge. He was using a circle hook and "set" the hook as intended. It worked as advertised, but if I can set the hook in the traditional way, I'd much prefer to do so.

Being that we seem to catch about one fish a day , we haven't pinched down the barbs on any hooks, but I'm all for it. It seems the way a cat(o.k., THE cat...channel only)fights the barb thing is not a big issue?

See you on the river!

(printing...)

p.s. Tom, it appears you have a store on 169 in Belle Plaine? Send me an e-mail with the location. I'd be happy to give you some bidness when I'm down that way(which will be very soon).

[email protected]

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SERIOUSLY! It was THIS big!

[This message has been edited by buzbunni (edited 04-26-2004).]

[simplefish]

Last year I used a lot of stink bait and tubes for channels, coupled with 3/0 circles for channels, wide gap if I could find them. I tried the eagle claw ones and found that they don't have enough "circle" and still ended up gut hooking fish. But VMC and Daiichi makes good ones. With cut bait though I like a good kahle or shiner hook. And I always pinch the barb.

[icehousebob]

My sons had to drag me into using circle hooks for channel cats. I was too used to the big hook set. Now, I use a rod with a soft tip and stick it down through the armrest on my canvas folding chair. I don't touch it until the cat tries to drag the chair into the river. Then, just start reeling.

[Lost]

There's a lot of great information here. I'm glad you all shared it.