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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
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Not sure if this has ever been asked but I was wondering if there is a type of fish hook one could use to better there chances of fish not swallowing the hook? As my Blue's and Reds get bigger this seems to becoming a problem every now and again. Can anyone recommend a certain type of hook that will work best and or a certain type of fish hook extractor that works well?
thanks,
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 90
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 90 |
One thing I'm doing to better their chances is mashing down the barbs on the hooks. For removal when they swallow it, I use a pair of micro needle nose pliers from Craftsman.
The real secret is the barbless hook.
-RFL
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 31
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 31 |
I use barbless circle hooks for any catch and release bluegill fishing in my pond. You might have to go to bass pro or cabelas to find them, ive had trouble locating circle hooks at walmart.
1.4 acre pond, bass and bluegill, NC
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
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Our good Pond Boss friend Sunil is the real expert when it comes to removing hooks without hurting the fish. He uses these Berkeley Hook Degorgers: I've tried them a number of times in the last 50 years with limited success, yet Sunil can remove a deeply swallowed hook (serious gut-hook) in well less than a second, without injuring the fish. He's given me lessons a number of times, but I apparently just don't have the dexterity he has. Maybe the next time we're fishing together I can make a short video of his technique. Ken
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
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If you're fishing with youngsters not quick on the hookset and fishing with live bait you're looking at a high mortality rate for BGs. I too recommend circle hooks for kids BG fishing. You can buy circle hooks of any size [14 on down] from Cabelas, and maybe BPS too. I remember it wasn't easy finding them on the online catalog, so I'd just call and make the customer service rep look them up for you. Crimping down the barb on them makes them even easier on the BG, which can be easily performed with file, needle nose pliers, hemostats, etc.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
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Hey thanks everyone. I was wondering what that red dehooker was called. Thanks. I need one of those things.
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I'm partial to a small set of slightly curved hemostats. But then again I rarely deal with deep hooked fish.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Jigs are a great option as well. With such small mouths, you find the right jig size and you'll rarely have a gut hooked BG.
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Joined: May 2006
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2006
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I too like the circle hooks. A pair of needlenose or hemostats & a slight twist of the wrist & they fall of the hook back into the water.
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I wasn't sure where the best place was to post this. I've been at home today doing painting, carpet cleaning, etc., -- all of which includes waiting. I used the waiting time to try several experiments. I took a small (#6, 1/16 oz) jighead down to the pond with some of my redworms, using my ultralight rod/reel with 4# test line. I'd cast it out and let it settle. I let it really start running quite some distance before setting the hook -- kind of what the little kids do. I got 12 bluegill and all were lip hooked. Then something ferocious grabbed it. I think it was probably one of the HSB. It stole the jig and worm from the end of the line before the reel could even think about releasing some line with the light-set drag. But, as Scott (ESSHUP) suggested, jigheads don't seem to get gut hooked! Now what to do with 12 small bluegill? None were huge -- they ranged from about 4 to 7 inches. It was lunchtime. I scaled, gutted, and beheaded them. They provided a pint-and-a-half of pressure cooked euphoria. The half-pint is already gone. I expect the pint will be gone by noon tomorrow. No water. A tablespoon of vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of pickling salt in a pint jar, and 90 minutes in the pressure cooker. Ooooh, that's some good eatn'!
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
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Crimping down the barb on them makes them even easier on the BG, which can be easily performed with file, needle nose pliers, hemostats, etc. TJ....do you lose a lot of fish without the barb or do they stay on the line pretty good even without the barb? Also anyone suggest a top quality light spin-cast reel? It seems to me most of the light spincast reels are junk. And being a southern boy I just can't get used to a spinning reel.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ken, it wasn't me that suggested the jigs. Zep, I don't think you'll find a spin cast that is the quality of even a middle of the road spinning or bait casting reel. Mo practice! I learned to baitcast after fishing with spinning reels for 25 years. And, the baitcasters that I learned on didn't have a level wind option - I had to use my thumb to make the line lay level on the reel. If I can learn how to do that, I'll bet you can learn how to use a spinning reel.
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I've got 3 of the same ultra-light rod/reel combo at Academy made by Pflueger. The combo costs about $40 if I remember correctly. The rods are a little "whippy" but that makes fighting bluegills fun. IMO the reels are excellent.
I can get a model number this weekend if you are interested.
esshup, I also would rather a bait caster but is there such a thing as ultra-light bait casters for 4# line?
1 ac pond LMB, BG, RES, CC
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I've never seen mini-baitcasters like the mini-spinning reels. I've read that baitcasters will cast further than spinning reels because the spool is revolving, creating less drag on the line as it comes off the reel.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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Hall of Fame 2014
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Zep, I don't think you'll find a spin cast that is the quality of even a middle of the road spinning or bait casting reel. I'll bet you can learn how to use a spinning reel. esshup I love and have used baitcaster reels since I was about 8 years old. I'll never forget the joy on Christmas morning when I got my first Abu Garcia 5000C! But now I am looking for something light for the panfish. I have tried spinning reels several times and decided they are just not for me. They offer so many what look like quality spinning reels I suppose I could try again. I've got 3 of the same ultra-light rod/reel combo at Academy made by Pflueger. IMO the reels are excellent. I can get a model number this weekend if you are interested. Sounds interesting dj. Yeah I'd like to see the model number. I found this one last night on Bass Pro Shops. It's quite pricey but gets unGodly reviews as the best thing since sliced bread. Check out the reviews at the bottom of the page. Zebco Omega Pro @ BassProShops ps: looks like they are on e-bay cheaper/no shipping/no tax
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,799 Likes: 68
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,799 Likes: 68 |
Crimping down the barb on them makes them even easier on the BG, which can be easily performed with file, needle nose pliers, hemostats, etc. TJ....do you lose a lot of fish without the barb or do they stay on the line pretty good even without the barb? Also anyone suggest a top quality light spin-cast reel? It seems to me most of the light spincast reels are junk. And being a southern boy I just can't get used to a spinning reel. Keeping pressure on the fish and circle barbless should work. If you have kids and are leaving rods unattended or they are missing strikes then a barb on the circle can help and still will result in easy release. Nothing ruins a trips with youngsters than trying to disgorge a deeply hooked fish bleeding from it's gills....usually results in tears some psychological impact. Yet, it's hard to justify clipping all those hooks and rigging up over and over again though...so my bet is to fish circles for kids/panfish.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Originally asked by Zep: TJ....do you lose a lot of fish without the barb or do they stay on the line pretty good even without the barb? [/quote]
I use barbless hooks on bluegill (and bass when fising with plastic worms) and don't experience a lot of lost fish. The key is to keep pressure on the fish at all times, no slack lines
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 329
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 329 |
I use a long shank barbless so that way if the hook is deep i can get to it with out gagging the fish with the needle nose. Also the finer diameter will not stay with the fish as long if you do decide not to remove the hook.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,795 Likes: 14
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,795 Likes: 14 |
Ken, it wasn't me that suggested the jigs. Wonder who it was then? I took a small (#6, 1/16 oz) jighead down to the pond with some of my redworms, using my ultralight rod/reel with 4# test line. I'd cast it out and let it settle. I let it really start running quite some distance before setting the hook -- kind of what the little kids do. I got 12 bluegill and all were lip hooked.
But, as Scott (ESSHUP) suggested, jigheads don't seem to get gut hooked! I concur. I do a lot of youth fishing clinics and bring a box of small jigs to replace the normal bait hooks I usually find on the end of the kids' lines. Rarely do we come across the traumatic experience that TJ speaks of due to gut hooked fish. And it gives a kid something to hold onto for a photo too. Also, if fishing for "any fish" with kids, you don't need ice to fish wax worms. Bluegill love them year 'round.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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so do you use a bobber with a small jig and worm i guess? or just the jig
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,795 Likes: 14
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,795 Likes: 14 |
so do you use a bobber with a small jig and worm i guess? or just the jig Depends. Usually use a bobber, since most of the kids I have worked with are very awkward with a fishing rod, not having ever used one. And no bobber can mean snags for a kid who doesn't know how fast to retrieve. I go with a slip bobber when I can, but larger groups of kids makes that difficult sometimes.
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,012
Hall of Fame
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Zep, My bad... I did not realize a "spin-cast" reel wasn't the same as a "spinning" reel. In my area, we call spin-cast reels "closed face spinning reels."
Mine are spinning reels similar to this one:
http://www.basspro.com/Pfluegerreg;-Trionreg;-GX-7-Spinning-Reel/product/58697/40031?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL
I have a few cheap spin-cast reels but do not use them much because sometimes the line will get wound up under the line spool and I have to take it apart to get the line loose.
1 ac pond LMB, BG, RES, CC
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,795 Likes: 71
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
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Thanks guys....I will try barbless hooks. djstauder gotcha. i went ahead and bought the Zebco Omega spincast on e-bay yesterday. i'll let ya know how it works.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,538 Likes: 844
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Posts: 28,538 Likes: 844 |
Zep, try one of these for LMB and see how you like them. It'll take some getting used to!! That is about the smallest one that I have, my largest one is a Penn International 2-speed. I can cast a 3# Mackerel with it, but it's not something that I'd like to do all day long.
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