Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations LMB, Circle Hooks, & Live Bait

Trying to do a fish survey of just the biggest LMB which can only be reliably caught using live bait. Don't want any swallowed hooks so I was wanting to use a circle hook with some live bait. If bass always swallow fish head first to avoid the fins, where should I put the circle hook? No matter where you put the hook it seems to mean the finned out baitfish would have to be turned around as the hook sets. Any ideas? I don't want to damage my fish.

I nose hook with circles for my live line rigs for trophy fish and have good hookup success rate. Some friends love tail hooking, I'd try several approaches and determine which works best for your hookset style and hook type used.

Jimmi, I always thread the hook between the dorsal and tail fin. I've never seen a LMB swallow a BG any other way. They may hold larger BG sideways in their mouth, but they will swim off and rearrange it so they can swallow it head first. I've also had much better luck using BG that are a little smaller than what the LMB are capable of swallowing.

If you've never used a circle hook before, don't set the hook. Just start reeling, and the hook will set itself.

Thanks fellas.

I was sampling the lower end of the food chain last night using a rooster-tail when I hooked a small BG. While reeling it in, one of the big boys grabbed it and took off. Pole doubled over and line stripping but that tiny treble was already stuck in the BG so I guess he "stole my bait" as the lure came back minus the BG. Pretty exciting though. Man, he had a death grip on that thing!