I'm using #4 Eagle claw trot line hooks and keep loseing my damn fish. The ones, big ones, that I'll pulling up aren't hooked well neither. Should I change out to circle hooks? I've used them fishing bottom at the river and hen you set the hook on a cat he's coming in. Hunting season is here and I need a few more gallon bags of fish before I start hitting the woods. Whatcha thinkin' OB?!

4 ...

Report Post

Posted by crankbait

Member since Feb 2008

11623 posts

Posted on 9/18/14 at 7:41 am to JJBTiger2012

quote:
circle hooks

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by DownSouthDave

Beau, Bro, Baw

Member since Jan 2013

7377 posts

Posted on 9/18/14 at 7:55 am to JJBTiger2012

Circle hooks can't be beat. But it can get pretty spendy filling trot lines with circle hooks.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by tenfoe

Member since Jun 2011

6847 posts

Posted on 9/18/14 at 8:06 am to JJBTiger2012

I assume you are talking about currently using 4/0 trotline hooks. Use a smaller hook. Go to a 1/0 or a 1. I always catch much better on smaller trotline hooks.

I am sure circle hooks will catch well, but they are 20x the cost of 1/0 trotline hooks.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by JJBTiger2012

Louisiana

Member since Jun 2013

1891 posts

Posted on 9/18/14 at 8:18 am to tenfoe

Thank ya fellas. The cost is well worth it if I can keep them on. I'll also give the smaller hooks a shot. I run 10 hooks per line so I'll throw a few in to see what happens.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by Mung

NorCal

Member since Aug 2007

9054 posts

Posted on 9/18/14 at 8:45 am to JJBTiger2012

with all the effort you put into setting and checking a trotline, what's a few more $ on hooks, if you catch more fish? I use 4/0 circles on mine, which catch everything big and small.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by fishfighter

RIP

Member since Apr 2008

40026 posts

Posted on 9/18/14 at 8:50 am to Mung

quote:
I use 4/0 circles on mine, which catch everything big and small.

I use both in 4/0 size and I find that the circle hooks hook about 10-15% more fish. The trick using circle hooks is power snelling them to the drop line.