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Took my family camping this past weekend on Clark Hill. Was bank fishing for big flatheads using live bluegill. My rig was 40lb braid, 3/4oz egg sinker, swivle, and a 2/0 eagle claw plain shank hook. I set the hook on about 3 good fish. Each of them throu the hook after about 10 to 15 seconds of the fight. I got good hooksets, what am I doing wrong?
Maybe bigger hooks? 2/0 sounds small with your set up.
Shawn its most likely your hooks. I don't like the straight shank hooks for catfishing. Use one of the circle hooks and you will find you won't lose as many fish. Try eagle claw in 2/0 or 3/0. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif They just seem to work better.IMO http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
Is this the hook your talking about?
http://www.basspro.com/servlet...rowse
how are you hooking the live bluegills?
do you go in the mouth-out the gills-into its side-skinhooked on the otherside??
or just through upper/lower lips??
or through the eyeballs??or even through the back just past the dorsal fin??
do you descale and cut off a sidefin?do ya slice the gut open?
all these things matter(or they have always for me) when livebait fishing for cats
the rig is good except I like to use a kahale or circle hook
I hook um between the belly fin and the tail just below the lateral line. I also make sure no scale is left on the point of the hook.
I can help since I used to live bait fish for Cats ALL the time.
1st off there is only one good way to rig for live & that is yo use a large open hook for the front of the baitfish & use a steel leader to attatch a heavy stinger treble hook.......the pic I found is a downsized version but will do for illistration only.......you can use a large clasp off the main line to attach hook to & use steel leader cliped as well to run laterally to the tail of the baitfish......didn;t loose too many & when I did it was my fault & not the rigs http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/ohwell.gif
http://www.jesseshunting.com/data/ar...ges/000096.jpg
Hope this help
Do you hook the trebble hook to the bait as well, or let it hang free?
you hook the treble to the rear of the fish....close to the tail......saltwater does this all the time!!!!!!
using a treble allows one barb to penetrate & 2 others to be exposed for short hitters http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
heres a smelt pic
http://www.gamakatsu.com/new_product...reble_grid.jpg
I'm not fishing with a float. The lead sits on the bottom w/ about a 2' leader. Also, what do yall think about tying the trebble hook to the tag end of a palamar knot?
I would only recommend a steel leader going from main hook to the treble.....too many time I used high test mono & it comes off....also braid can work but has a tendancy to snap with very short leaders......JMObervation.
on main line use on egg sinker of size/weight desired...attatch a strong barrel swivel to main line & run a 18-24" steel leader with snap....attatch main baithook here....also use the 4-6" steel leader with snap to attatch you large treble to for your second tralier hook......I say 4-6" because smaller livebait will need shorter leader & longer will need just that too.......
http://image.basspro.com/images/imag...500/91506c.jpg
http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/93000/93163.jpg
you can also buy it in a Kit format....good for Muskie too http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif
http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/92500/92542.jpg
http://www.basspro.com/servlet...rowse
I like the circle hooks. Just don't jerk like you do when you bass fish, you'll pull the hook right out of the fishes mouth. As the fish is swimming away let the line get taught, when it does just firmly raise the rod firmly.