Issues With Gut Hooking Trout

[HeavyFisher]

Hey Everybody,

 

Recently I started targeting trout and I'm having a blast. I started using rooster tails and inline spinner but I wasn't catching much.

 

I took some advice from another BR member to try using PowerBait Trout eggs on a #10 snell hook. It's non stop action using them. My only issue is I am gut hooking the fish every single time I get one. I reach my limit in less than an hour and have to stop fishing.

 

How do you guys keep from gut hooking trout when using power baits?

[Bluebasser86]

Haven't ever figured out a way to avoid it with power bait. Even if you're quick on the trigger and tight line them, they still seem to swallow it more often then not. Use a barbless hook and use forceps carefully under the gill plate and you should be able to remove most hooks without doing serious harm to them. I quit using power eggs for that exact reason though. A small jig (1/32 or smaller) twitched under a bobber or deadsticked under a bobber catches me just as many if not more trout than power bait and they average larger. Little Cleo spoons catch me lots of trout as well. If there's browns then don't be afraid to fish a jerkbait like a 97mr slender pointer.

[Crestliner2008]

Have you tried circle hooks?

[HeavyFisher]

Haven't ever figured out a way to avoid it with power bait. Even if you're quick on the trigger and tight line them, they still seem to swallow it more often then not. Use a barbless hook and use forceps carefully under the gill plate and you should be able to remove most hooks without doing serious harm to them. 

 

 

Yea I'm going to remove the barb from all my hooks at this point.

 

 

Have you tried circle hooks?

 

Snelled Single Trout Egg Hooks are basically circle hooks aren't they?

[everythingthatswims]

Yea I'm going to remove the barb from all my hooks at this point.

 

 

 

Snelled Single Trout Egg Hooks are basically circle hooks aren't they?

Stay away from those snells, the fish see that heavy line and even though you might be catching some, the smart ones are shying away from it. I don't have many issues with gut hooking them on the power eggs, just make sure you stay in contact with the rig on the drift and set it as soon as you feel a tap. Gamakatsu does make some small circle hooks, you might have to order them though. Try some trout magnets too, gold and white are my go-to colors.

[HeavyFisher]

Heavy Line? If you mean the pre tied line I cut that off. 

 

Stay away from those snells, the fish see that heavy line and even though you might be catching some, the smart ones are shying away from it.

[everythingthatswims]

Heavy Line? If you mean the pre tied line I cut that off. 

Good job. How long is the rod you use? I find that a 6' or 6'6" rod is best for drift fishing because you can stay in contact with the bait and pick up slack quickly on the hookset, quick hooksets really cut down on the number of gut hooked fish.

[HeavyFisher]

Shimano Compre 6'8. It's a little large for my application but it works. 

[Smokinal]

Gut hooked trout? I usually like a treble in their back...the bass get hooked up better like that.

[HeavyFisher]

Ooooo I see what you did there, lol

[Bluebasser86]

Yea I'm going to remove the barb from all my hooks at this point.

 

 

 

Snelled Single Trout Egg Hooks are basically circle hooks aren't they?

Those aren't circle hooks, but I doubt a circle hook would work well for trout. If you're really concerned about deep hooking them it may be worth a shot though. 

[Crestliner2008]

 Snelled Single Trout Egg Hooks are basically circle hooks aren't they?

 

No they are not. And yes, they will help. Pinch down the barb on them too as it's not needed.

[everythingthatswims]

Shimano Compre 6'8. It's a little large for my application but it works. 

Sounds like you need to get a light or ultralight rod, strike detection is a must if you don't want to gut hook them. When I drift power eggs,  I only gut hook maybe 1 out of 12 or 15 fish, you just have to get used to how they bite. You can also drift baits under tiny floats, that way you can set as soon as they eat. The "steelhead baitholder" hooks by eagle claw are kind of like a circle hook, try those out and see if it helps. Good luck!

[notevenanibble]

try fly fishing, i never have any trouble with gutting trout.

[HeavyFisher]

So I removed the barbs and lost every trout I caught....lol. Now I have two sets of hooks, barbs for when I want to keep them and barbless for when I reach my limit. 

[Mike2841]

So I removed the barbs and lost every trout I caught....lol. Now I have two sets of hooks, barbs for when I want to keep them and barbless for when I reach my limit.

Good to know, I have the same problem with guy hooking them. But more often than not I just keep the trout and cook it up

[everythingthatswims]

So I removed the barbs and lost every trout I caught....lol. Now I have two sets of hooks, barbs for when I want to keep them and barbless for when I reach my limit. 

Found these at dicks today, they look perfect. 

[HeavyFisher]

Oh wow check out those little gems, thanks for posting

[HeavyFisher]

downsized_0627141519.jpg

Found these at dicks today, they look perfect. 

 

Just to let you know I finally picked up a properer Ultra Light setup. Daiwa Presso Spin Rod, Shimano Stradic ST1000FJ, and 4lb Fluoro. Huge HUGE difference in performance. 

[everythingthatswims]

Just to let you know I finally picked up a properer Ultra Light setup. Daiwa Presso Spin Rod, Shimano Stradic ST1000FJ, and 4lb Fluoro. Huge HUGE difference in performance. 

Awesome! Have you tried fishing trout magnets yet? (you need to get some)

[HeavyFisher]

Awesome! Have you tried fishing trout magnets yet? (you need to get some)

 

Just purchased....lol. Picked up white and mealworm.