How do you hook a bluegill

[Bhox]

I occasionally use live bluegill as bait and I have/haven't had much success. I have lost three 5+ lb bass and I think it's because I'm am Hooking the bluegill wrong. Generally I will use 3-4" bluegill so the bass can handle it. The hooks I am using are gamakatsu 4/0 circle hooks and the way I hook the bluegill is right behind the anal fin. I let the bass run with the bluegill for 15-30 seconds. Do the bass have to stop to fully consume the bluegill? -Ben

[BrianinMD]

Haven't used live bait in a long time but when I did I hooked them just under the dorsal fin.

[jr231]

Bass will take bluegill head first.  Hook it under the jaw and out a nostril. When I use bluegill I use the gamakatsu "big river" hooks. But a nice baitholder style will work great. 

[MassYak85]

With circle hooks all you need to do is take up the slack and then maintain constant pressure as the bass is running, they will hook themselves, DO NOT SET THE HOOK. You will rip it right out of their mouths before it gets to the corner (where the hooks are designed to hook them) and your hookup rate will be awful. With 3-4 inch bluegills any decent bass should be able to just inhale them. Make sure they have it of course but when they start running that's when you want to start applying pressure. It should be a very smooth operation. 

 

You might already know all this but that's some of the stuff people just starting to use circle's often don't do. 

[Bhox]

21 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

With circle hooks all you need to do is take up the slack and then maintain constant pressure as the bass is running, they will hook themselves, DO NOT SET THE HOOK. You will rip it right out of their mouths before it gets to the corner (where the hooks are designed to hook them) and your hookup rate will be awful. With 3-4 inch bluegills any decent bass should be able to just inhale them. Make sure they have it of course but when they start running that's when you want to start applying pressure. It should be a very smooth operation. 

 

You might already know all this but that's some of the stuff people just starting to use circle's often don't do. 

Yep that's probably what I'm doing wrong! And yes I know you should set the hook with a circle hook. It's just the thought of not getting a good hook set that gets to me. I throw a bunch of bread out and that's what brings the bluegill in and then the bass come in. The bass will sit there for 5-10 minutes just staring at the bluegill lol but they always take it. Go check out video on my instagram at _bhox_ 

1 minute ago, Bhox said:

Yep that's probably what I'm doing wrong! And yes I know you should set the hook with a circle hook. It's just the thought of not getting a good hook set that gets to me. I throw a bunch of bread out and that's what brings the bluegill in and then the bass come in. The bass will sit there for 5-10 minutes just staring at the bluegill lol but they always take it. Go check out video on my instagram at _bhox_ 

 

27 minutes ago, MassYak85 said:

With circle hooks all you need to do is take up the slack and then maintain constant pressure as the bass is running, they will hook themselves, DO NOT SET THE HOOK. You will rip it right out of their mouths before it gets to the corner (where the hooks are designed to hook them) and your hookup rate will be awful. With 3-4 inch bluegills any decent bass should be able to just inhale them. Make sure they have it of course but when they start running that's when you want to start applying pressure. It should be a very smooth operation. 

 

You might already know all this but that's some of the stuff people just starting to use circle's often don't do. 

I know the bass takes the bluegill down head first but does that mean I should still hook it behind the anal fin so that it hooks the bass in the corner of the mouth? Because if I hooked the bluegill in the lips then it would have to turn back around in the basses mouth.

[RoLo]

There are 3 primary methods for hooking baitfish, and each method has its own Pros & Cons:

 

HEAD-HOOKING

> A 'must' for baitfish in tow    Trolling and Casting & retrieving (Otherwise the baitfish is drowned)

> Lowest baitfish activity         Mouth-hooking dampens body motion, but extends baitfish longevity

> Longest baitfish longevity     Head weighting is best tolerated by bait - Tail-weighting exhausts the baitfish

> Best hook-fastness              Skull-hooked dead-bait is best - Snout gristle & lip-hooking are a distant 2nd

> Best hook-up ratio               Bass typically seize their prey head-first - No, not always

 

BACK-HOOKING

> Average baitfish activity

> Average baitfish longevity

> Average hook-fastness

> Average hook-up ratio

 

TAIL-HOOKING

> Best for freelining, lazy drifts & coaxing baitfish to swim under a mat

> Best baitfish activity            Triggers a natural escape response

> Shortest baitfish longevity    Hyperactivity shortens their life on the hook

> Worst hook-fastness             Cast-offs & escapees are most common

> Worst hook-up ratio           

 

Roger

   

 

   

[lo n slo]

try hooking him in the snout. that's the way we always did it. 

[Bhox]

26 minutes ago, RoLo said:

There are 3 primary methods for hooking baitfish, and each method has its own Pros & Cons:

 

MOUTH-HOOKING

> A 'must' for baitfish in tow    Trolling and Casting & retrieving (Otherwise the baitfish is drowned)

> Lowest baitfish activity         Mouth-hooking dampens body motion, but extends baitfish longevity

> Longest baitfish longevity     Head weighting is best tolerated by bait - Tail-weighting exhausts the baitfish

> Best hook-fastness              Skull-hooked dead-bait is best - Nose gristle & deep lip hooking are a distant 2nd

> Best hook-up ratio               Bass typically seize their prey head-first - No, not always

 

NAPE-HOOKING

> Average baitfish activity

> Average baitfish longevity

> Average hook-fastness

> Average hook-up ratio

 

TAIL-HOOKING

> Best for freelining, lazy drifts & coaxing baitfish under a mat

> Best baitfish activity            Triggers a natural escape response

> Shortest baitfish longevity    Hyperactivity shortens their life on the hook

> Worst hook-fastness             Cast-offs & escapees are most common

> Worst hook-up ratio           

 

Roger

   

 

   

Thanks for this info!

[Bhox]

21 minutes ago, Bhox said:

Thanks for this info!

 

48 minutes ago, RoLo said:

There are 3 primary methods for hooking baitfish, and each method has its own Pros & Cons:

 

MOUTH-HOOKING

> A 'must' for baitfish in tow    Trolling and Casting & retrieving (Otherwise the baitfish is drowned)

> Lowest baitfish activity         Mouth-hooking dampens body motion, but extends baitfish longevity

> Longest baitfish longevity     Head weighting is best tolerated by bait - Tail-weighting exhausts the baitfish

> Best hook-fastness              Skull-hooked dead-bait is best - Nose gristle & deep lip hooking are a distant 2nd

> Best hook-up ratio               Bass typically seize their prey head-first - No, not always

 

NAPE-HOOKING

> Average baitfish activity

> Average baitfish longevity

> Average hook-fastness

> Average hook-up ratio

 

TAIL-HOOKING

> Best for freelining, lazy drifts & coaxing baitfish under a mat

> Best baitfish activity            Triggers a natural escape response

> Shortest baitfish longevity    Hyperactivity shortens their life on the hook

> Worst hook-fastness             Cast-offs & escapees are most common

> Worst hook-up ratio           

 

Roger

   

 

   

What hooks should I use circle or baitholder?

[RoLo]

33 minutes ago, Bhox said:

 

What hooks should I use circle or baitholder?

 

 

Hook style is largely a personal choice.

If you place great emphasis on the fish's well-being, than your circle hook is perfect.

I'm not a fan of the 'baitholder' style for 2 reasons:

it's a long-shank hook and the shank-slices are above the action (more popular for live worms).

The most popular shiner hook here in Florida is the Kahle hook, which I don't use.

I'm probably breaking from the mob, but I prefer a short-shank bait hook

like the Owner 4/0 SSW 5180 hook (triangular point not conical) 

 

Roger

 

[Bhox]

9 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

 

Hook style is largely a personal choice.

If you place great emphasis on the fish's well-being, than your circle hook is perfect.

I'm not a fan of the 'baitholder' style for 2 reasons:

it's a long-shank hook and the shank-slices are above the action (more popular for live worms).

The most popular shiner hook here in Florida is the Kahle hook, which I don't use.

I'm probably breaking from the mob, but I prefer a short-shank bait hook

like the Owner 4/0 SSW 5180 hook (triangular point not conical) 

 

Roger

 

Thanks!

[WRB]

Bluegill or any gamefish are illegal to use a bait fish in most of California, no experience using them.

Salt water fishing is another story, lots of experience using large live baitfish. All predator game fish swallow baitfish head first. Hook style and size is dependant on the size and shape of the baitfish and how you want that baitfish to swim, on the surface, dive deeper or swim directly away under the surface.

 You don't need heavy wire over size hooks with smaller size live bait. Avoid hooking the bait where the hook point Is protected by the baits body when the bass tries to swallow the bait head first, the gap should be wider than the thickness of the bait. 3" to 4" bluegill are about 3/8" thick, so any hook gap 1/2" should work.

I would start by hooking the bait sideways through it's nostrils with a 2/0 wide gap weedless wacky style hook.

Tom

[Jagg]

2 hours ago, RoLo said:

 

 

Hook style is largely a personal choice.

If you place great emphasis on the fish's well-being, than your circle hook is perfect.

I'm not a fan of the 'baitholder' style for 2 reasons:

it's a long-shank hook and the shank-slices are above the action (more popular for live worms).

The most popular shiner hook here in Florida is the Kahle hook, which I don't use.

I'm probably breaking from the mob, but I prefer a short-shank bait hook

like the Owner 4/0 SSW 5180 hook (triangular point not conical) 

 

Roger

 

I don't know about bass, but I sometimes use croaker and pinfish for live bait for inshore species and I like to use short shank barbless bait hooks.

[roadwarrior]

With circle hooks all you need to do is take up the slack and then maintain constant pressure as the bass is running, they will hook themselves, DO NOT SET THE HOOK.

 

[Bhox]

10 hours ago, WRB said:

Bluegill or any gamefish are illegal to use a bait fish in most of California, no experience using them.

Salt water fishing is another story, lots of experience using large live baitfish. All predator game fish swallow baitfish head first. Hook style and size is dependant on the size and shape of the baitfish and how you want that baitfish to swim, on the surface, dive deeper or swim directly away under the surface.

 You don't need heavy wire over size hooks with smaller size live bait. Avoid hooking the bait where the hook point Is protected by the baits body when the bass tries to swallow the bait head first, the gap should be wider than the thickness of the bait. 3" to 4" bluegill are about 3/8" thick, so any hook gap 1/2" should work.

I would start by hooking the bait sideways through it's nostrils with a 2/0 wide gap weedless wacky style hook.

Tom

I have some 2/0 wide gaps. Are they the same concept as a circle hook? Do you set the hook with them?

[king fisher]

I haven't used bluegill for bait because where I bass fish it is illegal to user live fish.  I have caught thousands of salt water fish with bait.  I would hook the bait just in front of the dorsal fin with a circle hook. Not only will you hook more fish with a circle hook, but you will have a greater chance of a good release.  If you want to slowly retrieve the bait nose hook it.  If you want to get a vicious strike, try suspending the bait on the surface with a long pole, kite, or helium balloon.  I  have always wanted to try this technique with fresh water fish, but never had the chance.  Many Tuna Rooster fish snapper, and snook that refuse to hit any bait fished under the surface can't resist smashing a struggling bait under a kite.  One reason is a spooky fish can't see the hook or line, because both are out of the water.  Good luck

[Bluebasser86]

I've used bluegills for bait a lot, but mostly for flatheads. Best place I've found to hook them for free lining is through the nostrils. It's a very hard part of the fish, does little damage to the bait, and has a high hookup ratio since they eat them headfirst generally. I like to use a 1/0 or 2/0 Kahle hook.

[jr231]

Echos . Echos everywhere