Live bait hooks

[the reel ess]

I'm about to start trying some live bait in hopes of catching bigger bass. I'll be using medium (up to maybe 7") native gold shiners and/or bluegill. What's your hook choice and size preference for those? 

[JustJames]

It is illegal even thinking here in SoCal lol. I caught a bunch of perfect bait size bluegill lately and talk to myself what if I switch to 2/0 circle hook and let bluegill run around just for fun.

[the reel ess]

6 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

It is illegal even thinking here in SoCal lol. I caught a bunch of perfect bait size bluegill lately and talk to myself what if I switch to 2/0 circle hook and let bluegill run around just for fun.

I'm sorry. But you also have a much greater chance at 10+lb fish than we do. I'm thinking the live bait might increase my average size. Trying to bump that 8.2 PB up in another range.

[J Francho]

I have too many control issues to fish a bait that does what it wants.

[the reel ess]

23 hours ago, J Francho said:

I have too many control issues to fish a bait that does what it wants.

I'm not sure how I'll handle it either. The reason I got into bass to start with is I like to chunk and wind. But if it increases the odds of a bigger bass, it's worth a try. I'll take my full compliment of rods in case the action is very slow. Or nonexistent.

[Peddiesake]

If you are of that persuasion, I would use an owner mosquito hook. Small but extremely strong. =<3” #2

4-7” size 1-1/0. Very sharp And strong and easy to extract with no damage.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I've always done pretty well on circle hooks in 1/0 or 2/0 for catfish with cutbait and I've also caught a bunch of bass.  I think a live 4" bluegill would be fine on a 2/0 or 3/0.

[J Francho]

22 hours ago, the reel ess said:

But if it increases the odds of a bigger bass

I think location plays a bigger part, but if you have that totally nailed down, and are on a big one, then live might be the key to get that monster to bite.  You'll get harassed by many smaller fish using craws and crawlers.  You might dig through some of @Fish Chris posts for any clues to using live bait.  He did pretty well back in the day.

[the reel ess]

33 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I think location plays a bigger part, but if you have that totally nailed down, and are on a big one, then live might be the key to get that monster to bite.  You'll get harassed by many smaller fish using craws and crawlers.  You might dig through some of @Fish Chris posts for any clues to using live bait.  He did pretty well back in the day.

I took a bag of oatmeal and tried to chum for smaller baitfish. I gave it time and cast the net. Nothing. Thus, the 7 lb. pig with the jig down its throat. I really love fishing that way though.

[Luke Barnes]

I bet you will catch some catfish waiting for a bass to bite. But would you fish it under a float or a carolina type rig?

[the reel ess]

1 minute ago, Luke Barnes said:

I bet you will catch some catfish waiting for a bass to bite. But would you fish it under a float or a carolina type rig?

From what I'm reading and watching, either freelined or under a float. I don't know about the catfish. I have never caught one in this place in almost a decade of fishing there. But I've never targeted them. I'd think a lively bait that can swim naturally would be less of a catfish bait than one on the bottom.

[Luke Barnes]

21 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

From what I'm reading and watching, either freelined or under a float. I don't know about the catfish. I have never caught one in this place in almost a decade of fishing there. But I've never targeted them. I'd think a lively bait that can swim naturally would be less of a catfish bait than one on the bottom.

That's what flatheads go for. Green sunfish are amazing bait for them because they are so lively and active. But if there are no flatties where you're fishing then you dont have to worry!

[the reel ess]

25 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

That's what flatheads go for. Green sunfish are amazing bait for them because they are so lively and active. But if there are no flatties where you're fishing then you dont have to worry!

I have seen a grand total of one catfish in this place ever. And it was maybe 4" long and dying. I would have guessed channel cat. My buddy crappie fishes there a good bit and he hasn't caught any catfish. I don't really know why they don't bite there. What I know is in the lake are largemouth, crappie, bluegill, shellcrackers (redear), warmouth, gold shiners and little minnows I see around the edge, probably fathead. There are a couple ponds upstream from it so it has whatever species they have, I'm sure. I have another friend with a pond that has catfish and they can be very difficult to catch as well

[JustJames]

If you want to know if there are any catfish in the lake, cut bluegill in half, 2/0 circle hook thru the head part and chunk it out no weight (if no current). 

[the reel ess]

13 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

If you want to know if there are any catfish in the lake, cut bluegill in half, 2/0 circle hook thru the head part and chunk it out no weight (if no current). 

Yeah, I know a good many people who catfish. We have the Arkansas blue cats in our river systems. But I just don't like catching catfish. No disrespect to those who do. But to me the bigger the catfish, the bigger my disappointment.

[Luke Barnes]

Im really considering trying this next time I fish a certain pond because I know there are a few 5lbers in it and I'm pretty good at catching dinky gills with my ultralight and fly rod. Ive got a bobber setup for cats with a 5/0 circle hook I'm going to try. Also one on the bottom. 

[Bluebasser86]

A wide gap wacky hook makes a great live bait hook.