Best Hook For Minnows?

[st.croix]

Just started fishing with minnows the other day and wondering what the best style hooks are for them?

I'm using a red Gamakatsu octopus hook right now and I'm hooking it in the middle of the back near the dorsal fin and straight up and down the spine towards its head. I saw this method on youtube and its working good so far, hook stays in place and the minnow has plenty of life and action left.

The problem I have right now is I'm having a hard time holding the hook to get it in the minnow the way I want. the wide gap and short shaft is making my fingers get to close between the hook and fish and its a pain however I do eventually get it.

Second problem is the bass are sucking these minnows right up before I even see the bobber move and unfortunately 2 swallowed the hook and I had to cut the line and hope they make it. I feel like the hook is about as big as it should be for the size minnows I'm using ( about 3'' fat minnows size 2 hook ) but is there anything I can do so the bass cant suck that hook down?

Caught a pike to and did the same thing, minnow and hook gone..

I have never fished with minnows in my lake but the other day I caught some off my shore and thought I would give it a try. So far I don't even have time to set the pole down before the bobber goes under. I'm pretty sure not to many people fish live minnows on this lake so it might just be my new bait for the summer, that's why I want to get the hooks down right. sizes and shapes and any other advice you can give me about minnow rigging.

Thanks

[clayton86]

I use circle/octopus hooks as well for cut bait and minnows never for bass though just for catfish and perch. I never have the gut hook issue I hook em either threw the back or the tail. Never use a bober either just watch my rod tip or feel my line.

[st.croix]

thanks Clayton.

Do you just put a splitshot a few feet up from the bait then and let it sit at the bottom while the minnow swims the few feet of line he has? I have heard of a lot of people not using bobbers but I would guess it would be better because I put a bobber stop about 15ft with a small splitshot about 2ft from the minnow so it can swim more freely and natural. I will have to try other methods including yours I guess.

I wasn't intentionally fishing bass either I was going for a big pike that I had on a jerk bait that got off so I thought I would try again with live minnows. I did catch a pike like I was wanting to but it was not the monster that I had the other day

Not to completely jump off topic but don't pike somewhat travel in groups? If I caught this smaller one today in the same spot as I had the big one on the other day there should be more in that area? sorry if that's a ignorant question but I have spent most of my reading and learning on bass and different panfish. This summer I would like to get more into walleye and pike fishing, always heard of good catches on my lake but never have fished them.

[bilgerat]

You could try smashing the hook barb down with pliers. Lots of guys do this and swear their hookups stay the same.

[st.croix]

Yeah I definitely wouldn't mind trying to get rid of the barb. I could take a few lost fish then to actually lose a fish.

if the fish takes it deep tho and all you can see is the shank there's really not much you can do unless there is some hidden trick that I have not came across in the 15 years of fishing right?

I hear that colored hooks ( like the red steel hooks I'm using ) wont rust out and kill the fish.

I really hate bad hook ups, I wish there was a way around all of that.

Nothing I hate more then pulling a fish out with a hook in its side or letting it back in the water with a hook in its throat.

[Scorcher214]

Yeah I definitely wouldn't mind trying to get rid of the barb. I could take a few lost fish then to actually lose a fish.

if the fish takes it deep tho and all you can see is the shank there's really not much you can do unless there is some hidden trick that I have not came across in the 15 years of fishing right?

I hear that colored hooks ( like the red steel hooks I'm using ) wont rust out and kill the fish.

I really hate bad hook ups, I wish there was a way around all of that.

Nothing I hate more then pulling a fish out with a hook in its side or letting it back in the water with a hook in its throat.

And here ya go

[Hyrule Bass]

try looking up the through the gills hook removal method on in-fisherman's website. works everytime for bass hooked in the throat...

[Bluebasser86]

I use the same hook you're using when I fish minnows but I rarely have fish swallow the hook. If you're using a bobber, make sure to use the smallest one you can get away with, I like the slim, standup style bobbers. These help detect bites when the fish doesn't swim away with the bait. A lot of times a bass with eat a minnow from below and just sit there. With a stand up bobber, it will pop up and lay on it's side so you know a fish has eaten your minnow from below. I haven't had much luck with circle hooks for bass but I haven't tried them a lot. If you're still having problems with them swallowing the hook you can smash the barb down, make sure you know how to go through the gills to unhook a fish, it's a priceless skill to know.

[.ghoti.]

A small circle hook, right through the eyes will keep the minnow alive the longest and will not guthook the fish.