[Johnnyfish5]

These past couple of days, after reaching our limit of stripers while drifting live bunker with j-hooks, we switched over to using circles on all of the bunker to prevent gut hooking the bass. For some reason, i've always sucked at using circles, and hopefully you guys can help me.

First of all, where would you hook the bunker(while drifting on the bottom)? Would you let the bass take the live for the same amount of time? Once the fish has it how would you hang the fish?

Thanks I would appreciate any help

 

[rac37]

i never lived lined bunker before,but used circle hooks all the time drifting eels,chunking,clams,so i'll say this never set the hook just reel in, try not to give any slack.

 

[tackleman]

Through the bottom of the mouth up nd out one nostril. WHen you feel the pick -up point the rod toward the water and then lift up very slow and steady.... your gonna miss a few but you'll get the hang of it.

 

[George1]

tackleman wrote:
Through the bottom of the mouth up nd out one nostril. WHen you feel the pick -up point the rod toward the water and then lift up very slow and steady.... your gonna miss a few but you'll get the hang of it.
I agree with the above, sometimes I would hook them behind the dorsil.
Never set the hook.
I only use circle and you will lose more fish.

 

[PAULN]

Tried using circle hooks a few years ago for live lining.. NEVER AGAIN. I like to set up on a fish and almost never gut hook a bass. It has alot to do w/ how long you let the fish run before you set the hook, where you rig the bunker and the size of the bunker. The 1 or 2 trips a year I do w/ bellies circle hooks are the way to go. Bass can't suck down 12" live bait like they can a floating clam. Just my 2 cents......

 

[1mocast]

When livelining bunker ,I learned a long time ago from an old salt who told me that the first run that striper takes is to find safe harber with that bunker, the striper will stop, turn the bunker around in it's mouth and proceed on his second run, it's at this time I will tighten up and set the hook, obviosly no setting of the hook with circles, but we rarely lose a fish anymore by understanding what the striper is doing on his initial run with that live bunker. Waiting for him to stop on that first run does take time to get used to, but that striper will, trust me. BTW, even with J hooks we rarely had a gut hooked fish.

 

[1mocast]

Also, I always hook'm behind the dorsel to let him swim better. If you go through the mouth, go through his upper jaw and out a nostril, never through the lower jaw as well, because the bunker will not be able to breath properly and will die quicker.

 

[George1]

PAULN wrote:
Bass can't suck down 12" live bait like they can a floating clam.....
You don't think so eh?

G

 

[LIL VIKING]

circle hooks for livelineing bunker do not work you must set thej hook on them twice to drive the point thru the jaw on the run of the fish if you let them run for a long time you will gut hook the fish

 

[George1]

I have no issues using circle hooks and losing a few fish, no big deal.
Do what works best for you.

 

[PAULN]

G- The bass turns the live bait, runs and then swallows- With clam- she sucks,turns her head and swallows-Not saying a bass can't crush a bunker or shad over a foot long w/ one hit-Very different pickup between clam and live bait- those who have done both for many years know exactly what I'm talking about... Sorry if I offended you or how you fish....

 

[George1]

PAULN wrote:
G- Sorry if I offended you or how you fish....
How did you offend me, we all fish different and what produces the best for us.

This post edited by George1 01:45 PM 04/28/2008

 

[644301]

It took me a while to get out of the habit of setting the hook. Once you get the hook setting habit out of you, circles work great....

Once they start running away, a little tension on the line is normally enough to hook em. I use a bait runner with the circles. I let them run on free spool for a bit, then just click over to normal drag. Hook set.

I use gamakatsu octopus circles and they never fail. Sharp as **** too.

 

[digga]

I've been reading on up on circles and the trick is to not set the hook as if its a traditional hook..just reel it in?

First year trying circle hooks out...

 

[ChopBuster]

What type of j hooks do you guys recommend? I have used big gamakatsu octopus hooks maybe 9/0? and have had the hook turn into the bunker on the hookset. Also i normally hook the bunker in the mouth or throu hte nostrils as im fishing moriches inlet often. I have tried trebles and i like them but feel that i get more pick ups with a j hook.

 

[Jignpro]

Use what works best for you

I like to use a 8/0 gamakatsu circle hook but sometimes you need to change up according to the bait. Right now in may you could use both of a 6/0 or a 8/0 or whatever and unfortunately you won't know whats works best unless you experiment. This is because if your in a certain area you have to use what works best with the bait around. But try different sizes like for example one 8/0 for bunker and a 6/0 for a clam. You should see some results.