Thread: What's the best hook to use for gills/redears?

Originally Posted by Blackradio

when using crickets, do you you just hook them and use a bobber? Never used crickets before. Any special way to hook them?

Popping bugs is my favorite way to catch blue gills but crickets is my second favorite way. to hook a cricket you stick him in the butt and thread him on hook so he faces down. i use a bobber or split shot off the bottom either way depending on fish im looking for.

for live bait i mostly use tru turn anywhere from #2 to a #10, for shell crackers and blue gills and those beutiful big red breast i use #6 and #8.

I like a 215 Eagle Claw in a size #6 for bream and shellcrackers. It is a thin wire long shank hook. The long shank keeps them from swallowing it down so bad and gives you something to grab a hold of when unhooking them. The light wire penetrates better than a heavy wire hook like a 72 style. Another advantage is if you get hung up the light wire hook will often straighten enough so you don't break your line. I am blessed with some extra good fram ponds to fish and that hook will hold a monster bluegill no problem. Of course anytime you have straightened a hook out and bent it back a few times it gets easier to bend and should be replaced.
We use crickets mostly as our live bait...we will use red worms some early in the season when the water is still cold, but by this time of year it's crickets all the way :O)
We enjoy catching them on beetle spins and small panther martins too, but that is another thread. jimmy

I prefer #8 tru-turns... I miss very few fish and it seems that it hooks up in the same place, (top of the mouth) every time.

Oscar

I prefer # 6 Eagle Claw cricket hooks,they can't swallow them so your not tying new hooks on all the time.

I use a long shank #2 when goin after big redears with live bait!!! Use 3-4 red wigglers or Large Crawler fished under Slip Bobber rig either on the bottom or 1 foot off bottom!!