Striper hooks

[JKTrevecca]

Haven't been on here in a while. I hope you are all doing well! I've been fishing the Cumberland river in carthage tn about once a month and my last two trips have been frustrating to say the least. My landing to pull down ratio sucks! I am averaging about 1 fish landed to every 5-6 pull downs. I am using 2/0 or 4/0 octopus hooks. Many times I will get the rod out of the rod holder while the fish is pulling drag like a freight train. I am careful to maintain tension and prevent any slack but all of the sudden.... proof. The fish spits out the bait with no hook set or snags the bait off the hook. I am using primarily medium gizzards shad between 6 and 9 inches long. What am I doing wrong!? Do any of you use stinger hooks? What size and types of primary hooks are you using? I used to use only eagle claw l042s but switched to octopus hooks. Should I go back to l042s? Primarily fishing down lines recently. Please educate me! I swear I had a 40+ lbs on that i lost and don't ever want that to happen again.*

Grace and peace! Jason




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[Adrian]

I'm about to answer your question you made on my post. Knock on wood, I've had 100% hook set and land success in the last 12 months. I found a combination that works for me. See you there...

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by JKTrevecca

Haven't been on here in a while. I hope you are all doing well! I've been fishing the Cumberland river in carthage tn about once a month and my last two trips have been frustrating to say the least. My landing to pull down ratio sucks! I am averaging about 1 fish landed to every 5-6 pull downs. I am using 2/0 or 4/0 octopus hooks. Many times I will get the rod out of the rod holder while the fish is pulling drag like a freight train. I am careful to maintain tension and prevent any slack but all of the sudden.... proof. The fish spits out the bait with no hook set or snags the bait off the hook. I am using primarily medium gizzards shad between 6 and 9 inches long. What am I doing wrong!? Do any of you use stinger hooks? What size and types of primary hooks are you using? I used to use only eagle claw l042s but switched to octopus hooks. Should I go back to l042s? Primarily fishing down lines recently. Please educate me! I swear I had a 40+ lbs on that i lost and don't ever want that to happen again.*

Grace and peace! Jason




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JK... Ralph Dallas Put me on these Hooks 35 years ago ... And yes I have tried the Circle hooks and many other designed hooks ... But the Eagle Claw 254 8/0 has never failed me on hook ups... I have used this hook for 90% of my Striper Guiding Career ... Especially in the Waters that you are targeting ... You will need this size especially when the 50 to 60 pounders are very possible .. But they work well for small schoolies as well and believe it or not I have used them with Threadfin shad as well.

I have always used Eagle Claw O'Shaunessey 8/0 ..#254 ... http://www.memphisnet.net/product/23...agle-claw-254g ... Ideal for the size Gizzards you are using .. as well as Trout and Skippies ... Always hook through the nostrils for your board baits and the Dorsal fin area for the free swimmers ... <'TK><

[SalmonDaze]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

JK... Ralph Dallas Put me on these Hooks 35 years ago ... And yes I have tried the Circle hooks and many other designed hooks ... But the Eagle Claw 254 8/0 has never failed me on hook ups... I have used this hook for 90% of my Striper Guiding Career ... Especially in the Waters that you are targeting ... You will need this size especially when the 50 to 60 pounders are very possible .. But they work well for small schoolies as well and believe it or not I have used them with Threadfin shad as well.

I have always used Eagle Claw O'Shaunessey 8/0 ..#254 ... http://www.memphisnet.net/product/23...agle-claw-254g ... Ideal for the size Gizzards you are using .. as well as Trout ... Always hook through the nostrils for your board baits and the Dorsal fin area for the free swimmers ... <'TK><

Holy cow! An 8/0 hook is just shy of three inches. I actually have a whole box of these I picked up in Wilmington, NC for bottom bouncing a few years ago.

OK TK . . . I'll give 'em a try tomorrow. Thanks.

BTW . . . hooks that size start to require carrying bolt cutters just in case. As in . . . just in case one goes in your thumb, it ain't coming out with the cutter on your needle nose pliars.

[JKTrevecca]

Thanks TK - Just the person I was hoping to get input from. I appreciate the time you took to respond.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by JKTrevecca

Thanks TK - Just the person I was hoping to get input from. I appreciate the time you took to respond.

JK, The style of the hook dictates it length, the O'Shaughnessy is 2 inches in length. The throat (sprot) opening is 3/4 inches with off set .... What determines the size ..Example 8/0 = .080 or 80th's is the wire diameter that is used... Yes a small pair of one hand bolt cutters is needed. They can't be cut with Kline Electricians pliers.... Note: In the two pic's the hooks appear to be different but they are the same hook, the lighting was different .. Hope this Helps .. <'TK><

PS,, Always use a Palomar Knot and I always used 50# Big game Berkley Trilene I have used 40# P Line but I found the river environment was to harsh for it , sunken trees, Buoy cables etc. Now it has been 10 years since I retired and I don't think hooks have changed that much but there may be a better line out there ..