A Closeup Of a Gill Taken on a Pink Waxie.....

Comment

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 25, 2018 at 6:15pm

Leo, the hook in the picture is indeed a long-shank hook.  Slip mentioned in his reply that he had a circle-hook setup for Bluegills, and I asked him about the sizing on that setup.

I'm kind of like Jeff.  Just yesterday, I was using a plain hook with some worm threaded on, under a float, for Bluegills in a new-to-me lake.  When I do that, it's typically an Eagle Claw Aberdeen Cricket Hook, size 8.  You can get them at Wally World.  I had several fish take that hook rather deeply.  The shank is long enough that with my forceps, I can still remove the hook without injuring the fish too severely.  A small circle hook might help alleviate the gut-hooking; I haven't tried any really tiny circle hooks, yet.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on June 25, 2018 at 5:01pm

Thanks guys and this is my favorite "bait" hook on the rare occasion in which a jig is not tied on........For me, in the dark tannic waters I fish, an Eagle Claw "largo" 2x shaft in #4 is hard to beat.  Made for salt water applications, the average gills on the Albemarle have no problem taking my presentation on this hook yet I'm still prepared for the ten pound plus predator that lurks these waters.........it is not a good crappie hook but I only fish it shallow during the summer where most crappie have retreated anyway................I often thread a couple segments of waxie on the hook shaft and tip with a crickets to get the color I desire and the impact of live bait in the same approach........

Comment by Slip Sinker on June 25, 2018 at 8:14am

 I have gone to size 12 with near equal success

Comment by Slip Sinker on June 25, 2018 at 8:12am

My favorite size and brand is the Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp size 10… the past few years it is kid proven… countless Lepomis completely in the gut hooked and they pop right out with a quick pull

Comment by Leo Nguyen on June 25, 2018 at 8:07am

I'm curious too. That looks like an alberdeen type 3x shank, and not circle. But I  may be wrong.

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 25, 2018 at 7:13am

Slip, what size circle hooks are you using on that setup?

I have some Gama Octopus circles in size 8.  Those are small enough for the bigger 'gills.  I've just never tried them for 'gills.  I found out back in Feb that my local outfitter has Eagle Claw L702's in tiny, Bluegill sizes.  I haven't bought any yet, as I typically use a micro-jig tipped with bait these days.

Comment by Slip Sinker on June 24, 2018 at 11:51pm

...very nice detail and coloring on that gill... standout

i had one gut hook today that i did not attempt to get out... unfortunately was not on my circle hook float set-up