Best jig and hook size for big 'gills

[Jordan Williams]

Okay, my girlfriend ordered me some 1/32 oz jigs with a size 4 hook, personally i think thats a bit large for gills?? What do yall think? Will they work or should i use em for crappie heads??

[John Sheehan]

Size 8 hook I would think for Gills.32nd head  and lighter .And yes #4 for bigger 10" & over Crappie should work  great .

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Hook size will boil down to what you're confident about in your water Jordan.....I often use a # 4 long shank live bait hook for gills or a # 6 Circle Hook......I like at least a 1/32 ounce jig once Spring arrives and sometimes a 1/16 ounce throughout the Summer......If you're contacting pound class gills in heavy cover like I do, I just don't feel good unless I have the larger terminal tackle........I eat a lot of gills but I also release many of the largest gills and I have found the smaller hooks gut hook the larger fish more often especially if taken deeper......The evolution of circle hooks has helped to avoid gut hooking as well......Use what gives you the most confidence is my recommendation!

[Steve Totten]

Hey Jeffrey,  Where do you find size six circle hooks?   Most of my saltwater flies are tied on circle hooks but haven't found any circles mall enough for freshwater flies.  I would really like to find circle hooks down to size ten or twelve for panfish flies.

Steve

[Allen Morgan]

My local Dick's Sporting Goods has Gamakatsu Octopus Circles in size 4, 6, and 8.

Jann's Netcraft sells circle hooks (not sure on the brand) down to a size 12.

[Steve Totten]

Here are some bead head bugs I tied up this morning, 4.5mm brass beads, size 4 Dai Riki #930 hooks and a variety of dressings.  Intended for crappie but the bass are starting to bed here.

[IMG]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u157/stevefishes/IMG_3474_zpsfe0...[/IMG]

[Vince Fusco]

 I found some 6's and 8's at a local tackle shop. Check out e-bay too. 

[Walt Foreman]

A smaller hook size will result in more fish.  If you fish waters like Jeffrey's where there are lots of fish 10" and better, size 4 is not too big; but for average waters with average-size bluegill, you're going to miss a lot of fish with that hook size.  

[Badgerloader]

I use 1/32 with #6 hooks, 1/64 with #8 hooks and 1/80 with #10 hooks for gills - if crappie is the target, I use 1/8 with #4 and the 1/32 and 1/64 mentioned for gills

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

You can take a pair of roll nose pliers and turn it down a bit, if you like. This will make it a smaller mouthful.

On the other hand, a larger hook preselects for larger fish. The trick (as always) is to place the bait where more of that sort of fish are found....

[LedHed]

We fish jigs from 1/24th to 1/100th with the majority right around 1/32nd and 1/48th. The hooks used are Matzuo sickles #6 & #8 (down to #12) & VMC/Mustad round bend #6 & #8 (down to #12). I like the black chrome finish for personal use.

The jigs you got, Jordan, would probably used for Crappie out here.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Id agree with LH, here. That is what we think of as crappie sized, too.

Larger brim will hit it, though, so it tends to keep the smaller ones out of the boat. I usually use one that size when the water is deeper. 

[Joe Angelucci]

1/80 jig on size 10 works well for gills.  I also use #8 or #10 Aberdeen hook. I like the long shank since they tend not to gut hook.