Should i set the hook on bluegills

[Changus]

I was wondering should i set the hook on bluegills? i never done it before i just wait for the fish to bit on itself. and what size hook works the best?

[george ingols]

Circle hooks for bluegill is a new topic for me. What size? I use them for catfish but haven't seen nor heard of them for bream. That's why I joined the party here!!

[Magnolia Rick]

In my pond I use the circle hooks wait on the tug then gently reel him in. At the lake or another pond I use a #8 long shank hook and rip thier lips off.
Gotta get me one of those porcupine quills.

[trent houtz]

it depend what type of hook ur useing, if ur usein a circle hook dont set the hook otherwise u do.. i use #8 eagle claws

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Set the hook ,Set the hook,almost any type of float,cork, or strike indicator will work when the bream are biting like pitbull dogs at a postmans convention,Throw out a cricket with a long shank # 8 hook and they will be on it like Bill Clinton on a Big Mac. On the other hand when the bluegill are acting like Calista Flockhart nibbling on a ricecake, corks and other floats are not sensitive enough to pick up the delicate licking the bluegill does to the cricket. Thats why I use porcupine quills, they dont even have to go down to know that a fish is chewing on you offering, just watch how it's acting and Set the hook, Set the hook.

[Jeremy R. Mayo]

Crossing there eyes is the most part of the fun but fishing with live bait under a cork you need to learn how to find a happy medium. Beetle spins and rooster tails and cranks I try and rip there lips like a huge bass. When I fish a cricket under a cork I dont set until I lift feel the tug and then give a quick pop. I hardley ever miss a fish now using the what I call a pull and pop technique. Even the butter beans get stuck. Just remeber the key is watch the bottom of the cork, the line and any other suttle movement that looks different from the constant. If you see something different lift gently, When you feel a bump stop and lift kinda in a continues motion. Soon as you feel a bump bump bump then you POP! GOTEM! If your fishin artificial.... Yea Rip there eyes out!

[Jim Barthelman]

As Riverrunt mentioned they will spit bait quick. 50 percent of time, when I am fishing wax worms, the bobber (very small) I use - will just roll over. It doesn't go under and in most cases that bobber movement was caused by the inhalation of the bait. If you don't set the hook on that small amount of movement then you lost your opportunity.

Another issue I see with waiting for "the fish to bit on itself" is fish swallowing the hook. Which, if you are keeping fish is no problem, but on small fish and C&R fish means, lost hooks and possibly damaged fish (gils).

SO..."cross the eyes" and look out for bobbers and hooks coming right back at you.

[RIVERRUNT]

My friend had a 10 inch pet bluegill in a aquarium and i watched him inhale a nightcrawler in the blink of an eye and if he wasnt in the mood to eat it then he would blow it out as fast as he inhaled it.I thought that was interesting.i use tru turn panfish long shank hooks size 8 and like jim says cross there eyes!!!!! I like red worms and usually put 3 or 4 on at a time.Probably go though 3-500 in a day some times,Good thing i dig them my self or id go broke.i usually keep a five gallon bucket on hand with a few thousand in the basement.

[Jim Barthelman]

With a 1/64th ounce jig, and waxie - my dad and I have always used the old adage: "Cross their eyes"

[bluegillboogieman]

I think they mostly hook themselves when they inhale live bait. When, I use a beetle spin, one of my few non live choices, I set the hook. I guess I do when using a float. If you can view videos, click on the video tab. My recent vid, Catch and Keep for Dummies starts with a miss at setting the hook. I throw it back out and get him within 30 seconds. As you will see, I generally just pull up in the opposite direction the float was headed. As to hook size, I use a # 8 long shank if I can find them. They get scarce when gill fishing picks up down south. I try to find a long shank to make unhooking easier. They will often swallow a short shank hook. Some of the guys on here have gone to circle hooks. I have no experience with them but am told they usually hook in the lip because of the design.

Boogieman