x

Join the coolest online fishing community. FREE!

  • Get the latest local fishing reports
  • Find all the best fishing spots
  • Show off your catches, photos and videos
  • Read and share top fishing tips
  • Meet other anglers in your area
  • And it's all FREE!
Sign in with Facebook
or
Create your account

Hooks fishing tips

Add a new tip View Tips By Topic
2
Vote

Fall Trout

One of my favorite fishing tips techniques for fall trout fishing is to use live worms rigged on a gang hook rig. A gang hook rig is simply a set of pre-tied hooks in line one after the other and is attached to your line using a small barrel swivel.

This is how it's done: Start by taking the end of your line and tying on a small barrel swivel. Now, tie a set of pre-tied gang hooks or use 9-18 inches or so of leader and tie on one hook. Next, tie on another hook directly to the bend of your first hook and shorten it up so they are only about 1inch or apart from each other. Or if you have the skill, go ahead and just tie a Snelled knot. At this point add a couple of split shot sinkers above the barrel swivel (the number and size of split shot will vary with current flow) for weight. Now rig a live worm onto your gang hooks (if the worms are really large, simply pinch them in ½).

The idea behind this is that you can drift or bottom bounce a worm and have a larger presentation as the worm is laid out over both hooks.

Topics: Fall, Trout
6
Vote

FALL FISHING

Fishing opener is the best time to fish. Fish forgot about all them hooks they have had....the waters warming up, spawning's just getting done, fish are multiplying, and hungry!! Then as the summer progresses.......the mayflies come out for a little bit......and the fishing really starts to slow down!! Then FALL FISHING picks up!!! The weather cools down its not painfully hot any more....and it seems to me the bigger fish start to bite more! I love fishing in the boat, but one thing I love about Fall is that you can fish off of shore!! Have a fire, with a big crowd! I like shore fishing because of the maneuverability! And I think Fall is really the only and best time to fish of shore!!!!!

Topics: FallShore, Fishing
9
Vote

Scents that attract and repel

I went fishing one night and my friend and I used the same worms, hooks and bobbers but I was snagging fish left and right when he was barely getting bites. We started to wonder if my scent had anything to do with it. The tables had turned a few weeks later when he had been catching all the fish and I did not, so I did some research. Just like how we pinch our noses for bad smells, the same odor threshold can be said for all species of gamefish. Everything our hands come into contact with such as sun lotion, bug spray, cigarettes and our own human scent can cause fish to turn up their nose and refuse to bite. As the weather gets hotter and the bugs come out, I definitely load up on the bug spray. Even if you think your hands are clean, L-Serine (a tasteless, odorless chemical found in the skin oils of humans) will always be present on every worm, jig, or crankbait you come into contact with. Applying fish scent to your lure will not only attract the fish, but will mask or eliminate these undesirable smells. Fish can spit out a lure or bait very quickly. If the bait they are trying to ingest feels unnatural, or has a negative taste or odor, the chances of you setting the hook are very low. Applying scent will make your bait feel and taste alive, convincing the fish to hold on to the bait for a much longer time, ultimately allowing you to feel the fish first, then set the hook. Of course using scents for attractants vary depending on the type of fish. For example, when dealing with pike or muskie, scent is only useful when they have already made visual contact and are just about to strike. Scents come in a variety of packaging, but I have read more good reviews about spray bottles and will probably buy a few to try out. I wouldn’t want anything that you have to rub in since you’re trying to avoid touching it with your hands. If anyone has any recommendations or input on scents (good or bad), I’d be interested in knowing!

Topics: Scents, attractants, smells
12
Vote

Mono or Braid

Mono or Braid? Braid offers amazing strength vs. diameter making it easy to put the heat on big fish with smaller tackle but in some situations you need the stretch of mono. For instance, when throwing baits with small treble hooks, mono is a must to absorb head shakes keeping the hooks stuck home.

Topics: mono, braid
10
Vote

Avoiding Misses

Tired of missing strikes and losing fish? Try adding a stinger hook if you are using bait, trimming your skirt if you are using a spinnerbait, downsizing your lure, or whatever you need to do to put the hook in the strike zone. Now the fish has no choice but to get a face full of hooks. Get Bit!!

Topics: bait, lure, hook
6
Vote

AnglerCo-Angler Ettiquette

OK, this is a tip borne more from frustration than anything. I may not cover every scenario or situation, but it's a good start for things to think about.

If you're fishing as a team, then just by the nature of it you'll be maximizing your cooperation. This is a tip more for the Boater/Non-Boater tournaments where you're still competing against each other.

1. Remember, it's the boater's boat. Offer some gas money. Respect their property. Hooks in seats, 3 big tackle bags, and 10 rods that overwhelm their space isn't appreciated. Bring a small bag for your trash - a wrinkled up grocery bag is fine. Their boat isn't your garbage can. Ask if something is OK - "can I put this here?", can I use this?", etc. goes a long way.

2. Show up with a PFD and culling system. The boater may not have spares for you to use. Most boaters probably have those items for a co-angler to use, but don't assume they do, and don't get upset or throw a fit when they don't.

3. Bring your own lunch, snacks, and drinks, but be reasonable. Built-in coolers aren't huge, but boaters do leave room for the co-angler. Bringing a 32-quart Igloo probably isn't a real good idea, either. Remember, space is sometimes at a premium, so use it wisely.

4. Boaters do what they can to position the boat to everyone's advantage. Sometimes, it doesn't always work. Sometimes, the co-angler doesn't always get the best spots first. Talk reasonably about it. Most boaters will do what they can to make sure it's as fair as it can be. When the boater decides to move spots, give the co-angler fair warning. Co-anglers need to be ready to move when the boater is.

5. Boaters, you have the front of the boat to fish from. Don't cast back from the midline of the boat. Co-anglers, don't fire casts up over the shoulder of the boater. Keep your area as your area.

6. When an angler (boater or co-angler) is going after a fish, fishing a particular spot, bed, etc. let them have it. It's their fish. If they hit get a hit and miss, it's still their fish to go after. Don't wait for them to reel their line in and fire a cast at the fish

7. Don't destroy each other's things. Rods, reels, baits, equipment, etc. gets expensive when it needs to be replaced.

8. Be respectful - that goes for everyone. If the co-angler doesn't like the boat he's drawn or been assigned to, keep your opinions to yourself. Certainly don't put down the other angler's equipment, style, baits, etc.

9. Remember, you're there to fish competitively against each other. Small talk is OK, especially if you're new draw partners. But that doesn't mean start talking from launch time until you weigh-in. Comeraderie is great, especially after the tournament ends, but sometimes extreme concentration is needed when you're trying to boat a limit.

These are just the basics, but they're a good foundation and they go a long way. The basic rules should be this - don't be the boater that everyone dreads going out with, and don't be the co-angler that boaters say they'll never fish with again.

Topics: boater, nonboater, coangler
6
Vote

Glue your soft plastics to your hooks

OK, another glue tip. Ever get frustrated because you rig your creature bait to your extra-wide gap hook, only to bump into a rock and the bait slides down the hook? Rig your lure, and apply a drop of the same glue to the hook shank near where the line is tied. It's safe for all lines, will help the knot hold, and will cement the head of your soft plastic bait right where you want it to stay.

Topics: Gluing, soft, plastics
7
Vote

Crankbait Hooks

The hooks that come on new crankbaits, topwaters, jerkbaits, minnows, and lipless crankbaits are good, but bass have a tendency to jump and throw the lure. Switch out the original hooks with Mustad KVD Elite 2x short treble hooks - the short shank, unique bend and strong wire almost guarantee no lost fish. I've hooked over two-dozen bass in three tournaments this year, most have jumped, and none have come off! Plus, with the shorter shank, you can usually upsize by one size (if the original hook is a size 4, you can usually get away with putting a size 2 Mustad on).

Topics: Hooks, crankbaits, treble hooks
20
Vote

Low Impact Sturgeon Fishing Tips

Use non-offset circle hooks. Non-offset circle hooks offer three big advantages over traditional J-hooks:
• Fish are seldom hooked deeply with non-offset circle hooks because their unique shape rarely lets the hook embed until it catches
on the corner of the fish’s mouth.
• Once solidly hooked, fish rarely become unhooked.
• Circle hooks are less likely to snag on rocky river bottoms.
Because circle hooks are very different than J-hooks, anglers should use some different techniques for them to work properly: First, “hang” the
bait on the hook and leave the point exposed (A circle hook needs to be free to pivot for it to function properly). Second, when a fish
starts to bite, let it mouth the bait a few seconds longer than you would with a J-hook. Lastly, do not set the hook. Instead, simply start reeling
until you come tight on the fish. The hook will catch on the corner of the mouth as you smoothly tighten the line.
When using a regular J-hook, it is important to stay attentive to the rod and hook the fish quickly before it has a chance to swallow
the bait.
Use barbless hooks (it’s the law!). Pinch or file the barb down to ease removal of the hook and minimize the damage to a sturgeon’s fleshy mouth.
Use a sinker slider (a law beginning in 2011) Tie your sinker to a dropper line on a sliding device,
using at least ten pound test lighter line than your main line. This will minimize the chances of leaving a baited
hook snagged to the bottom if you break off.

Topics: Sturgeon, Low Impact
21
Vote

Sweetwater River, Wyoming

I don't know if it's just me or if it's just this river- but if you're fishing the Sweetwater River, don't use weights! No matter where I fished on this river, my line got stuck (when I used a weight). I was able to save my line and hooks almost every time- but when I got it back, the weights were ALWAYS gone, with everything else still intact..maybe there's just a giant magnet grabbing those weights..be warned! :)

Topics: Weights
12
Vote

Try using barbless hooks

Next time you go fishing, try your hand at barbless hooks. In some bodies of water, they are required. But even if not, there are many reasons to go barbless. Most importantly, it is easier on the fish that are caught and released. Barbed hooks can often be difficult to remove and can cause much damage to a fish, reducing its chance of survival (barbless hooks are also easier to remove from yourself or a friend, if you happen to 'catch' another person). Also, barbless hooks add an additional element to the sport of fishing. Landing a fish on a barbless hook is much more difficult, but also much more rewarding. These hooks teach you the art of playing a fish, rather than just 'meat-stickin' it to the shore.

Topics: Hooks, barbless, survival, sportsmanship
10
Vote

Scents - or lack thereof

Ask 10 anglers how they feel about scents (spray, liquid and grease), and you'll get 10 different answers. I have a few, and I use them from time-to-time, and to be honest I haven't notice a difference if I use them or not. I think the more important thing is to MASK scents that could cause problems.

Human odor, cigarettes, oils, virtually anything not natural has been shown to be a repellant to fish, especially bass and trout. Make sure to keep your hands clean and free of offensive scents, and I think you'll benefit more than spending $100 on different scents.

I use unscented wipes, Berkley's Odor Shark, and after catching a bass I just rinse off my hands in the lake water. Instead of grabbing the lure to remove hooks, I use pliers to take out the hooks, in order to try keeping my hands off the lures.

Topics: Scents, smells, odor
6
Vote

Salt water salmon fishing.

Tried and true salmon trolling tips.
If your not familiar with the area, drop in at a local tackle shop for directions to some of the hot spots and inquire about what's working.
My favorite method is trolling a cut-plug herring. A cut-plug is simply cutting the head of the herring off. This must be done in the following fashion to ensure the proper "action" or "roll" is achieved. Cut the herring at a 45 degree angle from top to bottom and also the width of the herring. This will give you a nice tight or small roll on your bait.
Next attach your flasher to the down rigger cable, 1 foot above the ball with a 3-4 foot leader. Note do not use a long leader or you will get tangled with your line.
Attach your release clip 18-24 inches above your flasher line, make sure your bait is only 4-5 feet behind your flasher.
The reason I like this setup is because the fight you will experience from the fish will be increased 10 fold. With Coho often the flasher will take 90% of the fight out of the fish. Try the above method and you will never attach the flasher to your rod again.
Other tips I can give you:
Try different trolling speeds: The speeds that have worked best for me range from 2.5 to 6 km per hour.
Look for bait balls on your fish finder, they will show up as a big red or black ball. When you find one and if you are fishing in a tide, turn your boat into the tide and adjust your speed so as you are stationary on top of the bail ball. The tide will work your bait/cut-plug for you and you will catch more fish than you could imagine.
Coho like fairly open water where as Chinook like to be close to shore.
Remember in Canada you must use barbless hooks when fishing for salmon!
Good luck and Good Fishing. Brady

Topics: Salmon Tips on bait, presentation, trolling methods and where to find them
5
Vote

Use multiple squid jigs on one line

You can use more than one squid jig on your line, often the best setup is 2 jigs. Use a large weighted jig a couple feet below a smaller non-weighted jig. Try to use jigs with an eye hole on the bottom under the hooks to quickly swap out your different jigs. Make sure only the bottom-most jig is weighted and all other jigs are lighter, this will keep your line from tangling up when it first hits the water.

Topics: squid, squid jigs, jigging, tackle