Octopus Hook for live Minnows & Leeches
Use a smaller #6 or #4 for 1-2″ minnows and small leeches to target Perch and Crappie. Use the medium size #4 & #2 on larger 3-4″ minnows and jumbo leeches for Walleye. Lastly, the 1/0 is great with larger 4-6″ minnows used to target Pike and Bass.A #6 hook will generally have a shaft about five-eighths to seven-eighths of an inch long. If the number of the hook is followed by another number and an x, it signifies that the shaft is either longer or shorter than normal.
If you are going for small size crappies or the area you are fishing is known to have small size crappies, you should get and use a size 6 hook. If you are targeting large crappies, then you should go for the bigger size hook (size 2). As you may have noted, the bigger the size number, the smaller the hook.
Fishing hook sizes are generally referred to by a number from the smallest (size 32) to the largest (size 19/0). For hook sizes from 32 to 1, the larger the number, the smaller the hook. For fish hook sizes from 1/0 (called a one aught) to 19/0, the larger the number the larger the hook.
Hook Sizes
For instance a 4/0, ("four bar oh" or "four oh"), hook is one size up from a 3/0, which is one size up from a 2/0, etc. Hook sizes not followed by a zero, decrease in size as the number increases. For example a size 3 hook is smaller than a size 2 hook, which is smaller than a size 1 hook.Hook Sizing
For smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing the most appropriate sizes will be sizes 4, 2, 1, 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0 and 6/0. Of course, the size varies depending on the technique you're using and fish hooks that are smaller or larger than this range are sometimes used.Yep, they sure can see the hookOr else they're too interested in your bait to give a hoot :p. I started with jigheads in 1/32 & 1/16oz with #4 hooks never had a problem with them, and still use them sometimes. Mostly, nowadays, I use the same weight jigheads but with a #2 hook.
whether your bait is wadded up on a red, black, silver, bronze or whatever color hook a catfish could care less. The colored hooks catch fisherman and not fish.
Hooks are classified by sizes; for example, a size 1 hook is larger than a size 7, while a 1/0 is smaller than a 7/0 (pronounced 7 aught).
The red hooks do not attract the fish but are invisible to there eye thus meaning the fish only see's the natural bait attached to the red hook,minnow,grub etc..
Barrel Swivels are particularly useful when fish ultra-deepwater with a drop shot rig and the fishing line has the tendency to twist many times when reeling in. The use of a barrel swivel also allows anglers to use two different types of line if they so choose but is not necessary.
You'll need a sinker or a weighted jighead to get a buoyant lure like a plastic worm or tube bait to the bottom and keep it there. With tube baits, finesse worms and grubs, try a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce sinker or jighead. Sinkers used for Carolina rigging are heavy, usually 1/2 to 1 ounce.
For most bass, they are naturally attracted to scents like garlic, anise, and salt. If you are looking for more specific, a Crawfish Natural Scent is always on top of the list in many anglers. Once you get a bite, most bass will hold on to it and will refuse to give up.
When it comes to catching bass, every season has its opportunities and challenges. Fishing can come alive in the dead of winter on a mild afternoon, but spring and fall usually present the best action. Generally, I try to avoid extremes of heat and cold and times when the water temperature falls rapidly.
You're Using the Wrong BaitIf you've been fishing in good areas for a while and haven't caught any bass the odds are you need to switch to a different lure or bait. Weather, light penetration, bass forage and season patterns can all play a huge factor in determining what the bass may be keying in on.
5 Ways to Trigger Bass to Bite a Lure
- Learn to trigger fish even when they're not hungry.
- Bass aren't that smart, they just aren't always hungry. The sooner anglers accept that, the better.
- Vary your retrieves.
- Don't just go through the motions.
- Saturate the area.
- Ignore the norms.
- Give them the one-two combination.
The most fundamental rule is to fish brightly colored baits in dingy or muddy water and light, subtle colors in clear water. The logic here is that a bass' visibility is hampered by silt, and colors like chartreuse, yellow and orange are easier to see than bone, pumpkinseed and smoke.
Jigs are always noted for catching big bass so try pitching a flipping or finesse style jig around shallow cover or dragging a football jig in deep water. Bumping a Texas-rigged creature bait along the bottom is another effective technique for tricking heavyweight bass in the fall.
The largemouth bass is a sight feeder and takes food from the surface, in the water column and off the bottom. They often feed in schools near shore, close to vegetation.
The Five Bass Fishing Lures You Need in Your Tackle Box
- SPINNERBAITS. A classic option that has proven its worth, the spinnerbait is a versatile lure for bass fishermen.
- BASIC JIGS. Another versatile bass fishing lure that every fisherman should consider is the basic jig.
- CRANKBAITS.
- TOPWATERS.
- SOFT PLASTICS.
Upsize Your Baits for Bigger LargemouthWhether it's worms, lizards, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits or other lures, go bigger and you'll target bigger largemouth bass. Worms in the 10 to 12 inch range, lizards in the 8 to 10 inch range, swimbaits in the 7 to 8 inch range are just some examples.
