Big dead jacks

[ryleyr]

Curious how everyone likes to rig their big dead baits… threading em? Quick strike rig? I’ve been impressed on my hookup ratio with normal smelts I run high or pretty much anywhere in the water column. But can’t seem to make it happen on any of my deep sets with a big dead jack on the bottom. Open to all advice and stories. Tight lines and stay safe everyone!!

[JRK22.250]

I've always made my own with a split ring and a  steel leader through the split ring  about 4 inches long.  A #2 treble on each end of leader. Main line is attached to split ring. A small rubber band is passed through the split ring, And then through itself creating loop to go around the middle of the smelt. Hope this helps. I will try to post a picture of it, so it's easier to visualize

[Papa Sly]

[JRK22.250]

That video link  is better than me trying to explain it. It works awesome. I have also used it on  big live Goldens too without the rubber band. Good luck with it.

[lowaccord66]

Quick strike rigs suck for heavily pressured fisheries....

[ryleyr]

Thanks for the help guys!

[Skorpion]

I find quick strike rigs cause more problems than they are worth…. The second hook rarely ends up in the fish for me, and too often ends up catching the bottom of the hole. I like an octopus single 1/0-3/0 if planning for numbers of fish, or a single #8-6 treble if I really want to hold onto it. But when fishing any trebles I bring the fish to the hole cautiously until I see the hook placement, nothing worse than hooking the hole and watching the fish you waited for all day shake loose….

I have run circle hooks in the salt (as is now required often) but never through the ice. Anyone have experience with that?

[ryleyr]

I find quick strike rigs cause more problems than they are worth…. The second hook rarely ends up in the fish for me, and too often ends up catching the bottom of the hole. I like an octopus single 1/0-3/0 if planning for numbers of fish, or a single #8-6 treble if I really want to hold onto it. But when fishing any trebles I bring the fish to the hole cautiously until I see the hook placement, nothing worse than hooking the hole and watching the fish you waited for all day shake loose….

I have run circle hooks in the salt (as is now required often) but never through the ice. Anyone have experience with that?

Hey skorpion, thanks for the advice, I actually run owner mosquito circle hooks on my tip ups that I’ll put regular smelt on. Size 4 or 6 usually I believe, they are pretty small they’ll sit on your pinky fingertip. I hook them how a striper charter captain showed me to hook mackerel. Run the hook pretty much under the smelts “nose” right in front of their eye. I don’t actually pierce any of the skin while doing this. I’m terrible at explaining things but I hope that makes sense!! It doesn’t work as well with shiners but is doable. Tight lines to you!

[lowaccord66]

I find quick strike rigs cause more problems than they are worth…. The second hook rarely ends up in the fish for me, and too often ends up catching the bottom of the hole. I like an octopus single 1/0-3/0 if planning for numbers of fish, or a single #8-6 treble if I really want to hold onto it. But when fishing any trebles I bring the fish to the hole cautiously until I see the hook placement, nothing worse than hooking the hole and watching the fish you waited for all day shake loose….

I have run circle hooks in the salt (as is now required often) but never through the ice. Anyone have experience with that?

I didnt enjoy circles on the ice for pike.  If (and it happens) they swallow a circle its much harder to remove than a octopus.

[ryleyr]

I didnt enjoy circles on the ice for pike.  If (and it happens) they swallow a circle its much harder to remove than a octopus.

I don’t personally fish for pike, I’m pretty laker crazy once I have ice safe enough to fish for em! But something I’ve found to make a huge difference is using a snell knot and to always set the hook on the run

[lowaccord66]

Im a laker fanatic too.  All season.  Lots of time chasing them on champlain.  I did snells too but ultimately landed in 5/0 owner octopus on crimped afw surflon 25lb, that setup was good for a nice solid hookset. Works really well with jaw jackers!