Hook Size?

[pdolewa]

What size hooks do you guys use? I was using 6s last time I went and I had a couple fish that had the bait get pulled out of their mouths. I was using small suckers and larger shiners. I was thinking of moving up a couple hook sizes and keeping the bait the same but I'm not sure how picky they are or should I just move down in bait size..  Any tips are much appreciated

[dabluz]

I ice fish mostly deep salt water and I catch a few eelpout.  I caught 2 that were about 8 inches long the other day and they were caught on 4/0 hooks.  The bait was 1/2 smelt.  If I use a whole smelt, I use 2 hooks tied tandem with about 2 to 3 inches between the 4/0 hooks.

Eelpout have a huge mouth.  I would most definitely recommend much larger hooks than size 6.

The hook size depends more on the size of the bait than the size of the fish.  If you fish with the head of a nightcrawler (front 1/3), I guess a size 6 hook would be great but any cut bait will need a much larger hook.

[slipperybob]

Typically a size 2 hook will work for most of the one's I've caught, but some of the bigger ones will take a size 2/0 hook.  My bait is typically just a fathead minnow.

[pdolewa]

I just started using size 2 last time I went because of the size of the bait. I'm using small suckers and large shiners. I only got one and the hook did its job. I just wasn't sure how picky they were about hook size I guess they're no lake trout

[fbksmtnman]

For our set lines, up here in AK, we have to have 3/4 inch gap between the point/barb and shank of the hook.  When I'm rod and reel fishing I like to use at least a 1/0-3/0 salmon hook. They work pretty well with a decent leader or quality line.

[Derik]

My first time out the other night, used size 6 octopus hooks and we landed 5 fish in 2.5 hours.  only two were 18-19 inches, the rest were about 12.  Had two lines that had broken leaders, but i attribute that to the rocky bottom.  I was thinking about moving up to a size for octo hook, but i don't think it will make a difference.