Ever hook a shiner in its tail?

[masonsdad]

I always hook a shiner on a treble in front of its dorsal about 1/8" deep but I know some guys hook them in the tail and let them swim a little different.  I've also heard of some guys hooking them in the head.  What do you guys do?

[Pasquatch]

I hook mine about halfway between their caudal and dorsal fins.

[masonsdad]

do they seem to move more being hooked that way?  I haven't heard that one. 

[geothefisher]

I usually hook under the dorsal fin, but will hook through the tail to give them a different look.  They struggle differently when hooked through the tail.  If I am out and the fish are biting good and I'm running low on minnows, I will hook the dead ones through the lips and jig them to give them action.  

[rubline]

  I put the hook through the bottom lip into the upper.

[minger1]

I always hook then behind the dorsal fin. I have also hooked them through the lips but never felt secure doing it. Anyone have great hook up success with hooking through the lips???

[ctibbetts]

I sometimes have a shiner on a deadstick.  When I do, I use a chartruese jig head like you'd use for a soft plastic grub and hook the shiner through the tail.  Jig has to be small enough to not totally overpower the shiner.  Weight keeps it down and by pulling on the tail, the shiner struggles to swim up- good action and lots of nice "come and eat me" vibes through the water.

[masonsdad]

 I put the hook through the bottom lip into the upper.

Rubline, I assume you use a single hook then?  Circle hook maybe?

[sodussut]

Same as Rubline, regardless of the single hook type.

[Mounter]

I switch between hooking behind dorsal, through both lips and in the tail. Sometimes the fish prefer one over the other.

[bobbyfish64]

Ive" herd" if you hook threw the tail and just off the bottom they will struggle more to try to get to the bottom for cover{ more action i guess} never tried it, but thats my 2cents

[GotEmHooked]

Ive" herd" if you hook threw the tail and just off the bottom they will struggle more to try to get to the bottom for cover{ more action i guess} never tried it, but thats my 2cents

                 I heard pike and bass and crappie are more apt to strike at the head and walleye and perch the tail

[diabetik11]

i hook it by the dorsal fin

[Nor Easter]

I heard pike and bass and crappie are more apt to strike at the head and walleye and perch the tail

Well there's no Walleyes here and I have yet to catch a Pike, but EVERY fish I have EVER caught and I was able to still see the bait in it's mouth was taken HEADFIRST!
Pickerel, Bass, Crappie, Lakers, Salmon, Brookies, Yellow and White Perch, you name it, the bait was aimed IN.

I like the jighead method mentioned above. I may try that sometime. I've always had a strange feeling about putting a bait on a jig with the head facing the weight and not the hook. Seems the jig would get sucked in the fishes mouth with the point facing the wrong way. Done it a million times but never felt right about it.

[esox_magnum]

I hook them different untill I find what the fish like best, some days thats through the lips some in the back other days tail.

[blizzardfisher]

my buddy always uses those double treble setups on his tipups,says it gives higher hookup percentages.i just use a single treble.if i used a double i'd probly put two minnows on,but thats my opinion....whata ya think guys?

[slipperybob]

hook em through the...
...
gill plate.   

[fishmaster13184]

my buddy always uses those double treble setups on his tipups,says it gives higher hookup percentages.i just use a single treble.if i used a double i'd probly put two minnows on,but thats my opinion....whata ya think guys?

i dont remember where i heard it but someone told me before that you are only allowed 15 points maximum on your 5 tip ups in ny. may be just bull but worth looking into

[hawk01]

When using smaller bait often time I hook them through the nostril. Works good for me.

[JJ]

i dont remember where i heard it but someone told me before that you are only allowed 15 points maximum on your 5 tip ups in ny. may be just bull but worth looking into

It's 15 points per tip-up or line in NY.

[beerduck]

i hook behind dorsal i found that hookin in the tail makes them swim different but they die quicker

[dukhnter8]

I hook a few each way and see what the fish like. If you make sure not to hook them in the spine they will be fine. Sometimes when I keep getting robbed, I will hook them behind the dorsal near the tail and it seems to help catch the bait stealer.

[petrgill]

I know pike take them head first.  Just from experience seeing the tailfin sticking out of the stomach.

[rubline]

  Yes a single hook (Gamatsku Octopus) I am also going to play with clipping the tail fin this year.

[lostfishy]

Ive" herd" if you hook threw the tail and just off the bottom they will struggle more to try to get to the bottom for cover{ more action i guess} never tried it, but that's my 2cents

I've tried it but found that the hook and line seem to "weigh down" the bait towards the tail and they go nuts trying to swim UP to compensate, some right up into the hole and foul on the spool. I try to get it "balanced" but generally right around the dorsal fin so if the b***h gets lazy, it hangs in a somewhat natural position. I go further forward for really big baits though, like halfway between the head and the dorsal. This way if a fish grabs it and wants to swim around for a while before engulfing it, better chance the hook is where you want it for the strike instead of too far back and pulling the bait out of the fish's mouth or the hook out of your bait....just saying....

[SLAYERFISH]

I used to hook them near the tail but found I miss less if I hook them through the lips.  I use an aqua-view and most all fish suck the minnows in head first.

[masonsdad]

Thanks everyone.  This was a huge help.  Can't wait to try all the different methods.  I really like the one hook idea in the lips.  Most of the fish in my aquarium take the shiners head first, so that makes the most sense to me.  I'll let you know which method works best for me. 

[Nor Easter]

How 'bout a Buck Owen's song? Just change the words a little to fit the poem below...


I've,, had,,, from,,, Brine Shrimp, Shad an' Large Mouth Bass!  8)

Even hooked a shiner by its,,,,,,,,,uhh,,,tail?

An Oscar isn't an award, it's a FISH!!! 
Gettin out on the ice is my best wish..   8)
______________
Stay safe y'all

[deadsmelthead]

I hook them through the tail all the time. I set the hook when they are moving and it seems to nail them right in the corner of the mouth just about every time.

[Overly Hackled]

I always hook a shiner on a treble in front of its dorsal about 1/8" deep