MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
If you are releasing them you should use a single hook. Pike can easily get the bait down their throat before you get to the flag. I've seen lots of people gut hook pike with treble hooks through the ice. Not good for the pike. With single 3/0-5/0 octopus hooks you get a very high hook up percentage and usually the hook slides to the corner of the mouth. When they do get gut hooked with the big octopus hooks it's easy to rotate the hook and remove it with a long pair of pliers and jaw spreaders.
Thats what ive been using last few seasons, i still run a couple treble sets but i think this year im going completely to 3-5/0 circle hooks.. Ill add to what sax said by saying how it almost takes their teeth out of the equation, seems to get them right in the corner of the kisser every time with the eye of the hook ussually hanging out of their mouths...
Would the loop style quick strike rig still be effective with the circle hooks? I'm thinking of switching over myself.
Never tried one.. I tend to go more on the presentation side, heavy polymer leaders smaller trebles etc etc.. A lot of folks think using fluoro or mono leaders is all about the pike actually seeing steel leaders, while its one side of it, my opinion is with using shiners and such , using a lighter presentation keeps your bait more active, a heavy leader and multiple hooks tires out and or kills a bait more quickly.. I know everyone catches fish on steel leaders, I used to use them I know... Just seems you catch a little bit more without it...
I use flouro. And almost all my baits are dead. I may set one live shiner out.