Hook size for Pickerel?

[HUNTnFISHSD]

When using tip ups for pickerel what size of hook should you use. I will be using 3-5 inch minnows. I will likely be fishing near weeds. Also what style of hooks should I use?

[FRESHBAIT]

About a size 4 smelled hook by eagle claw or mustad bait keeper,  you could prob go as big as a 1/0 hook,   5" minnow is pretty big for pickeral.  Caught plenty on 2.5-3.5" minnows,  never any on a 5" only pike.

[FRESHBAIT]

Prob a sz 4. Most times I have a sz 6 or 8 on as I am fishing for multi species.  I do well with those,  if your wanting to use a 5" minnow the 1/0 should work,  for a 3.5" a size 4 would seem about right.

[MLBob]

Size 4 bait holder hook is what I use for medium and large shiners and catch pickerel, bass, and decent size perch on them.

[FRESHBAIT]

The Snell portion is prob a 7",  from tip of loop at top to top of the eye on the hook.  The coated wire ones seem to be longer prob about 12-16"

[esox_xtm]

Hmmmm.... Even for pike my basic hook is much smaller than you guys are thinking. I use a single #10 treble (short shank, round bend, 4x strong) and have landed pike up to 44" with this hook/leader combo. I'll go to tandem #10s on a Q/S rig to cover larger live bait and use tandem #6s (same brand and specs) for dead bait presentations up to 14" (that's the bait length).

Smaller strong hooks slip between teeth and grab flesh easily. Provided they are strong enough you can land very large fish on very small hooks. A reasonable amount of expertise is required; these are not "horse rigs" where you can hook 'em to the winch on your truck and reel 'em in. They are finesse rigs.

Chalk my vote for 18 -20# uncoated wire with #10 (Eagle Claw L974 if you can find 'em or Mustad 3551 are OK) as a basic rig. Check it out and surprise yourself..........

Just my opinions based on my experiences........... user mileage may vary.

/m

[Curley]

I preffer to snell my own. A #4 or #2 Gamagatsu octopus hook snelled to 8 or 10 lb. test floro with a 3 foot leader. On the end I tie on a swivel that I  can quickly attach to a ball bearing swivel tied to my tip up main line.  Good luck.

[FRESHBAIT]

Pike and pickeral is like comparing a Tonka truck to dump truck.  Pike I will agree wire leaders or heavy flouro leader with a quick strike rig.  Pickeral a single snelled hook even with mono is more than enough,  I think wire is over kill on pickeral. Your avg pickeral is gonna be what 18"-23"  with most being much smaller.  Do what works.best for you.  What part of the country are you in?

[1MOFISH]

Hmmmm.... Even for pike my basic hook is much smaller than you guys are thinking. I use a single #10 treble (short shank, round bend, 4x strong) and have landed pike up to 44" with this hook/leader combo. I'll go to tandem #10s on a Q/S rig to cover larger live bait and use tandem #6s (same brand and specs) for dead bait presentations up to 14" (that's the bait length).

Smaller strong hooks slip between teeth and grab flesh easily. Provided they are strong enough you can land very large fish on very small hooks. A reasonable amount of expertise is required; these are not "horse rigs" where you can hook 'em to the winch on your truck and reel 'em in. They are finesse rigs.

Chalk my vote for 18 -20# uncoated wire with #10 (Eagle Claw L974 if you can find 'em or Mustad 3551 are OK) as a basic rig. Check it out and surprise yourself..........

Just my opinions based on my experiences........... user mileage may vary.

/m

esox i was told by a very successful mushy fisherman that the small hooks are the way to go there is less a fulcrum point for the hook to bend.they penetrate like a hypodermic needle and as you said will hold if not horsed.ive found that hook placement in the bait is critical, as the small hooks ride along the chubs back if points not bent out slightly to grab flesh on the hook set. also hook further back on the chubs tail, the bigger the chub the further back i hook it for me the right size bait uasually gets hooked in the dorsel fin
GOD BLESS YOU
mo

[Ironeagle]

I usually use size 10. Eagle claw lazer sharp.

[Ironeagle]

And either. Light wire, cortland toothy critter, or flouro near 20 lb plus

[1MOFISH]

size 8 red treble 30lb trilene big game mono slide right in the corner of the mouth no gaff
GOD BLESS YOU
mo