Proper way to hook mousies?

[FishnFiend]

Anyone who's been icefishing for awhile knows there's a right way & a wrong way to hook spikes. Even wax worms have a prefered way that imparts some action & keeps 'em alive awhile.
What about mousies? I've always hooked 'em right through the middle of the belly, making that white stuff ooze.
They're obviously almost immediately dead, & lifeless.
Is there a better way?

The Fiend

[dwayne]

so what is the "right way" to hook spikes?

[Webguy]

I hook mousies thru the base of the tail where it meets the body, the flesh is tougher there.

[AD]

I like to hook them on the opposite end from the tail, that way the tail can wiggle a little bit when you jig it, giving it a little more action

[FishnFiend]

Hey Dwyane,
With spikes, take one between your thumb & forefinger. Gently roll it so the back end (not the pointed end) bulges. Now on that back end you'll see two dark spots. Delicately hook it between the spots. Don't gorge it on the hook. This is best accomplished with small & very sharp hooks.
If you do it right you'll have the whole spike danglin' off the hook wigglin' like crazy. It's one of the best fish triggers goin' when you jig 'em in & then just let the jig dangle & the spikes will do their thing!!!

The Fiend

[dwayne]

Hey Dwyane,
With spikes, take one between your thumb & forefinger. Gently roll it so the back end (not the pointed end) bulges. Now on that back end you'll see two dark spots. Delicately hook it between the spots. Don't gorge it on the hook. This is best accomplished with small & very sharp hooks.
If you do it right you'll have the whole spike danglin' off the hook wigglin' like crazy. It's one of the best fish triggers goin' when you jig 'em in & then just let the jig dangle & the spikes will do their thing!!!

The Fiend

Thanks for the info fiend.  That is pretty much how I do it.  I was wondering if there was a secret spike weapon out there I didn't know about.

[Robb]

Hey Dwyane,
With spikes, take one between your thumb & forefinger. Gently roll it so the back end (not the pointed end) bulges. Now on that back end you'll see two dark spots. Delicately hook it between the spots. Don't gorge it on the hook. This is best accomplished with small & very sharp hooks.
If you do it right you'll have the whole spike danglin' off the hook wigglin' like crazy. It's one of the best fish triggers goin' when you jig 'em in & then just let the jig dangle & the spikes will do their thing!!!

The Fiend

Nice I'll try it also. I just started jiggin seriously this year and just poked the hook right through the middle and made the snot come out!!

Robb

[bigredonice]

what i do, is the end where the eyes are, across the blunt end from the eyes is a very small flap of skin that sticks up...i hook my maggots through that flap of skin.

[IceTrekker17]

i hook waxworms like the old mister twisters...head down and start the hook thru the tail and run it about halfway down the body then i expose the hook again.

[fiesty]

so what is the "right way" to hook spikes?

spikes are not mousees, mousees are not spikes, take a big bunch of them, cram as many on the hook as you can, make sure you drop a bunch down the hole as well, mash them up first, yep...

[SLIPPERYFISH]

Never realized there was a "right" way... Ill be trying this!  Thanks, guys.

[icecold mike]

with all the talk about proper hooking of grubs to keep them wiggling lively on the hook - how long do they wiggle before they drown? is it best to keep putting news ones on to drown or just leave dead ones on the hook ? 

[IceTrekker17]

i keep loadin' em' up...as long as the hook is exposed, its all good 

[kingfshr16]

 I either do as stated above, threw the tail, or i "t-bone" them, right threw the middle.

[wny angler]

with all the talk about proper hooking of grubs to keep them wiggling lively on the hook - how long do they wiggle before they drown? is it best to keep putting news ones on to drown or just leave dead ones on the hook ? 

m

save a few spikes and put em in a glass of water and see how long they wiggle before they drown    

   dead ones work for me ,at times ive caught multiple fish on the same chewed up grub

[reelcharacter]

Interesting thread.

Thanks guys for sharing.

While I profess to having a PHD (Phish Hooking Doctorate) when it comes to hooking up a worm, any way to get a Mousie or Spike on a hook passed the grade for me. Now with my more educated view I look forward to better luck jigging next time on hard water.

Tight lines,
-Reelcharacter

[Luke Ice Walker]

You didn't hear this from me.  But, there are people out there actually ripping the head off the waxie and then threading it on from the tail first then smashing or squeezing it so the guts ooze out.  Don't waist it leave it there.  This greatly improves the waxie action and makes it dance like some of the plastics.  All the while chumming the hole with little bits of tasty goodness.  Another trick is to use a tooth pick after tearing the head off the waxie poke it on the tail gently turning it inside  out  then hook it on the jig and slide it off the tooth pick.  Smashing works with spikes also.  A single threaded on spike is also great during a tough gill bite.  Looks like a Little Atom Purist only with live(dead) bait. 

There really is no right or wrong just what works for you.  There are more ways, too.

LIW