tip-up fishing

[stormtrooper]

Anybody else use "quickstrike "rigging. I switched from a single hook to a one small "double" hook years ago. I rarely lose fish anymore. In lieu of wire, I use braid. Works pretty good. I set the hook fast. Treble "always finds the meat. I see alot of guys letting flags go for 5 minutes or more with the "let him swallow it" mentality. Bass can swallow a bait instantly. I've seen guys use 5/0 baitholders. One #8 double or treble causes alot less stress on fish IMHO and hooks up better in big mouths of pike and pickeral. When I used single hooks, The hook would always pull out of the mouth. I've had no problems hooking and landing toothy fish over 30 inches w/ these methods. 99% of the fish I catch this way get released unharmed. I find that one small double hook is fine for regular large storebought shiners. What do you other guys use out there?

[Van_Cleaver]

I use small trebles, usually red. Also, becoming a fan of braid; gray Fireline is my leader of choice. Occasionally a bass will swallow one, and I'll cut, but usually I'm going for perch when I put them out. I set the hook as soon as I get to the flag, as well. I suppose if I was fishing huge baits for toothy critters, I'd think about a traditional quick strike rig.

[dkfry]

I usually use a long shank aberdeen or true-turn hook. The long shank helps for hook removal. I'm not really a fan of trebles at all because they tend to hurt the fish. I do catch and realease 99% of the time so I don't want to hurt the fish. Also helps to pinch the barbs half way down. Quickstrikes are too large as I use smaller baits. Have been using 12lb flurocarbon as leader material. I agree for very large baits a quick strike is probably best especially if it has euro hooks on it.

[Rebelfisher]

size 12 VMC trebles. Swallow it to their gullet! They never get away!