Size 4 or 1/0?

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Question: When the water is really low and clear, is it better to fish with a smaller hook, such as a 4, or should I just stay with the 1/0? The water level is about 3,000 - 3,200 right now if this helps, and the water is slow-moving. Also, when did fishing get so politically correct that someone can't voice his/her dislike to situations on a board such as this one? Well, I welcome any and all replies to my question, and hopefully I may can offer some advice down the lines in return.

Roll Tide

[Osprey]

5/0 with a 20lb 6 ft leader http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.... Ah DAH he's been a bad boy, thats why ...momma told me not to use bad words around women and children... Whats the last thing a Red neck says before he dies ?....Hey Yall watch this http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Row quietly and fish a Cataraft !!-------<'))>><

[This message has been edited by Osprey (edited 08-22-2000).]

[smilesforu]

Hook size should be determined by the size of your bait not the color of the water. If you need to downsize your bait the hooks will be smaller to go with it. In colored water I will use hooks on big bait up to size 5/0 , but when water gets low and clear I will go down to size 4 with small bait. But I have caught fish in clear water with 5/0 hooks, but they matched the bait.
Tight Lines

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Marty
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Hey y'all....

Thanks for the advice, but yeah I know about the downsizing the hook with the bait, and vice-versa. I will try it out, just from my bass fishing days, sometimes you have to "cupcake" it instead of "cake" it, in low, slow-moving, clear water. Anyone use any flurocarbon leaders for Kings or Steelies, etc for drift-fishing? That line is virtually invisible underwater.....thanks..and

Roll Tide "Hey y'all, watch this" http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Well uh...thanks for the info on clearin that up, but what about the hook question? I would fish next to that guy because I didn't see anything hateful, plus he carries a gun..ha!

[smilesforu]

I have been doing tests on the Berkley Varnish fluorocarbon line 14#. The stuff is very difficult to tie knots that don't weaken signifigantly or pull through. I would recommend going to lighter mono before using the flourocarbon. Unless you enjoy cussing yourself out for bad line or faulty knots.

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Marty
Steelheader.net (http://www.steelheader.net/)

[Deleted User]

Hey_you. It's not about political correctness, it's about attitude correctness on a privately funded BB! If anyone tries to thump their chests about guns and conquering women or other fishers, that's a 'tude we as a close knit membership simply don't want.- As for your hook Q; read the reg.s first. While it's OK to use size 4 or 2 in WA., I think many OR. rivers restrict hook size to a minimum of size 1 and up for steelhead. That's to help protect nates (native fish to be released) because they tend to swallow smaller hooks more often. As a general rule of thumb you should use smaller hooks and lighter line for clearer water and smaller fish and larger hooks and line for more colored water and larger fish. The size of bait is a factor too, as Marty mentioned; i.e. you could effectively fish a 2/0 hook in a prawn tail for clear water summer steelhead, but a size 1 would be better for a small corkie. Hope that helps. Tight lines and good luck 'yall. - RT

[newt]

Good info. above but what no one has mentioned yet that is just as important is balancing hook size to the action of the rod your using. Some examples:

1)My year-round bait fishing rod for medium/low, clear water is a 9 1/2 ft. loomis 1141 rated 4-8 lb. test. it is a very limber rod bordering on a noodle rod. I use #2's and 4's exclusively with this rod (in Washington) because any bigger hook would not penetrate a fish's mouth because THE ROD DOESN'T HAVE THE BACKBONE TO SET A BIGGER HOOK! Many guys overlook this fact then wonder why they lose most of the fish they hook.

2) Conversely, in medium/high, off-colored water, my drift rod is a 9 foot lamiglas rated 8-12lb. test. It has much more backbone to drive home the point with bigger hooks. I like #1's to 2/0 and don't go any bigger for steelhead because you simply don't need too.

The above examples apply to steelhead.

3) As mentioned above, salmon require larger hooks because of the larger baits used-regardless of water conditions. Just make sure, again, that you have a stout enough rod
that has the energy and action necessary to set effectively with the big hooks.

Hope that helps!

Good fishing.

[Wet_Willy]

Y'all,

I'll respond for you and others that can't get where RT and Jen are coming from. The posted rules are meant as a guideline to help keep this BB appropriate for all levels/ages of fishermen/women, not so RT or Jen can say "you broke rule #5 so you're gone". Like many others I'm sure, I appreciate the "down to earth" manner in which most people post comments. It makes me hope to meet some of them out on the river. Few if any, who read that offensive post, would choose to fish next to that person. RT and Jen are saying by their actions that angry or degrading talk doesn't have a place on this BB, period.

Wet Willy