Circle hooks?

[I bleed fish]

I'm thinking of getting my hands on some tasty yellow perch out of Hagg sometime soon. Best way I know is with worms suspended under a bobber, but with such a light bite, I always wind up waiting until they swallow the hook, making it dang near impossible to release the fish if they're smaller than I'd like, not to mention requiring me to rig up after every fish because my rig is so banged up from getting it out of the fish. So I bought some size 8 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hooks to try out. Anybody ever try this for smaller fish like perch/crappie/trout?

[XPO]

They have been working great ever since they were made out of bone and used by Neandertals. Just fit them to the size to the fish. Remember. Don't set the hook.

[Salty1]

K.I.S.S. for Perch

Keep It Spinning and Silver!!!


If you want to get consistant catches of this scaled down version of the walleye - think bait selection. Worm can work, but it's impossible to beat soft shells once the water warms up. Try them also behind the aformentioned spinner or suspended 18" - 48" off the bottom.

Perch are minnow feeders more then anything when available, so you can always use processed (fatheads in a bag) minnows and drift or float fish them with very good success. A faorite of mine is tossing a weight forward type spinner with meat on the single hook behind it. I'm a Dyed in the Wool Great Lakes Perch'R so I promise you I'll help with what I can! In fact... as of tomarrow I'm now going to have to make a trip to Hagg just to check it out. Packing minnows/spinners and drift rigs as we speak, will let you know what I find.

BTW depending on the fish size, you should have a very good hooking ratio with those GOLD needle sharp round bend GOLD aberdeen hooks size 6 or 4 for smaller then 10- 12 inchers, and or #2's or even # 1/0 for those reaching 13+ to Oh My Goodness size.

[I bleed fish]

Definately let us know how you do. Where might one purchase these minnows in a bag?

[sbasser]

I'm not a Perch enthusiast, but I do use circle hooks. The last (only) time (C.A.S.T. for kids) I actually tried to catch Perch, I used a strip of perch meat and skin. It worked great and stays on the hook really well. It should work very well for you.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but the Danielson red plastic hook disgorger (89 cents?) works surprisingly well on bass...not sure if the small end would fit Perch, but probably would do fine. The instructions (none) suck. Slide the slot down the line (keeping it tight) and push. When the hook is freed, the point will be protected (if you keep the line tight). I think it's the only Danielson product that I'd recommend, OBTW, including sinkers. :smash: C&R, Steve

[FelonFinder]

Some people swear by using perch eyeballs to catch perch!

[RB fish]

If you use a crappie jig with a bit of pearch meat you won,t gut hook them. red and white and green and white work well.:twocents:

[RB fish]

you might try using crappie jigs with a bit of pearch meat on them. red and white green and white work well and you won't gut hook them.:twocents:

[Salty1]

WOW...

You are ALL right! Perch do have an appetite (at times) for perch eyes. I have no clue as to why, but have had good success on them.
The clue to use perch meat is close to right. The strip you want is directly cut from behind the pectoral fins to near the vent. It's tough as good ol' Uncle Josh pork and has the scent those tasty cannibals will munch IF it's a moving target. Using the red and white jig RB was talking about should make it a winning combo. So in essence, I'd give everyone a gold star!
One last thing...that little red hook disgorger works wonders and saves a lot of fish lives. Believe it or not, I've had the fortunate chance to use BOTH ends on perch of varied size. If you're ever in upstate New York wine country, the famous "Fingers Lakes" offer not too difficult 50 Perch limits which can run nearly 2 pounds each, with some 3, and if memory serves their record is 3 lbs 8 oz.

To I Bleed Fish... those minnows in a bag are sold at wally world as well as most major fishermen super outlets online.(get the shiners)

[I bleed fish]

Finally got around to catching some fish today. Bluegill on the cirlcle hooks works great! Only one got it a little deep and it was still no problem to get out, the rest where easy to grab the hook, twist up and release.
...Side note... I see what all you guys are talking about with the bass at Hagg lake, Holy Crap! I saw some monsters cruising, just couldn't get any to bite. The only lures I had with me were rooster tails, and they've worked before, but not today. Maybe soon...