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I purchased some Team Catfish hooks in LaCrosse today in size 5/0 and 8/0. Thinking these would be big enough, I was told today these would be to small for the flats and channels around here. What are you guys and gals using on the Miss. for hooks? Thanks.
Shawn
Which hooks, the Jackhammers, Double Action, Super Circle or the Super J’s.
I use the 8/0 Super J’s for flats using bullies or suckers.
The 3/0 Double Action for channels and sturgeon.
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I purchased some Team Catfish hooks in LaCrosse today in size 5/0 and 8/0. Thinking these would be big enough, I was told today these would be to small for the flats and channels around here. What are you guys and gals using on the Miss. for hooks? Thanks.
Shawn
No hook is too small for fish, it all depends on what bait you are using. I have landed 10# channels on #12 ice fishing jigs.
I think those are great hooks for channels and sturgeon from 3/0 up to 5/0.
I’ve tried the Double action for Flats. I’m not a big fan of the Circle type hooks for live bait. I know there are some that swear by them. That’s all good. I just feel the hook point can be covered too easily. Setting the hook pulls it out of the bait and there’s a “clean” hook to catch that big mouth with.
Your mileage may vary. 
That Chris Winchester video you recently posted had him using I believe 5/0 Kahle hooks with creek chubs for flats, and they seemed to have no problems hooking up.
Never though of using a Kahle hook myself..
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I think those are great hooks for channels and sturgeon from 3/0 up to 5/0.
I’ve tried the Double action for Flats. I’m not a big fan of the Circle type hooks for live bait. I know there are some that swear by them. That’s all good. I just feel the hook point can be covered too easily. Setting the hook pulls it out of the bait and there’s a “clean” hook to catch that big mouth with.
Your mileage may vary.
X2
It was hard giving up circles for flatheads. I like the fact that technically it is hard to gut hook a fish, but I’ve changed my mind for 2 reasons.
1.) I’d prefer that when I whiff I can blame myself and not the hook.
2.) After using circles in a variety of applications and species, I found that it really is a niche hook. Perfect for cut bait for channels and sturgeon. Work horribly for panfish. It will gut hook a sheephead regardless of how it works. And with bullies, the point being bent toward the shaft increases the chance of burying in the bait, not the fish. Not to mention, like sheepshead, from time to time you will gut hook at flathead regardless with a circle. With J style hook I feel like I can set the hook as soon as I feel the fish.
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That Chris Winchester video you recently posted had him using I believe 5/0 Kahle hooks with creek chubs for flats, and they seemed to have no problems hooking up.
Never though of using a Kahle hook myself..
As Chris said in his reply to seeing that video, “my how times have changed”. He wasn’t talking about his hair cut! LOL!
Last I talked with Chris, he was a 10/0 J hook guy. In fact, I remember a quote of his. “If you miss a fish, it’s because the hook was too small.”
Matt, FlatheadWI uses Kahle’s all the time and obviously had great luck with them.
Half the fun of catfishing is setting hook…
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Half the fun of catfishing is setting hook…
Quoted for truth. Nothing like putting everything you got into the hookset and still having it just STOP halfway.
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Half the fun of catfishing is setting hook…
Quoted for truth. Nothing like putting everything you got into the hookset and still having it just STOP halfway.
Or more frustrating when its a whiff. It could be worse. My brothers could like catfishing too and be egging me on with sarcastic, “Take him, let ’em run, carefull”. Pike fishing with a sucker under a bobber with them is as much a hoot as it is nerve racking with all the heckling. And if you miss the fish, you are on the hook until the next bite.
I have been using Kahle hooks for over 20 years for flathead with great success.
Like many catmen I at first thought that bigger is
better for hooks. I special ordered larger Kahles
from Wright McGill in the 80’s. Over the years I
learned the smaller hooks with less weight and
smaller wire size allowed baits to be more lively
and live longer on the hook.
After experimenting I settled on 5/0 Kahles. The
bait movement, dacron line, and sharpenning all
caused the hooks to rust after each fishing trip.
I found the L144 BK hooks in Cabelas salt water
catalog. The coating helps prevent corrosion in salt
water and as a bonus the coating provides lubrication
that gives super penetration on hooksets.
I am posting pix to persuade folks that huge hooks are
not necessary and can be a disadvantage.
These fish were all caught with 5/0 kahles.
Very few of us up here fish lakes for flats Robby.
My hook size depends on the size of bait i am using. that usually ranges from 5/0 to 10/0 i use gami octo and kahle, kahle no bigger than 7/0.
hoping to get out fishing some flats this weekend for the first time this year. been catching stupid walleye too much lately and it is starting to really bore me 
I believe Kahle hooks work — I’ve personally seen WWG put the hurt on many a fish with them. In fact, the smaller wire diameter gets a deeper hookset, IMHO. Those hooks tend to be some of the hardest to remove from the fish of any that I unhook.
My only beef with them is that I bought some that were leftover from their estate auction in Belle Plaine and they were cruddy. I think they used the wimpiest metal ever on them. I think Eagle Claw has some better ones out, and one would do well with them I’m sure. There’s an old post on here about them from 3-4 years back, and after I got the cheap ones on Ebay I witnessed 2 failures and had one bend of my own and gave up on them. I don’t fish enough to worry about the cost of hooks at this point, so I just stick with the gamakatsu octopus J hooks and call it a day.
I’m with Chris on this one. Here is my 40/0 DD Flathead hook.
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Very few of us up here fish lakes for flats Robby.
Which is relevant how?
I can see wanting more than a 5/0 kahle for big bullheads – the bait you’re using is different – but what in the world does lake vs. river have to do with your hook size discussion? If anything, you’ll want lighter gauge hooks in the river because the bait has current to contend with.
I personally use 7/0 kahles with bluegills of all sizes. I started out using 4/0 kahles and loved them, but that was when I used bullheads and hooked them in the mouth (which I still do if I use bullheads – seperate discussion). When I went to bluegills, I initially used the 4/0 kahles but went up to 7/0 when I started using bigger bluegills.
Size of bait is the primary consideration for size of hook. Robby uses goldfish most of the time if I remember correctly – about the size of a medium bluegill. 5/0 kahles are perfect for that bait and would be so in a river as well.
6/0 circle hooks for channels
9/0 or 10/0 J and Circle hooks for flats.
i always use circle hooks for cut bait with a set line, even when using large pieces of cut bait for flats.
as far as brands i currently am using gamakatsu and eagle claw.
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Which is relevant how?
I dunno.
This was a post from Robby.
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The circle hooks will be your choice in rivers.
Kahles get the nod in lakes.
I believe in my first or post I referenced your use of Kahles.
I’m guessing this thread answered the OP question. 
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