Jug Hooks?

[txthumper1691]

I use both octopus hooks and khale hooks. either way my hook up ratio is about th same, but no "J" hooks. I also dont use weighted jugs

[TennesseeJugger]

The Jugger only uses Circle hooks!

[777]

I ran a test last summer with some gamma circles and they had good points and bad points. I used the 7/0 nickle plated kahles for years and really like those hooks for pole fishing and jugs. Here are a few things I found out.

1. The 7/0 nickle plated kahles I could pretty much use from year to year with little maintenance. I would always sharpen them at the beginning of the season and not have to touch them until the following year or I would replace one if it got bent from hanging on a stump.
The gammas on the other hand were a constant maintenance issue having to re-sharpen them regularly. These hooks also rusted and were only usable for 1 summer.

2. As far as hook up ratio, both hooks do an excellent job.

3. The kahles you can use a variety of cuts on your baits with good hook up ratios but the gammas you are limited to smaller chunck baits only.

I have already trashed all 40 gamma hooks and replaced them back with the nickle plated 7/0 kahles on all 40 of my jugs. They are ready for when I take the grandkids out.

[ibhuntng]

i use a 6/0 or 8/0 offset circle on mine

[BigCatter54]

I ran a test last summer with some gamma circles and they had good points and bad points. I used the 7/0 nickle plated kahles for years and really like those hooks for pole fishing and jugs. Here are a few things I found out.

1. The 7/0 nickle plated kahles I could pretty much use from year to year with little maintenance. I would always sharpen them at the beginning of the season and not have to touch them until the following year or I would replace one if it got bent from hanging on a stump.
The gammas on the other hand were a constant maintenance issue having to re-sharpen them regularly. These hooks also rusted and were only usable for 1 summer.

2. As far as hook up ratio, both hooks do an excellent job.



3. The kahles you can use a variety of cuts on your baits with good hook up ratios but the gammas you are limited to smaller chunck baits only.

I have already trashed all 40 gamma hooks and replaced them back with the nickle plated 7/0 kahles on all 40 of my jugs. They are ready for when I take the grandkids out.

I havent run jugs to much and they were never my own, I have made twenty up, and had planned on using the 7/0 kahles like you mentioned (already have them tied up)

Your post put me to ease using these, i will let everyone know how it turns out, going to run some this weekend.

[schoonie]

We missed alot til we switched to gamma circles. Used to use Kahles. The circles catch at least 50% more fish in our experience.

[Bronco59]

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD GOOD LUCK WITH A LARGE OFFSET CIRCLE. I HAVE HEARD ALOT OF TALK ABOUT THESE (sickle) hooks that Big Paul has.GOOD STRONG HOOK AND SHARP AS HELL.GIVEN THE WAY THAT BLUES AND FLATS HIT THE BAIT THEY WOULD BE HOOKED FOR SURE. I'am going to give these SICKLES a shot!! (2) pkgs of the 10/0 and (2) pkgs of the 8/OSome Skippies and afew 6" SQIUD FLOATED JUST OFF THE BOTTOM UP ON THE FLATS.

[playin4funami]

the renegade sickle hooks are where it is at for flatheads, circle are for blues and channels, flatheads not so much. renegade sickles are a real mans hook! LOL

[flatheadslayer]

the renegade sickle hooks are where it is at for flatheads, circle are for blues and channels, flatheads not so much. renegade sickles are a real mans hook! LOL

Circle hooks are the ticket for Flatheads.Where I fish the Flatheads don't pussyfoot around with the bait,they take it and go.Now there are exceptions at certain times of the year...

[WalkAlot]

What do you consider to be weighted?

At what point does a weight become more than what it takes to keep the hook or the live bait down, and become "weighted"

2 oz? 4?

My anchored jugs use a railroad spike, comes out to 11 or 12 ounces. I feel like I could go heavier.

In my limited experience, I have had a 6.5 lb channel, 8.4 lb blue cat, and a 5.5 lb largemouth move these jug lines.

However, I also feel like there is a place for a jug that is weighted enough to stay in place until a fish gets on it. Doesn't have to be a big fish, lbers would count, and could surely move a quarter lb.

As many people before me have experienced, it is a damn pain when your (unweighted or minimally weighted) jugs run up to the shore to where you have to beach your boat, worry about vegetation in your prop, etc. When it is windy, it can be real chore getting my little jon out of the cabbage, keeping the motor running, clearing the prop, all while trying to get the jug or the fish in.

Does anyone run jugs with the weight on bottom so that it will stop in say 3-4 ft of water with the hook a foot above?

My experience with anchored jugs using Eagle Claw L197 and L198 (Big Eye-Trotline) slightly offset circle hooks has been solid hook sets.

Free floating jugs (1/4 weight) carolina rig w/1 ft leaders, has been not so great. Thin lip & whisker hooks have not been uncommon. However, I have limited experience and that was in hot summer time conditions. Maybe the fish will hit harder in the spring.

Brett