RE: Hook size
2008/10/01 13:13:14
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I live in MI, and see no reason to change my methods to fish in PA - and I have caught plenty of fish every time I have visited. I normally spin fish with spawn tied in bags. I use dime - nickel sized bags, and prefer 10/8 for line, and #6 hooks. I will sometimes drop down to 6 lb line and #8 hooks, but I hate going any lighter, because I tend to pull the hooks out of fish when I use #10 or smaller hooks. I also am used to bottom bouncing in large rivers, so I have thunderous hooksets. Everyone kind of bums on me for that, and for using heavier tackle, but I have very close to 100% landing rate; and I think it is ridiculous to use 2# line for Steelhead, and then fight them for over 10 minutes, because you cannot put the wood to them. 2# line is for Bluegills. I probably have not fought a PA fish for over 2 minutes, ever. Most fights for me have been less than 45 seconds, and there just is no need to fight them any longer than necessary. But they are fun to catch, and they fight well on the gear I use, for the short time I fight them. It is not my idea of a good time to hook a fish, let it swim around for 15 minutes on ultra-light line, and try to trick it into being landed. Hook em, bang it out with them, and get them back quickly.
Someone posted pics of Walnut, and the many anglers fishing in super low water. What a freaking joke. I especially love all the guys who brought GIANT nets, or any net, in those conditions. Who needs a net when you can just slide the fish onto the shore, or dry creekbed, and twist the hook out with forceps quickly? What fun can it be to fight fish in 12 inches of water? I would rather fish for Rockbass than fish for Steelhead in those conditions.