Prefered hook for cats

[ratnest]

Curious to know what your preferred hook size and type type is for catfish?
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[ice_sled]

6/0 Mustad Perfect circle
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[pardof16]

Octopus Hooks, Circle (Offset-point) [url "http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1114"] [/url][url "http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1114"] [/url][url "http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1114"] [/url][url "http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1114"] [/url][url "http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1114"] [/url]
[url "http://www.gamakatsu.com/fishing-hooks.php?pid=1114"][/url] Gamakatsu's Octopus Circle Offset Point Hook is specially designed to set in the corner of a fishes mouth, making it a great choice for both fresh and saltwater anglers who prefer to use bait. Effective strong and sharp...just like all Gamakatsu Hooks.
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[Lundman]

This is also my preferred Sturgeon Hook - please squeeze the barb and it make them easy to release and you won't loose a fish once they are hooked
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]There are lots of styles and sizes of hooks...and most cat chasers seem to prefer one type or another. I tend to carry several sizes of several types on any trip I am likely to use different baits and different techniques. Like many things in fishing, there is no "one size fits all".

Here is an excerpt from my writeup on Utah Lake catfish.
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[albinotrout]

5/0 hooks work great for me.
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[ratnest]

Interesting responses. I find that I am using much smaller hooks, like an 1/O but a similar style. I am typically using WB fillets/chunks from 1-2 inches in size. With the larger hooks, are you guys using much larger chunks of bait?

Does a larger bait really result in a larger catch potential? I would think not. a fish is going to eat what is available at the time, whether it is small or larger. I suppose a really larger bait could scare off some of the smaller fish.
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[ice_sled]

My reasoning for using large hooks and larger baits for catfishing is that mudders can't swallow larger offerings or are at least detured from biting. I have only caught only 2 in two years. Also I rarely loose a fish when hooked. When a cat lets me have a chance to catch him I give my best effort to put him in the boat! I am heading to Missouri next week and will be fishing for blues in the Missouri River and the Mississippi and will go to 8/0 circle hooks.
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[setthehook]

4/0-5/0 gamakatsu big river hooks
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[BRL1]

Gamakatsu octopus in red 1\0 for nightcrawlers, 5\0 for cut bait.
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[gripy111]

Octopus Circle Offset Point Hooks in size 5.0 to 8.0, 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks of carp.
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