Hooks for Perch?

[Ducktape Corkfeet]

What are everyone's views on hook pattern, and sizes for Perch? I ask mainly for worm fishing, but would welcome info on other methods.

[Anderoo]

For lobs I usually use a barbed size 6 ESP raptor (I think they're called - big orange and black packet?). Nice and sharp, dull colour, medium gape and shank.

 

Having said that, I use these hooks in various sizess for most 'specimen' fishing, from chub to tench, so this choice is not really specific to perch. The size 6 is right for a big lob though. You need a reasonable gape for a big worm, and the barb (or micro-barb in this case) stops it wriggling off. (Also, according to Steve Burke barbless hooks can kill perch because their vital organs are in their throat, and barbless hooks penetrate deeper than barbed. Do a search for more info.)

[Chris Plumb]

For lobs I usually use a barbed size 6 ESP raptor (I think they're called - big orange and black packet?). Nice and sharp, dull colour, medium gape and shank.

 

I'm not a great fan of these - most (all) of my perch fishing is done with Drennan's - Specimen or more usually Super Spades. In size 8's or 10's. Also use Owners - can't remember the pattern though.

 

 

C.

[noodle996]

the super specialist pattern take some beating from drennan size 2-10 for fish worm maggots etc

they are also soft enough in the wire to modify if youre carefull taking the offset out is my ususal but turning eyes out or in also works well with them

[Dick Dastardly]

the super specialist pattern take some beating from drennan size 2-10 for fish worm maggots etc

they are also soft enough in the wire to modify if youre carefull taking the offset out is my ususal but turning eyes out or in also works well with them

 

Having thought about it I agree with Noodle.Other than a size 6 Partridge Jack Hilton for fish baits the Super Specialist is the only other hook I use for big Perch.

 

Newt sent me a load of circle hooks in various sizes a few seasons back and when I get out on "casual" big perch trips Ive been experimenting with these.Just not used them enough to draw any definate conclusions yet though.

[Steve Burke]

Firstly, as I've posted many times on the Forum, I won't use barbless hooks above size 10 for perch as they can kill them due to the unusual positioning of this species' vital organs.

 

For worms I use sizes 6 to 12 depending on the thickness of the worm. Too small a hook can lead to lots of missed bites! All are barbed for the reason above. However the smaller the barb the better.

 

When I'm not expecting big fish of other species I use as light a wire as I can find as this gets more bites. My favourite hooks of this type are the now unavailable Ashima Super Match/Super Maggot series. These have tiny barbs, that on a size 6 being like a normal size 16 microbarb! They're fine in the wire, wide in gape with a squareish bend, and short in shank for added lightness. The only downside as far as I'm concerned is that they're spade end as I find them difficult to tie. I bought up a lifetime's supply just after Ashima closed down.

 

However I'm still looking for the same patterns in sizes 2 and 4 for fish baits. Please PM me if you can help!

 

DAM, amongst others on the Continent, supply very similar patterns that are often called zander hooks. These too I can recommend.

 

Where bigger fish are expected, such as specimen tench or double figure carp, I use Aberdeen sea fishing hooks in size 6, and put up with the added weight of a longer shank. I find these preferable to shorter-shanked but much thicker-wired carp hooks. My favourite pattern is the black Kamasan Aberdeen, or the seemingly identical Alan Yates version in silver. Both of these have small barbs compared with many other Aberdeens.

[Ducktape Corkfeet]

When I'm not expecting big fish of other species I use as light a wire as I can find as this gets more bites. My favourite hooks of this type are the now unavailable Ashima Super Match/Super Maggot series. These have tiny barbs, that on a size 6 being like a normal size 16 microbarb! They're fine in the wire, wide in gape with a squareish bend, and short in shank for added lightness. The only downside as far as I'm concerned is that they're spade end as I find them difficult to tie. I bought up a lifetime's supply just after Ashima closed down.

 

Are Fox hooks not Ashima??

 

 

My favourite pattern is the black Kamasan Aberdeen, or the seemingly identical Alan Yates version in silver. Both of these have small barbs compared with many other Aberdeens.

 

Ever tried Mustad 3261BLN's? They have a smaller barb, and much stronger than a Kamasan. I use them for a lot of species.

[luckyjim]

Can't comment on specific brands and/or technologies, but I usually been fish for "big" perch and I'd recommend staying on the "safe" side of small hook. As Steve said, not only do hooks larger than an 8 or 10 have a good chance of piercing vital organs/bone structure of a perch; they also put of the better specimens. When fishing for perch, I usually livebait (shock, horror) small shoalfish between 0.75-1.5 inches; a larger hook incapacitates the bait, damages fish and, from my experience, puts off the worthwhile (2.5lb+) perch around.

 

Stick with a sharp, strong, size 10 if I were you. It'll discourage tiny perch and give you hooking power on those takes that count. You don't really need anything bigger for a large lob either - just give the take 2-3 second before you strike.