I am fairly new to the live bait (gizzard shad) fishing for striper...

It is allot of fun when you get a school under the boat! We caught allot our last time out, but missed several

What is the best type and size of hook for standard 3-5" gizzard shad striper fishing on down & balloon rods.

We had the rods in the holders in gear with clickers on, and the striper would grab the bait and as soon as they felt resistance, spit the bait.

The next thing we tried was leaving the cast button pressed in with just enough resistance to hold the rig with clickers on. The striper would grab the bait and run. As soon as we touched the rod, they'd spit the bait. We would have to hold it there for a few seconds and wait for them to pick it back up before setting the hook. The bite was fast and aggressive, but the fish were very nervous of any resistance. I've been out before when they just double the rod over and hook themselves, but this trip was different.

How do you guides rig up and set your reels for live bait fishing? Do ya'll use shiner hooks, circle hooks, or ?????

Thanks!

Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Circle Sea Circle Hooks.
3/0 4/0 or 5/0, depending on the size bait and fish you are targeting. A simple Carolina rig with about a 3' leader. I just fish a pretty soft drag and adjust after the strike depending on the pull of the fish. They won't spit this hook. If they hit they are hooked. The reason for the soft drag is because I don't like fishing with an over sized telephone pole of a rod and extra heavy line. I enjoy the fight and bend of the rod. I like a 7' to 7'6" med-heavy rod and 20 lb. test. If I don't give them some drag to start, the big girls will break it off quick. It's all whatever you like. But those hooks are money. I have great hook up with them. They are all I use.

Guide Randy Wood was using a big number 1.0 Eagle Claw lazer sharp baitholder.

When I fish shiners (no shad tank) I use a number two Gamakatsu Octopus circle hook.

I use the 3/0 laser sharp Eagle Claw circle hooks. If they bite they are hooked and usually in the upper lip. I caught catfish to 25# on Tawakoni and had no problems. It is all about the proper drag setting. Bigger is not better. I also use 20# Big Game line.

I used 1/0 owner mosquitoes hooks.

Thanks Guys!

I bought some 3/0 & 4/0 Eagle Claw See Circle hooks to try out. I will probably rig a few rods with the new hooks and see if they out perform the others. Do you guys just pick up the rod and start reeling with the circle hooks? Its gonna be hard not to set the hook. Setting the hook on a striper is so much fun! I guess once they feel that hook in them, they will take off running and burn some drag!

I use 2/0 octopus circle hooks. The main reason I use circle hooks is that sometimes there are only 2 of us on the boat with 5 rods out. With circle hooks you can leave the rod in the holder while you fight the 2 fish that are on. You will have multipale hookups sometimes when you are in a school of fish. Don't set the hook!

No hook set. As mentioned above, they hit it and they are hooked. If you see a big hit and they are not hooked, you usually reel up nothing but a shad head due to a short strike. The hook does its job if they enhale it. I prefer the larger hooks because Hybrid will engulf a shad. And the short fish tend to swallow the small hooks more. Sucks for the release. I usually cut the line and let them go hoping that the hook eventually rots out. Doesn't happen as often with the bigger hooks.

I use 2/0 octopus non circle works great!

Either 5 or 6 Kahle hook.

I will use just about any J hook, I don't care for circles except on my jug lines. With the wide gap Kahle/O'shaungessy (sp?) I've had the shad hook themselves in gill areas and went back to using J style hooks Lazers or Gamagatsu's super sharp ones, figure these are easier on the shad too when going through nostrils due to sharpness.

Mustad 92604NP-BN 4/0 Your not alone, the bite on Texoma has been a little finicky to say the least. The water temp is about 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year. The fish will be a lot more aggressive when the water warms a little more.