Anybody used really small hooks for carp? I have some size-8 and size-10 hooks that I'm going to try tomorrow evening at Ghostie. I hope they're strong enough.

Right now I'm using size 2 hooks. I don't really see how you could benefit from hooks that small.

i sometimes use number 10s ( barbless to boot lol ) good results with them too .

I have never had a problem with my size 6's but im sure it could help on super finicky fish!

6's are my favorites, but I've had great luck with 8's too.

8's and 10's seem best suited for very small haired baits. One tiger nut, single kernal of maize, etc.

alot of us use size 6 and some even use 8, and if you play the fish good you should have no problem with hook strength, i have never had a hook break and very very rarely do i have one even remotely bend, if you absolutely have to horse the fish that when it seems most likely but will usually cause the hook to pull before it bends or breaks

I only used size 10 hooks for years until I used the hair rigs. Caught a few 30's and never have had an issue with them breaking. Have had a few almost straighten out though. I think the smaller you go (line and hook size), the more bites you will get.

I'm wondering if smaller hooks and baits might help catch more carp from area ponds in the summer. Perhaps carp are lazy eaters in the daytime, and a small hook and bait will be sucked in when a larger one won't. We'll see.

I'm using a 2.5-ft leader on my swimfeeder rig; maybe I'll swap out leaders with #6 and #10 hooks periodically and see if it makes a difference.

good luck Brett! Let us know how it goes

Bret, I use smaller hooks all the time but not for the temperature being too hot. Mostly for more pressured waters or single bait presentations. I personally do not think that rigs are the problem at ghostie. If you wanna catch fish you gotta be at the right place at the right time with this heat. They are hunkered down trying not to expand their energy and probably only feed once the surface temp drops some and the sun goes down. It is just too hot for a 6' deep 3 acre pond for fish to be real active, especially with no fountain there now. Getting past the turtles is another problem. I bet if someone did an all nighter they would slay em'

can you fish all night there or do they have a curfew

they have a curfew. I have fished till 2 am though too tired to stick it through

that could be interesting scott

Well, tonight my size-10 hook worked just as well as the size-6 hook--I got skunked on both. Lots of bubbles, and I even cast to a few, but got no takers. Fewer turtles, thought, which was nice.