I tried Danny Kings punch bait for the first time Saturday.They were hitting it as soon as it hit the water.But i could not get a hookset.I tried leaving my poles in the rod holder to see if they would hook themselves.But that did not work either.Do white bass hit this also?I know the majority of my bites were catfish.But I hasd also been catching white bass on earthworms.I dont know the brand name of treble hook that I was using.It did have a small spring on the shank of the hook to keep the bait on.What is a good treble hook to use?

I've tried a bunch of hooks and settled on 2 brands I like the most.
Eagle Claw 3x size # 6 and #8 (small,small) if they are being finicky.
VMC in the same sizes
Both hooks are good for and sharp and will not bend too easily when removing them.
Usually about 3.50 for a 20 pack or so.
Good Luck and stay with it. . You'll stick em

What size treble hooks are you using? I prefer to use #6 size as opposed to the #4. I have noticed that I have landed alot more fish with the #6 and I don't use as much bait. DK is made for cats but I have also caught turtles and walleye with it.

I was using size #4 treble hooks.

I use #4's with no problem.

i use the eagle claw blood red number 6 i have had good luck with them i think the sptings get in the way of a hook set

If they were small channels, like 1 1/2 lb. and under, those #4's may have been a little big, depending on the brand. #4 Mustad's are too big for small channels while Eagle Claw #4's are usually OK.

I always start with #4 Mustad, Owner or Gamaktsu then, if I seem to have the problem you described, I go to the #6 of the same brand. If I still have trouble, I go to my old standby, #6 Eagle Claw. Set them side by side with the other brands and you can actually see they are smaller. I always keep some #8 Eagle Claws in the box but very seldom use them.

It also depends how much DK's you are getting on the hook. If you are punching and leaving it the way it comes out you should be OK. If you are making a dough ball out of it, keep it small. Those small channels can't get a big dough ball in their mouths. They suck on it and never actually get the hook in their mouths.

Also, sometimes on the smaller fish they can't get their mouths closed around that spring. Makes a good hookset hard. Always have some springless hooks. (I always start springless. I only go to springs if I have trouble keeping the bait on the hooks.)

Hope that helps some!

Kevin

Kinda off topic, but whenever I get a nice little chunk ready to go, I like to say - "Love nugget for the win." Mainly because DK has rarely let me down, I refer to it as love nuggets when I load it up.....


But #6 Gama's work well if they were small channels, which it sounds like they were dinks of some sort, or maybe turtles.

That's funny!

I pinch down my barbs for easy hook removal and I don't know if I have ever lost a fish because of it, but I do know I have saved a few hooks and a few fish this way.

If you cannot get a hookset, you may be dealing with sunfish or really small catfish. Once you catch one you will know, so go as small as you need to until you get one and then you will know.

Stay with it, the hook size you are using will do just fine. It might just be that you need to "pie-yow" those rascals a tad bit sooner. Don't worry about using too big of a hook. I usually use 1/0-2/0 Owner hooks and don't have a problem catching the small ones and the larger ones as well. Matter of fact I caught a 1 1/2lb channel on a 2/0 hook just this saturday. So your #4 is by no means too big. Hang in there and you'll get the knack for it and be justly rewarded.

Mugz,

Are you talking about 2/0 treble hooks? If you were catching small channel cats on 2/0 trebles they have bigger mouths then the ones I have been catching.

Kevin

I was using a number 4 hook this past weekend and missed some. But it was not because of the hook it was because of the weight. I was fishing Lake Granger in the river. On one rod I had a 1/4 ounce egg sinker and on another rod I had one about half that size. I was missing fish left and right with the 1/4 egg sinker. But I only missed like two fish on the smaller one. What I noticed was on the 1/4 weight I could not tell the difference between a 5 pound catfish and a dink. On the smaller one the larger cats would actually start running with the bait.

My advice is try again with a smaller weight and let the little ones get there taste. DK is a tough bait that will stay on the hook for long time. If you wait long enough you will learn one of two things, there are no big fish or you just have to wait out the little fish. If the little fish are getting all you bait before the big one can get it, then find a new spot!

ksutton,
Yep that's the size I was reffering to. A 1/0 is the smallest size treble that I use NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR! I figure that if they can't get it in their mouth then I don't want them. But that's just my way of thinking.

I use a #6 or even an 8

Mugz,

Makes sense. When I fish for channels I am usually fishing to keep. I target 2 pounds and under to eat, hence the small hooks. I got into that habit while fishing rivers many years ago in Missouri. Small fish don't taste like mud. With lake fish it doesn't seem to matter so I keep anything up to 10 pounds but old habits are hard to break.

When I want to get into bigger fish I go after blues. I don't use trebles for those. I use 4/0 to 8/0 kahle or circle hooks. Different bait, different hooks.

Kevin