I took the wife and 4 year old daughter to a city pond to catch some bullheads for my trip to Amistad next weekend. Once the sun was about down, they were biting every minute or two. Hooking them was another story, but we managed 10, two of which swallowed my #8 circle hooks. I switched to slightly larger J crappie hooks, but they didn't seem very sharp.

Anyway, some of the bullheads are only 3 or 4 inches long and the biggest isn't more than 7 or 8. Are the 3-4 inchers too small to worry about? I know a flathead will sometimes eat a minnow or crappie jig, but I'm gonna be fishing mostly with jugs this time. I'd sure like to catch one on rod and reel, but I can't be out in the middle of the night this trip. I've only ever seen one flathead and for sure never caught one myself so jugs are the only way I can try this trip. Don't worry, I'll still release any monster that I am fortunate enough to catch.

Also, how do you hook them? Through the lip or in their back? Would it make sense to thread some fishing line through them and tie the line to the hook instead of putting the bullhead directly on the hook? Same question for bluegill? Back, mouth, or somewhere else?

Thanks a ton for your advice! It is always appreciated!

The smaller ones are preferable IMO for jugs. I like to hook them in the top of the mouth through the hard part of their head so they can't work off the hook. That's how I do it on rod and reel, I've never used them on jugs.