Hook sets

[mexicanthreat]

Was wondering about hook types and waiting time for hook set on flatties.
Didn't know if hook type really matters or if it is just a preference. Was also wondering about the hook set itself. I've hed several good runs from what felt to big flatties. but after a few seconds of holding tension they were gone. I didn't know if maybe I should of waited for a pause in the run or if I waited too long into the run. Or am I just destined not to catch a single flathead this year. Any type of advice would be nice. I fish in waters that dont have a very big population of any flatheads. But i do manage to find them, i think anyways, so finding them doesn't seem to be an issue. But I guess that wouldn't hurt right now either.

[Smoothkip]

I run the 9/0 charlie brown hooks for flatheads. I lock the rods down in rod holders. Usually when a big flathead grabs it hes hooked! I dont let the fish run at all. Small flats and channels will grab a bait and not get the hook at times. Big fish inhales the baits.

[katfish]

I think Kip is right. Flathead are very efficient hunters and completely
inhale baits. They are use to baitfish struggling to escape and after swallowing
they clamp their mouths tightly to prevent escape.

In lakes our lines are not held tight by current so we rely on flathead
moving with baits to tighten lines before hookset. Occasionally we
have female flathead that are content to swallow a bait and just lay motionless
on bottom. I am not sure if they want to make sure the baitfish suffocates before
moving or if they are content with one bait for a meal. It does make for a tense wait
until the fish finally decides to move.

Setting a hook on lake fish is also more pro active. We allow the fish to run enough
that we know the bait is taken and let them tighten lines before swinging and crossing
their eyes. I have never had enough confidence in circle hooks to try them in lakes.

[Skyline1506]

i use kahles 99% of the time for flatheads. I dont let them run very long. Usually when the run starts they have already crushed the bait and have it in thier mouth.

circles for channels

[Skyline1506]

I also allow more of a run in lakes. I use mono so i let the fish pull as much of the stretch out of it as possible before i set the hook

[catmaster12]

We use the kahles too. I usually don't let them run too long either, whenever they are ready to run with the bait.

[mexicanthreat]

Very helpful guys. What about hook color. Thanx for all the advice.

[mexicanthreat]

So I just did some research. I never new kahles was a type of hook shape. the Charlie brown octopus circle hooks are extremely close to a kahles. But they are not quite as long. what I found out is that due to shape and length of kahles there is a greater chance of "gut hooking" and a greater mortality Rste. Has anyone noticed this or the fact that 9/0 hooks are so big prevent this from happening. I use circle hooks but I catch channels. And almost never get a gut hook. I Think i might go with the Charlie Brown Hooks from Bottom Dwellers.

[catmaster12]

I don't usually use circles, but from what I heard circle hooks are supposed to prevent gut hooking to where kahles don't. I'm not positive though. And as far as color I would go with black, but I don't know if it matters or not

[Chuck]

I have used many different kinds of hooks over the years, but have spent years using 3 different hooks. I started my flathead fishing with Owner J hooks. I used them for several years and never gut hooked one flathead. Then I moved to Kahle hooks as the Owner hook prices went through the roof, and they became impossible for me to find locally. I used Kahle hooks for several years, mainly in 5/0 and 6/0 sizes. I never gut hooked a flathead with them either. I did gut hook a few channels though. I then decided to try the Team Catfish Double Action hooks. I have used these for 2 years now. I did gut hook one baby flathead, but got my bolt cutters and was able to gently cut the hook and pull the rest of it out. I also had a channel cat hook itself in the eye. But these hooks are so versatile, I just can't seem to quit using them. I can use them in any situation. Reel locked in the holder, or bail open with the clicker on. If the fish loads the rod, it hooks itself. If the fish comes towards the bank, or runs sideways but doesn't load the rod, I can do a sweep set. I can honestly say though, my hookup percentage is about the same as any other hook. For some reason we have had a lot of short runs and drops this year. My girlfriend actually has a better hooking percentage using Kahle's exclusively. But that is on channel cats. I will say I feel the Double Actions probably have the best chance of avoiding gut hooks, but I don't have any evidence to support this. I should also add, I use mono, and when I used the J hooks, and Kahle's I set the hook extremely hard. While fishing just off the bank in a hole I have set the hook hard enough to pull a 5 pound flathead up on the bank on the hook set several times. Those are my experiences with hooks for flatheads, I'm not sure that it will be of any help.

[mexicanthreat]

I know red is better for channels cause they see the red as blood and prefer dead baits. Just not sure for flatties since they prefer to hunt their food.

[Chuck]

Oh, also, I have noticed no difference in hook color for flatheads. When I was using J hooks and Kahle's I usually let a fish run between 3-5 seconds.

[catmaster12]

Ahh I see. I don't really know color wise, we've never used anything but bronze colored so i'm not sure.

[Skyline1506]

i use red if offered but black when not. it doesnt really seem to matter i just like the look of a red hook. been using kahle hooks for 14yrs. have gut hooked 2 maybe 3 fish. all smaller fish that i didnt know were on the hook. you wont gut hook with the cbrown hooks either. they are a kahle circle, meant to be double action like chuck was explaining about the team catfish hooks. cbrown is meant to use as either kahle or circle

[Skyline1506]

the difference between the 2 (kahle and charlie brown) is the hook point. more specifically the angle the hook point aims back to the shank