Popping Cork problem

[LynnInletFisher]

Ive been using a popping cork with a 1/4 oz jig head and a gulp pogy or 4" mullet and have been hammering the reds and specks. The only problem is alot of my fish are swallowing the hooks which makes me feel bad and Im losing alot of jig heads.

Any suggestions? Will circle hooks work under a popping cork.

Tight Lines.

[ice cream man]

Have you tried a circle hook with a split shot ?.............ICM

[HOLWACHAGOT]

I have been trying circle hooks combined with grubs. They seem to try and spin if the hook is placed inside the grub like the traditional jighead. Try running the circle hook through the tip of the grub only. If placed correctly the grub won't spin or impeed your hookup.
Popping cork with a circle hook will slay em with bait too. Sometimes I add a split shot if my minnow/pogie won't stay down. A circle hook with a strip of fresh mullet is awesome too under the cork.
As far as loosing jigheads...Releasing them with a leadhead in their gut is useless. Rip it out and keep your jighead, the fish is through dealing if the jighead is down his throat.
It is a shame, but, what is the point of throwing the fish and the lead back over?

Holwachagot

[gottaflylee]

Don't use the "Gulp" and set the hook faster...
What size hook are you useing, also try useing a "Wide gap Shiner" hook, 5 to 5 ought...
Oh ya, one more thing, get your self a pair of "King Neps" to remove your hooks, they work like a charm...

[Jesse Lockowitz]

yeah, they just inhale gulp, much more then regular plastics..been noticing that alot with the trout over the last season..especially with the gulp shrimp...they just swallow it...



Jesse

[LynnInletFisher]

They're not swallowing it fully its just back in their crushers. From what I've heard pups live pretty well after gut hooks. I'm gonna try circle hooks but I have a feeling they wont work as well as just a jig head. If they dont work Ill just stick with cut mullet.

[gottaflylee]

They're not swallowing it fully its just back in their crushers. From what I've heard pups live pretty well after gut hooks. I'm gonna try circle hooks but I have a feeling they wont work as well as just a jig head. If they dont work Ill just stick with cut mullet.

Not as good as you have heard. Try the circles but you owe it to your self to try the "Wide gap Shiner" hooks.

[Honey Hole]

I agree w/the wide gap shiner hooks... OR a Khale hook... you can place a split shot at the hook eye, or buy the weighted hooks. Keep in mind, the tagging studies of mortality rates for deep hooked fish are not from jig heads. And, the majority are Large Reds, not pups.