Gorge hook

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punkrockcaveman

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Jan 28, 2017
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I've been meaning to have a go at carving a few of these up to try at the coast, they ended up a bit rough but they are super fiddly. I'd imagine picking the right size is an absolute fine art, especially for big fish. I can see the small one landing me a few flatfish though.

20210813_163252.jpg

Anyone else have experience with them? I seem to recall Ol Ray using them in an estuary for flounder on a set line.
 

punkrockcaveman

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Jan 28, 2017
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I seem to think that without "special permission", or in a dire emergency, they are illegal to use.
I may be wrong, but best to check first.

It's a very good point that I'll be giving a really good check of. I'm pretty sure they are illegal in freshwater scenario's, I seem to remember seeing something somewhere about circle hooks being illegal in freshwater too. I'll fo some digging and if I get anything concrete I'll put links up in this thread.

I certainly wouldn't be planning on using it in any catch and release situation.
 
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Spirit fish

Banned
Aug 12, 2021
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I've been meaning to have a go at carving a few of these up to try at the coast, they ended up a bit rough but they are super fiddly. I'd imagine picking the right size is an absolute fine art, especially for big fish. I can see the small one landing me a few flatfish though.

View attachment 68059

Anyone else have experience with them? I seem to recall Ol Ray using them in an estuary for flounder on a set line.
Big ones are good for trout i used use them mostly for eels though cos eels use swallow my ******* metal hooks all time
 
i used one in 2007 in New Zealand to catch an eel -- it was made from a bone splinter and tied to modern fishing line, baited with a worm and left overnight in the river (with a swivel of course as eels tend to twist around and otherwise break the line which i learned the hard way). this particular eel became eel pie but most of them i smoked when possible...
 
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Robson Valley

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Nov 24, 2014
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McBride, BC
How do they work? I've heard the name but no idea how you catch a fish with it.
Line in the middle? Bait? It turns sideways when swallowed? Only some species of fish that can feed like this?
 
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punkrockcaveman

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Jan 28, 2017
1,457
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How do they work? I've heard the name but no idea how you catch a fish with it.
Line in the middle? Bait? It turns sideways when swallowed? Only some species of fish that can feed like this?
That's it exactly. I get the feeling they are very size dependent, and probably only work well with certain baits
 

CLEM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jul 10, 2004
2,420
428
Stourbridge
As a little lad playing about I caught several small fish using believe it or just a cotton reel and thorns. Happy times, I very much enjoyed my boyhood. :)
 
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Spirit fish

Banned
Aug 12, 2021
338
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Doncaster
I think your problem is you are not using legitimate hooks. ;)

How long are you waiting to set the hook that the eels swallow so many?
That was when I was a kid I was catching them for the pot with my grandfather ,I don't do eel fishing now there's not many eels left so hooking them perfectly wasn't my agenda back then as long as I caught them
 
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punkrockcaveman

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Jan 28, 2017
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They are stunning. We're they hard to carve? The holes in the middle looks like they could have been a bit of a nightmare
 

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