Recently I was introduced to freelining with a floro leader and circle hook by a saltwater fisherman. I did a little research and found some people use the technique for Bass. I was wondering if anyone had any experience doing this for Pike in the spring in skinny water. Best live bait? Hooked in the back or snout? Leader test? Best conditions? Etc.

we have done this once or twice. always live suckers and hooked in tail. we only used 12 lb mono. I would prefer calm days as slack is less of an issue. Hooking fish in tail allowed minnow to swim more freely and we didn't have issues with hook set's.

People use it for bass???? I'm assuming that they keep the bass.

Anyway, not familiar with the term or maybe I just forgotten about it, since I've gone pretty much artifical lures. I think this is where you thread line (or dental floss) into bait and then tie end of line onto hook shank. Typically with suckers, they're threaded through the nostrols or about's that area. It's a little easier to control bait when they're pulled from the head. If it's really lively bait, then I can see hook attached from tail end. They're more likely to struggle/swim about in place. Easier to keep them from burying in weed.

The way I was shown was simply braid-double uni to 30# floro- clinch to circle hook. No weight, no float, no floss. Rig a sardine through the nostrils for Snook in mangrove roots and Redfish/Trout over grass. The Sardines were netted wild and would go crazy (sometimes try to break the surface) when a fish was near and even swim back to the boat at which point you'd pitch 'em back in. When the fish picked it up you'd just reel up the slack and start the fight. Whenever I TRIED to set the hook I'd lose the fish more often than not. If near cover, you had to pull them out fast. I don't know how much of that would translate to Pike and Suckers(or big Redtails etc.).

The Bass guys (that I read about) rig 'em through the back and use them around docks. I believe they were releasing the fish. I will say that every fish that I caught was hooked cleanly in the corner of the mouth. I was kind of banking on the bait roaming around some. Good point on the weed problem. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad with early weeds.

Sounds more and more like just free swimming live bait.

I've only occassionly use circle hooks and one thing about them, is that you do also need to set the hook. That's after the circle hook, hooks the fish. You need to ensure the hook point, drives through rather than just simply lip stick a little flesh.

The shape of a pike's mouth function a lot like a clamp. You don't want to simply just reel up and start fighting the fish. You need to feed them some line and let them run with it, because often the bait is just clamped in their mouth. It's when they've swallowed the bait, or engulf it deeper, do you set the hook. In the case of a circle hook, they work better if the fish's lips are sealed, or your line is in the mouth cornered (which is often).

It's weird to hear this a method for bass, but plausible for the more lethargic floridian strain lmb's. For the norther strain, you're more than likly having to uproot some weeds and a lot more harder for downed timber. Anyway when artificials fail and that leaves live bait, then the tight lipped bass may fit the lethargic category.

Hookset details noted. Thanks for the insight.