I just started shiner fish recently and im having a problem. I am getting bit but I am having an issue with the hook up. it seemed like i would set the hook but they would just come off. Im a lure fisherman, tournament fisherman but im getting into shiners for my little girl and my grandfather to go and have a great time. Any advice is appreciated.

PS: I was using a 2/O circle hook and I even tried a worm hook with 4"shiners.

The trick with live bait and circle hooks is letting the bass eat the shiner before you starting reeling and just keeping steady rod pressure; you don't set the hook!

You can place the Circle hook through the bone next to the gill cover near the top of the back. With a standard octopus style hook like a Gamakatsu wide gap weedless finesse hook; you can nose hook the shiner and hook set like a traditional soft plastic. Hook size should be appropriate for the bait size.

Tom

Yep circle hooks, I hook lip or below dorsal. With shiners I don't use a float, cast out and leave bail open, once u see line spooling off, close and reel. It practically sets itself and right in the corner of the mouth.

I took my little nephew on the boat w/some worms & shiners this past summer. I'm a tournament angler also & I was having trouble at first trying to use a bobber, then free spooling the shiners. I just kept getting hits & losing my bait. After a few lost shiners and a bunch of strikes w/no hookup, I took a size 2 Gamakatzu drop shot hook, tied a Drop Shot rig, & lip hooked a shiner. After only a couple minutes of frantic tapping, I set the hook on a bass! I loosened up the drag and let my nephew fight the fish back in, had my bro snap a pic with me & my nephew holding his first fish ever & let the fish go. After that it was non stop action with the shiners/worms on the drop shot. We were landing Largemouth Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch, Sunfish, & Black Crappy. All in all it ended up being a 20+ fish day that he'll never forget.

I had this problem too when i fished with shiners for the first time. I found out that the majority of my short bites were from turtles picking at the shiner, if youre in an area with a healthy turtle population this could be the issue

The trick with live bait and circle hooks is letting the bass eat the shiner before you starting reeling and just keeping steady rod pressure; you don't set the hook!

You can place the Circle hook through the bone next to the gill cover near the top of the back. With a standard octopus style hook like a Gamakatsu wide gap weedless finesse hook; you can nose hook the shiner and hook set like a traditional soft plastic. Hook size should be appropriate for the bait size.

Tom

I like #4 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks

I use to hook mine back in the meatty part right before the tail. Did the same thing live baiting with small bream as well. Found that worked best. Also it made them swim more erratic I think but not certain on that.

i don't like circle hooks. i generally use #1 octopus hooks. but the size of hook can vary depending on the size of the shiner

I had this problem too when i fished with shiners for the first time. I found out that the majority of my short bites were from turtles picking at the shiner, if youre in an area with a healthy turtle population this could be the issue

You may also be getting bites from small fish or catfish.