Live bait for Laketrout
 

I have been fishing Merrill Creek, drifting a medium shiner on the bottom and missing about 50% of my hookups. Many fish are spitting the hook on the way up - I'm keeping medium tension on the line, but it seems the hooks may be pulling out of the fish's mouth. Do Lake trout have very soft mouths? Should I be reeling them in more gingerly? I'm using braid with a fluorocarbon leader (so there is very little stretch) and size 4 or 6 hooks. I am keeping my drag on the snug side and not letting any slack in the line. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Jim

Re: Live bait for Laketrout
 

How long are waiting to set the hook after the initial strike?
You might want to try some circle hooks too.
Generally the fish hook themselves with circle hooks.
And are you sure the strikes are Lake Trout and not a 12 in Brown?

Re: Live bait for Laketrout
 

If you plan on keepin the fish use 2 or 4 octopus gammi's and a strike guard w a slip sinker, and let em take it for 15 seconds. If your gonna release 2 or 4 octopus circle gammi's and they will hook themselves. Lakers have decent mouths, reg trout are softer. W braid loose drag let em run comin up just keet decent tension use light rod and or w a soft tip to feel strikes

Re: Live bait for Laketrout
 

Hi Wilson, pretty sure they are lakers, been about 100 feet down. I usually only wait a few seconds before setting the hook so they don't swallow it. I'll try some circles and let em eat it. thanks

Re: Live bait for Laketrout
 

Hi Jimmy, thanks, I'll try the #2 circles

Re: Live bait for Laketrout
 

Circle hooks.