Home made sturgeon leaders

The wire leaders I used last week have the weight slider attached to it. I wanted to add a 1/2 oz weight near the hook and I was measuring out of curiosity. The slider was closer to the hook than 18 inches. On top of that I don't like curled leaders. I thinking about making my own. I'm not sure if I want to use mono or wire. Considering it is easy to miss a sturgeon bite I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to use a circle hook. Anyone try circle hooks for sturgeon? Good idea or bad?

The wire leaders I used last week have the weight slider attached to it. I wanted to add a 1/2 oz weight near the hook and I was measuring out of curiosity. The slider was closer to the hook than 18 inches. On top of that I don't like curled leaders. I thinking about making my own. I'm not sure if I want to use mono or wire. Considering it is easy to miss a sturgeon bite I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to use a circle hook. Anyone try circle hooks for sturgeon? Good idea or bad?

Been sturgeon fishing for the last 4 days.  The best sturgeon leader is a soft rope like leader that is 75lb test.  I've been using a 3/0 circle hook but you are reminding me that I can use any style barbless hook.  The hook is about 18-20" from the weight to keep it on the bottom.  Any other tips would be welcome.  It's called tuf-line sturgeon leader.  It frays when I put it through the hook eye so it's a little tedious to thread, but I trust it once I tie the knot.  I also secure the bait with a bait button or thread

 Eddie,  circle hooks are designed to catch the corner of a fishes mouth. I would not use circle hooks for sturgeon. I like octopus style.
As far as the braided leader I believe is a great choice for using as a sturgeon leader with barbless hooks.
If you are using herring or anchovies you won't need thread or bait buttons just hook the bait through the gillplate and wrap a few half hitches up the body and your go to go.

Also, I had a friend who would always put a small sliding egg sinker on the leader in addition to the weight above the leader. I believe it was to keep the offering on the bottom. He caught alot of sturgeon.

I'm just speculating here. If a circle hook hooks the fish without being set, would it self hook a sturgeon? Does the different shape of a sturgeons mouth change what works?

Eddie,  circle hooks are designed to catch the corner of a fishes mouth. I would not use circle hooks for sturgeon. I like octopus style.
As far as the braided leader I believe is a great choice for using as a sturgeon leader with barbless hooks.
If you are using herring or anchovies you won't need thread or bait buttons just hook the bait through the gillplate and wrap a few half hitches up the body and your go to go.

Also, I had a friend who would always put a small sliding egg sinker on the leader in addition to the weight above the leader. I believe it was to keep the offering on the bottom. He caught alot of sturgeon.

Boom!  I am off too the hook shop.  No more circle hooks for me.  I've been using grass shrimp and will switch to ghost soon.  Gotta try some tray bait too.  Monday here I come....

I'm just speculating here. If a circle hook hooks the fish without being set, would it self hook a sturgeon? Does the different shape of a sturgeons mouth change what works?

I've seen some youtube of sturgeon eating and the mouth is like a vacuum tube extension.  I know a slayer who uses circle hooks but they are huge, like a 7/0.  He gets um'.  The 7/0 gap probably works from the wide gap.  I'm switching hooks to the kahle shape.

I'm just speculating here. If a circle hook hooks the fish without being set, would it self hook a sturgeon? Does the different shape of a sturgeons mouth change what works?

I've seen some youtube of sturgeon eating and the mouth is like a vacuum tube extension.  I know a slayer who uses circle hooks but they are huge, like a 7/0.  He gets um'.  The 7/0 gap probably works from the wide gap.  I'm switching hooks to the kahle shape.

a lot of folks like the gama big river style hooks.

If you want i got the stuff for making the wire leaders in the garage for shark you can make one and try it out. Take both that and the mono, i prefer heavy mono over the wire leader though.

I use Dacron 80# or Mono in 50-100# for leaders. No need for steel cable. Hooks I use 9/0-10/0 octopus or 7/0 big river hooks. Leader about 20-22" in length.

If you want i got the stuff for making the wire leaders in the garage for shark you can make one and try it out. Take both that and the mono, i prefer heavy mono over the wire leader though.

I'm looking to switch away from steel because of the kinking and curling.

7/0 or 6/0 barbless circle hooks with 40# wire leader crimp style work good. I sometimes get a eagle claw Kahle 7/0 file down the barb. and use 70# mono and crimp it all together.... fresh pumped ghost shrimp the more the better. Wrapped with thread.  It's time traildad . You ready? Last week I saw a sturgeon landed on a boat outside the mare island strait right by the carquinez bridge.

Sturgeon fishing takes time and lots n lots of ghost shrimp.

7/0 or 6/0 barbless circle hooks with 40# wire leader crimp style work good. I sometimes get a eagle claw Kahle 7/0 file down the barb. and use 70# mono and crimp it all together.... fresh pumped ghost shrimp the more the better. Wrapped with thread.  It's time traildad . You ready? Last week I saw a sturgeon landed on a boat outside the mare island strait right by the carquinez bridge.

Sturgeon fishing takes time and lots n lots of ghost shrimp.

Yes I am ready. I caught an undersize last week and I'm going again tomorrow. This is the year!

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I use a dacron leader and 6/0-8/0 octopus circle hooks. Usually don't bother finding barbless I just break the barb off with pliers. Dacron is a breeze to snell with too.

Yes I am ready. I caught an undersize last week and I'm going again tomorrow. This is the year!

Congrats on the under slot fish Traildad!