Mooching: 1 or 2 hooks

Hey y'all.  I was wondering if everybody mooches with two hooks.  Does anybody use just one?

And what is a typical leader length for your mooching rig?

Thanks!

4' 1 hook. Threaded bait. Hook at head.

Hooks 2/0 and smaller, I would use two hooks, 3/0 and up, just one. 

If there is any current or wind, threading the bait with hook in head pulls the bait backwards, right? 

The longer the leader, the harder it seems to net the fish.

Maybe I need a net with a longer handle

4' 1 hook. Threaded bait. Hook at head.

This!

Please correct me if wrong. If using 2 hooks. Barbless when trolling. Circle hooks if mooching. When using 2 hooks, distance from bottom hook to top  of second hook. No more than 5 inches and hooks must be stationery and not sliding.

Alex

The way I read the rigs was no more than 5 inches between the top of the eye of the top hook to the inside of the bottom curve of the bottom hook.  Circle hook, not offset, not barbed, with hangnail (point at 90 degrees to shank).

Right on the regs. I only use 1 hook when using circle hooks. I've read and also believe if you use two circles inline one works against the other and reduces their hooking effectiveness. Most important thing is be sure not to bury the hook. Make sure it's well exposed. When your mooching, the fish take the bait head first. If your doing it right, it's supposed to be drifting like a dead or crippled baitfish. When trolling they clip the tail to cripple it and come back to swallow it head first. Hence the hook in the rear for trolling and hook in the head when mooching.

4' 1 hook. Threaded bait. Hook at head.

This!

Use this hook---Owner Mutu Light Circle #5114-141 or #5114-151

Use this hook---Owner Mutu Light Circle #5114-141 or #5114-151

That's the exact hook I used.    And following your advice, I tied a few single hook rigs.

Then I read the regs, and saw that the hook restrictions only applied when not underway.  I chatted with the DFG warden at Shelter Cove.  He concurred that if I was under power (pedaling or paddling slowly in my kayak), then the restrictions did not apply, and I could use a sliding double hook rig. 

It seems like it might be just simpler to always troll (eve in very slowly) and stick with a double-hooked slide rig anchovy, and minimize the gear changes on the water.

I guess it boils down to whether you drift through the bait ball, or drive through it.  What do you think salmon think is more tasty/attractive?  A mooched "dead/dying" fish, or a trolled "wounded" fish?  Does the kayak moving vs floating overhead make a difference at all?

I believe it depends on the concentration of salmon. Few here and there I would rather troll. Lots of fish then I would mooch.

I believe it depends on the concentration of salmon. Few here and there I would rather troll. Lots of fish then I would mooch.

Brilliant. 

Depth makes a difference too.

Depth makes a difference too.

Meaning if they are deep, mooching is better?  Because its hard to troll deep?

A couple years ago the bite was hot in Monterey but there were too many jelly fish to troll.  Anytime I fish for salmon I am ready to do both troll/mooch.

Josh

A couple years ago the bite was hot in Monterey but there were too many jelly fish to troll.  Anytime I fish for salmon I am ready to do both troll/mooch.

Josh

Yep!!