Eben try a 12/0 mustad circle hook in the upper lip. They are not as big as you think (I have used them for years with great success). No gut hook and easy release. Just remember ..let him run with it....when the line goes taut ,turn the handle and raise the rod tip and the hook will set itself.
I would say a 7/0 or 8/0 gami octopus.In livelinen pogies we use anywhere,s from a 8/0 -10/0.always hook from the right side of the bait to the left (passenger side to drivers side)so the hook doesn't rehook itself back in the bait.Any little metal will catch a shad.don't give in if they don't take immediately sometimes there's a switch to be flipped i seen it happen before.Hooking the bait near the dorsal fin will help him to swim against the tension of the line an away from shore towards the head more an u have more control over him to turn him if he starts coming in.a little flip of the rod will flip him over.Learn to keep tension on him to direct him where u want him to go.As if he see's a fish he won't wanna go there.I try not to pitch em to many timesThey don't really like that much but sometimes the big bomb is like the dinner bell.
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