I have been using the owner bait hooks in the size 2. They work ok, but I tend to double hook the herring at times. I hook it through the nose the is circles back and it would hook them again, this is preventing me to set the hook once i get a bite. Im sure some might have experienced this before, would anyone know of a hook on the market that would eliminate this issue? I have tried moving down in size and tried circle hooks etc.. but this issue persists. Any advice would be Greatly appreciated.

I hook them from the bottom lip through the top of the nose and don't have that problem. I used to hook them sideways through the nose and I had the same issue that you describe.

I also use a size 1/0 or 2/0 Octopus hook. The No.2 hook seems like it would be a little small and might not leave enough gap to get a good hookset.

Thanks for the info big fish, one question though, are the blueback able to stay alive hooked the way that you mentioned?

Yes, they stay alive. I think some people also open their mouths and hook them from the roof of the mouth out the middle of the nose. Also try to make sure the hook is straight, going through the middle of the chin and out the middle of the snout. If you get it crooked it can cause the bait to spin.

I hook them the way bigfish describes and find this to be the best way. This time of year you are going to have to change your bait often either way.

I go up the mouth. This is tricky to get them to open their mouth but it works pretty good. Also be aware of what bigfish said about being straight. I troll around between .5 and .7 mph. If the hook is not straight the bb will spin and never get hit. My son likes to use chaser hooks or circle hooks that sets itself. The circle hooks work ok but I like kahle hooks. # 2 have been good.

Through the mouth seems to work best for BB. Just say "open wide" like the dentist does. In the mouth and up through the roof in the middle between the nose openings and the eyes. This is the hard skull area. The bait track straight then. We use 2/0 Octopus circles most of the time (Gamakatsu brand). Use 1/0 when the bait is smaller. The stripe rs hook themselves IF you do not jerk the hook. Discard the "set the hook move" and wait - they hook themselves usually in the corner of the mouth. BB's live for a long time this way depending on the depth you fish and the water temp. Using trout and shad you can hook through the nostrils ie. in one and out the other.