Crickets

I am considering going after suspended blue gills with crickets. Is there a difference between the black crickets I see in the yard compared to the green crickets at pet and bait shops? Does one work better than the other? Once I get some crickets how should they be hooked? What size and type of hook should be used?

Just wanted to thank everyone for your help and tips.

About any cricket I gave ever bought at a pet food and supply store have been more like a tan/grey and they work great for panfish, deep suspended or shallow...

http://www.southerncricket.com/supplies.html they also work on perch. you will want a cricket container that you cam get them out one at a time also. otherwise you will have them all over your boat.

Mike, what are grey crickets and where can I get some. I have not been getting enough black crickets in the yard to give it a decent try.

Use the crickets right out of your yard they're free! Plus they work just as well. Hook them behind their head. That's the hardest part of the body. Use an aberdeen hook, whatever size you normally use with nightcrawlers. Fish them under a slip bobber if your targeting suspended fish. Use just enough weight to get it down there but still have a little action.

I have had good luck using the Gulp crickets. They last a long time.