[goodtimes]

I want to start using circle hooks but im unsure how to use them and what species they work best on? also is the hook up ratio as good as a normal j hook?

 

[epic]

They definately work good for catfish, but work good for almost any species especially aggressive fish like pike and muskie. At first your hookup ratio may drop, but as soon as you figure out the circle hook it will go up fast. YOu dont want to rip the hook when you get a bite you want to pull the line so the hook slides out the throat of the fish and catches the lip and hooks the fish.
When using live bait I recommend using circle hooks.

 

[rottal]

Circle hooks....ah, a popular subject on this forum, but its nice to see the word is getting out and they are being used more often....

They work well, and are designed mainly for bait...there are a bunch of different designs, but all work in the same manner. When steady pressure is applied to the hook (as in side pressure) the hook rotates and usually---i say usually---hooks the fish in the sides of the mouth. I have used them for cats with bait and also with live shrimp and greenbacks for snook. i like them a lot, you gut hook fewer fish and its much easier to remove the hook after you land the fish.

Just like ePiC said, it takes awhile to get used to them...its hard to overcome the instinct of impulsively setting the hook when you notice a fish on. instead pick up your rod, reel in the slack, and apply the side pressure i mentioned earlier. any aggressive hook strikes will usually jerk the hook out of the fish's mouth. with cats they usually end up hooking themselves when they swim off with the bait.

Ive tried tying pike flies on circles, and have had mixed success...they dont work as well with fish that strike aggressively, and when you do get a strike you have to keep stripping until the line is tight and then the hook usually sets itself. traditional hook sets wont work as well with this particular style of hook, it takes some practice. I think ive hooked alot of fish with circles i might have otherwise missed with traditional khale style hooks, just due to the fact you dont have to be so quick with your hook set...

for cats i use a size 2/0 or slightly smaller...those seem to work with the cats you usually find in this region (under 20 lbs)

 

[Guest]

I tie my own crawler harnesses and circle hooks are all I use. They are terrific in this sense because many times, you're trolling slow or you're drifting. In my experience, the hook is usually set before you get to the fishing rod to react.

 

[Chief]

I used circle hooks alot when deep sea fishing. You tend to lose less fish and they tend to get hooked up better. I had not thought about using them in fresh water. Thanks for the idea

 

[NeWcS]

I too will backup circle hooks. We fished them alot last year under a float w/ a minnow. Like Epic said at first your hookups may seem to be low. Just let the fish take the bait. DO NOT 'set the hook'. Just start reeling and use a sweeping side motion to make sure the hook is set. I like them alot better than say a J hook when im fishing for fish I have no thought of keeping. Makes it ez'er on the fish and a hell of alot ez'er to unhook them. Its great for trout as they almost always swallow the hook. With a circle hook you'll hook them in the corner of the mouth 99.9% of the time. The only prob with them is when your trying to nose hook a minnow. you'll have to go in from the top instead of the bottom.


[me=Jay_In_Parker] [/me]