Circle Hooks???

[SpareTime]

While surfing through a FL Sportsman Site, I read a couple things about circle hooks, so I googled it to find out what the heck they were talking about.
Anyone ever heard of these being used around here, or is it just a saltwater thing? They say that 95% of the time the fish will hook themselves through the lip - therefore, no need to set the hook. If this is true, it would be a great thing to use while teaching young kids to fish.

[ice fishin nut]

I use them for both pike and sturgeon, they work great!!!!

[jk hillsdale]

I've been using them exclusively for bass fishing plastic worms (usually wacky rigged) for the past two summers. I've also seen them used very effectively with live bait such as shiners.

They are much different to use - for example, rather than "setting the hook", you simply reel your line in good and steady when you have a hit. Initially, I missed a lot of fish - it took me several outings to get the hang of it. At this point, I believe that I hook and land almost as many fish as with conventional hooks. Probably about 5-10% less.

The great thing about these (and why I'm content with a minor reduction in landing fish) is that over 90% of the time the fish will be hooked in the corner of the mouth, and easily released. Last week I released 41 bass, only two of them were not hooked in the corner of the mouth, and neither of those two were deeply hooked. I used to HATE releasing fish where they had almost fully swallowed the hook, and be almost certain of the fact that they weren't going to live.

I use Gamakatsu circle hooks, they are excellent quality. I'd guess there are also some other good quality manufacturers of circle hooks.

[sweatyspartan]

circle hooks are great for any sort of bottom fishing. It is challenging to resist setting the hook, but once you learn to just reel in it makes for better fishing

[SpareTime]

Okay - you guys convinced me - where can I get some?? Do they sell em just about anywhere??

[ice fishin nut]

Go to Lakeside,,,,, they have them.

[SpareTime]

Thanks IFN - I maight try and stop by there on my way home tonight.

So, the only trick is to NOT set the hook??
Is there anything else I should know?

[mallardtone-man]

I have always used "true" circle hooks for sharks and rays in saltwater, but have been a little slow to use them here. What I mostly use here is an octopus hook, kinda like a 1/2 circle. I am gonna start using some of my "true" circles for cats though.

James

[TBone]

Jk pretty much hit the nail on the head for me. I use them the same way that he does. The one thing that I would add about the hookset -

reel down on the fish letting the tip go towards him, when the line is nice and tight do a gentle sweep back until there is a pretty good bend in your rod. Works great.

Almost all the major players in fishing tackle will have them. Here is a link to Cabela's listings just so you know for sure what the guys are talking about.

Octupus circle hooks (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0012129116607a&navAction=push&navCount=2&indexId=cat20291&podId=0012129&catalogCode=IE&parentId=cat20291&parentType=index&rid=&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fcatalog%2Fitem-link.jhtml_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166&hasJS=true)

[Splicer]

i have been using them for cats for sometime now they have been good to me.i let them take it.i still hit them with a hookset after they are on just to get it in there good .very hard mouth

[deerslayer62]

Used them exclusively in saltwater and loved them! Have used them somewhat since moving back to Michigan and have had good luck with some larger fish (some pike on large minnows, and salmon) Have tied them as the front hook of my trolling flies with a treble trailing behind - have found the salmon get hooked with the treble and as the fight progresses, it gets the circle caught in the jaw. I rarely lose a fish on this rig. However, I found some mini-circles that worked well on panfish, but I tried stream trout-fishing with them and had a very, very bad hook-up ratio. Just my .02

[TBone]

I don't think that I'd try them for steelhead. The hook is almost always in the corner of the mouth. I don't have much luck landing steelies if I have hooked it in the corner. They pull so dang hard that the lip generally rips out before you get the fish to hand. I have much better success trying to set the hook straight into the top "boney" part of the mouth. I would think that the same would be true of other fish with good fight and thin tissue around the mouth.

[Roober]

I use them exclusively for, ummm, carp. :o Practically 100% hook-ups and all in the lips. Tighten the line till you feel the weight of the fish, then a little extra pressure usually does the trick. The hard part is getting them out without bending the hook. Do you guys that already use them think that they bend a bit easier than standard hooks? Or am I just too tough on them with the pliers. Usually, after a couple of fish, its time to tie on a new hook.

Steve

[Splicer]

i never had a problem.but iam using big hooks for cats.i like hemos i know i'am to tough with pliers.i'll break the hook.

[ice fishin nut]

I dont really have a problem with them, but the ones that I use for sturgeon are about 1/8" diameter....

[Zofchak]

I used them last Fall fishing spawn for Salmon and Steelies and had great results. They seemed to hold much better than standard hooks and I reduced my number of snagged fish by at least 75%. The hook set is a little different, but is easy to get used to. I would thing they would be perfect for cats and carp. I'm fish saltwater now and they are very commonly used in the Gulf, I would say close to half the hooks I use here are circle hooks.

[Roober]

I think the ones I use are size 6's, just big enough for 3 or 4 kernals of corn so i'm sure mine are a bit weaker. All that matters is that the fish don't bend 'em.

I've tried them on tip-ups with mixed results so far---still tweaking

Steve

[MSUICEMAN]

i think they would be great for anything that truly sucks in the bait all the way in and closes mouth..... if they nibble or have a tendency of short biting, I would stick with conventional. But those are just my thoughts.

steve