Circle Hooks

[*lone-wolf*]

Please help, someone please explain there use and benefits. Are they good for shrimp if so how do you hook shrimp? thanks for the help have never used them have always used aberdeen type hooks any info would be appreciated

thanks rich http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[*lone-wolf*]

Please help, someone please explain there use and benefits. Are they good for shrimp if so how do you hook shrimp? thanks for the help have never used them have always used aberdeen type hooks any info would be appreciated

thanks rich http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[bboyd]

The primary benefit is reduced mortality for released fish. Here is a link to an informational page from my state.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/Fishing_PDFs/Circle_Hooks_brochure.pdf

I'm sure that they can be used for shrimp. I've used them for a variety of live and dead baits, but never shrimp.

What type of fish are you after down there?

[*lone-wolf*]

primarily after sea trout, reds, snook or whatever pulls my line tight and fights am not picky

rich

[No name]

I use nothing but circle hooks, just thread the shrimp on, BillW

Here to help and learn my word is fact /not/ fiction

[JonS]

ditto what Bill said. I wouldn't use anything else for bait. Just don't set the hook, simply reel tight and the fish will be hooked in the corner of its mouth.

baja55@optonline.net

[stephen]

I know that fish mortality is not as much an issue with flyfishing, but ease of hook-ups could be. Has anyone used, or seen, fly patterns using circle hooks? S.

[Stan]

stephen I've seen more than a few flies that used circle hooks. Enrico Pulisi uses them on his big bunker flies. I don't like using them for flies.

[JonS]

I would think that the fish would reject the fly before the circle could do its thing. I'm not in favor of it on a fly. How often have you gut hooked a fish on a fly? Definately for bait its a winner.

baja55@optonline.net

[gregpavlov]

Circle hooks supposedly impart more motion/action to flies tied on top of them. I'm going to give them a try this fall.

[mrsinbad]

I was talking with JoeB the other day about circle hooks for use while we are trolling around. Seems to us that when we troll, it's always the case the fish takes the fly and runs with it. By the time we grab the rod, the line is already taught from the fish running and all we do is start to crank anyway. That's exactly the way you should be fishing circle hooks anyway. So, it seems to be the natural choice of fly trollers. I have one or two and will try to prove this theory right or wrong. Anyone else with real experience, chime in.

mrsinbad http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Maniac]

Haven't missed a bass with live eels since I switched to circle hooks. Just wait for the hit and reel em in.Dan http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Quit wishing go Fishing

[reelnut]

While we're on the topic, can anyone post a picture of a rigged circle hook? Say with clams or a bunker chunk? I've tried using them several times, but have yet to catch anything. Because of the orientation of the hook point to the shank, and the narrow gap I try leaving it exposed and it just doesn't look right.

Thanks.

[BadNeurons]

I feel your pain. I switched to circles last year, and still haven't quite gotten out of the habit of swinging on the fish. Old habits die hard. My percentage is getting better all the time, though, and I'm amazed at how they consistently lodge in the corner of the fish's mouth.

If you're having troubles, try the wide gap Gamakatsu hooks (I think Owner and a couple others make them as well). They seem to give me a better hookup ratio on cut bait.

[Cobrakayaker]

When I fish chunks I try to leave most of the 8/0 gamy circle hook exposed. since these hooks are dark I don't feel they make a diference to the fish and I have not had any problems with my hook up ratio. If anything it has improved greatly because I no longer worry about how far I am going to let them run before I set the hook. I just let them run until the line is tight and then begin to reel them in. For clams is another story. The clam is a far softer baith than the chunk and I just used the hook like a needle sewing through the clam belly from the tip to the back. Then I follow the same steps as with chunks. I hope this helps. http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://kfs.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[swanny]

I find that circle hooks have very limited potential in bass flies. Let me explain my experiences. Think of how a bass often takes a fly and it makes sense that circle hooks are not the best hooks for flies. I have spent time observing bass eat flies right at my feet in the rocks off newport. Here are my observations for how a bass behaves when it takes a fly. Bass charge up, inhale fly, close their mouth on it so the "prey" can't swim away. The bass quickly realize their mistake and shake and try to spit it out before they even turn to go back down the water column. Its amazing how fast they try to spit the fly out. If you don't set immediately they can shake it lose. With a standard hook, There is a chance you can drive the hook home wherever it has gained purchase. A circle hook, by design has only one purchase point - the corner of the mouth, or perhaps the top lip if the hook was upside down and the fish swam down. This requires that the fish eat the fly, close its mouth - keep it closed and turn away. If a fish swims towards you there is very little chance of setting a circle hook. This is not the best scenario for keeping bass on. Very seldom do bass swallow flies so I believe that this point does not really need addressing with regards to fly fishing. Circle hooks are great for live bait because the fish does not want to let the bait go. There is alot more time and opportunity for the hook to gain purchase in the corner because the fish won't spit it out. Thats why you don't set-up on fish with circle hooks. You just wait until the line comes tight, as the fish swims away - now think where the line is and where the hook is going, and give a quick slight jerk to drive it into the corner. Now I think circles are more successful with albies and bones because the fish are moving so fast that the hook finds purchase more quickly in the corner before they realize their mistake. Just my 2 cents but I think you will lose alot of nice fish on circle hooks. Save them for your bunker heads and live eels. Trolling may be a whole new animal though since the fly is moving more quickly than when stripping. Let us know how you and joe make out with it sinbad.

[groundjordan]

Its good to see all this "adult" talk, but the biggest benefit you will ever get out of this hook is the thrill of watching your children simply reel while squealing (the daughters, anyhow) and land fish after fish.

[JonS]

Swanny elaborated upon what I said. I feel that circles are fantastic for bait but not for other applications.

baja55@optonline.net