Wacky Rig Circle Hooks?

[CPBassFishing]

Read on a fishing report that someone was using a circle hook for wacky rigging.

Would this work well? I assume you would have to let the fish eat it first. I also worry about them spitting it out when you start pulling. Typically circle hooks are used with live bait.

Input?

[lmbfisherman]

Wacky rigging a circle hook, I'd worry about gut hooks.  Why I never done it.

[Under the Radar]

Yup. Works OK. You just have to remember to NOT set the hook.

[georgeyew]

Hey CP, I use circle hooks for wacky rigs sometimes. It's always worked well for me. As previously mentioned, just slowly reel the line back and when the fish turn with the worm in its mouth, the hook will set itself.

 

I typically don't have problems with the fish spitting the bait out. The normally eat the worm and start swimming away immediately causing the hook to set. I also use Megastrike to make sure they hold on a bit longer.

[georgeyew]

Wacky rigging a circle hook, I'd worry about gut hooks.  Why I never done it.

 

The hook point is bent in. It would be very unlikely for the point to catch in the gut. The point is only exposed when the hook is turned.

[lmbfisherman]

The hook point is bent in. It would be very unlikely for the point to catch in the gut. The point is only exposed when the hook is turned.

Hrm thanks for the info, but it would seem to me that it would gut hook them if you had to wait a little longer. 

[georgeyew]

Hrm thanks for the info, but it would seem to me that it would gut hook them if you had to wait a little longer. 

 

Avoiding gut hooks is one of the main reasons that they made the circle hooks.

[Diggy]

Wacky rigging a circle hook, I'd worry about gut hooks.  Why I never done it.

I have had none since using them in comparison to a regular wg/ ewg hook, where Ive had many

[lmbfisherman]

I just buy the Gamakatsu Weedless wacky, I guess why I worry is that I use Mustad Demon Circle hooks for my DS.  It is my favorite, hook up rate is very high.  I guess that is where my concern lies, the circle hook to me would think if you waited too long it would get down there good. (Only once did I have an issue with a gut hook, because I had to fix my birdsnest and didn't realize a fish was  taking my bait) I probably will stick with what I'm doing, however if I run out of hooks on a trip I will have to keep it in mind knowing it won't be an issue. 

[Crestliner2008]

I highly recommend their use. I previously wrote about it here:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/84060-senko-under-a-float/

 

This is a very effective presentation, especially for off-shore smallmouth bass.

[The Commodore]

I have actually gut hooked a fish with a circle hooked senko.  It was probably user error as I waited too long and then set the hook.  I still want to try it some more.  If you let it get into their gut/throat/crushers and they then close on it inside of them, it will gut hook them as that is almost like a second mouth inside and the circle hook will act the same.

[CPBassFishing]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll have to try this out.

[georgeyew]

I have actually gut hooked a fish with a circle hooked senko.  It was probably user error as I waited too long and then set the hook.  I still want to try it some more.  If you let it get into their gut/throat/crushers and they then close on it inside of them, it will gut hook them as that is almost like a second mouth inside and the circle hook will act the same.

 

That'll happen with almost any hook that a fish swollows. But if you are attentive while you are fishing the fish should not have time to get the lure that far down into their bellies.

 

But even while catfishing with my rod in a rod holder (with plenty of time to swollow the hook), I've never gut hooked one on a circle hook.

[Tim Cianciola]

i use a 4/0 finesse hook for wacky rigging

[Fireguyfrank58]

I set my wife up with a Wacky rig and a 2/0 circle hook, she has caught several fish on them very easily.  Its great for her since she is new to fishing and doesn't really know how or when to set a hook.  Of all the fish she has hooked not a single fish has gotten off.