Circle Hooks

[papajoe222]

I got my grandson (5yrs. old) into fishing last year and although his attention span was a lot shorter than I anticipated, he can't wait to get out and go fishing with Papa.  I figure it about time for him to go solo, but I know there are going to be some gut hooked fish as a result and I'd prefer to avoid that.  I've read a little about using circle hooks, but they just look to me to have a poor hook up ratio.

Can anyone chime in on their experiences using circle hooks and recommend a light wire version for live bait? 

[Darren.]

I've used circle hooks for live bait presentations to sunfish, crappie, perch, catfish.

 

Unfortunately, I've had a number of gut hookups, might've used hooks that were too small. But have also had a lot of successful releases where the fish swims off and the hook just sets in the corner of the fishes mouth, which is what it's supposed to do.

 

I never do a hook set unless I've already got the fish, and feel it's needed.

 

Circle hooks are required in a lot of locales, specifically for saltwater fish.

[BigMoneyGrip]

I use them exclusively on wacky worms. They require a different hook set, though. Instead of crossing their eyes, I slowly pull against the weight of the fish. I've never had a problem with the circle hooks.

[georgeyew]

I use circle hooks on many of my techniques. They are great since the hooks set themselves. I especially like to use them when I put the rods in holders and the fish gets hooked while swimming away with the lure.

[Bluebasser86]

Circle hooks are a very neat hook concept. No hookset required. Instead, the force of the rod being lifted steadily or the fish swimming away, will cause the hook to pull towards the corner of the fishes mouth where the shape of the hook basically rotates and sets into the corner of the fishes mouth. A normal hookest will do nothing but pull the hook out of the fishes mouth a vast majority of the time. I use circle hooks exclusively when setting lines for catfish and have great hookup ratio. My experiences of using them for bass have been less than stellar though. 

[Crestliner2008]

The most important aspect with circle hooks is that you have to pick the correct one. Inline circle hooks are far superior to off-set circles, with regards to lip hooking fish. Off-sets hook more fish, but too many will still be gut hooked. VMC makes a line of inline hooks in smaller sizes with lighter wire diameters.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't like them for bass fishing, seems to take the fight out of the fish and if you can't set the hook, where's the fun?

Only good in saltwater toothless fish, cuda, mackerel, kingfish, etc, will cut you off almost every time, the shank is too short.  Wire with them is ok, but you have reduced your chances of strike these fish are very line shy.  Fish saltwater with bait, 2-4 j hooks, that's a king rig.

[roadwarrior]

I use #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks exclusively when fishing live minnows

on the Tennessee River. The bait can be taken down into the gullet and the hook

will slide up and impale in the jaw joint 90% of the time. Gut hooks are rare, most

of the remaining 10% is in the lip.

 

The key to success is NOT SETTING THE HOOK. This will result in a miss as the

hook is pulled out of the mouth of the fish. What is required is to raise your rod tip

FORCEFULLY and maintain pressure. With this technique hook-ups will approach

100% and the fish cannot throw the hook.

[SirSnookalot]

I had seen circles hooks substituted for trebles on fishing shows, some companies are starting to sell them that way now........Yozuri sashimi

[Dave P]

Last year I caught about 5 lbs worth of channel cat on a #8 circle hook. Right in the corner of the jaw where it's supposed to be. I use it a lot for dropshotting especially for my wife and granddaughters. Their hookup ratio is up about 90-95 percent. The hookup ratio for a youngster should be pretty darn good since all they have to do is reel up the slack. Have yet to have a gut hook or anything really deep in the mouth.

[Hattrick7]

Try Owner mutu light wire circle hooks. I use a #4. I use them for fishing calicos with live chovies and for the 75+ I've caught I think there have been maybe 2-3 that weren't hooked somewhere around the mouth/lip.

[georgeyew]

I had seen circles hooks substituted for trebles on fishing shows, some companies are starting to sell them that way now........Yozuri sashimi

 

I have replaced many of my crankbaits with circle hooks and I get a lot less hang ups.