Circle hooks = less hook sets?

[David 7]

Do circle hooks result in less hook sets? This seems to be my experience. It’s always been my understanding that all one has to do is reel in with a circle hook, is this the case? 

[Deleted account]

Assuming you mean hookups, yes.

[flyfisher]

When you actually use them as designed, like you mentioned just reel in and pull, the hookup ration is very good.  I know whenever I use them I miss a few fish because I am used to my normal hooks but when I do what your supposed to, they hook up very well and a rate no different than a standard hook. 

[georgeyew]

Yup just reel up and the fish will hook itself. I use circle hooks on wacky rigs. Once the fish is hooked, it is almost impossible to throw the hook no matter how much they jump.

[David 7]

10 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

When you actually use them as designed, like you mentioned just reel in and pull, the hookup ration is very good.  I know whenever I use them I miss a few fish because I am used to my normal hooks but when I do what your supposed to, they hook up very well and a rate no different than a standard hook. 

I think my problem is I’m waiting a couple seconds and then reeling in.

[Deleted account]

23 minutes ago, David 7 said:

I think my problem is I’m waiting a couple seconds and then reeling in.

Circle hooks (not modified round bend or octopus ones with circle in their name) are designed to be completely inhaled, and then pulled by the fish so they slide out until they cam at the corner of the mouth.  If the fish isn't pulling, or is facing you when you pull,  the hook will fail to hook the fish in a lot of cases. IMNSHO they are not a good choice for most artificial baits.

[David 7]

10 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

Circle hooks (not modified round bend or octopus ones with circle in their name) are designed to be completely inhaled, and then pulled by the fish so they slide out until they cam at the corner of the mouth.  If the fish isn't pulling, or is facing you when you pull,  the hook will fail to hook the fish in a lot of cases. IMNSHO they are not a good choice for most artificial baits.

I’m thinking you may be right. Something seems off when I use them and in these dog days of summer I can use all the help I can get… last thing I need is to put myself to a disadvantage when the bites are few and far between. 

[BrianMDTX]

I use 1/0 circle octopus hooks for wacky rigs and never had an issue with losing bass…when using straight mono. When I switched to braid and leader I lost some fish. I corrected that (I slowed my retrieve slightly as I think I was reeling the slack in too fast, and with no stretch, it was pulling the hook out of the bass’ mouth too quickly), and now back to not losing fish. 
 

And once hooked, they stay hooked. 

[David 7]

I’m using straight mono, 3/0 circle hooks on senkos (wacky rigged).

[Fishingintheweeds]

2 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I use 1/0 circle octopus hooks for wacky rigs and never had an issue with losing bass…when using straight mono. When I switched to braid and leader I lost some fish. I corrected that (I slowed my retrieve slightly as I think I was reeling the slack in too fast, and with no stretch, it was pulling the hook out of the bass’ mouth too quickly), and now back to not losing fish. 
 

And once hooked, they stay hooked. 

I've had the same experiences. As long as I just start reeling, I get the fish every time. Mono is much better for me with this style than braid. It works but something about it feels a little mismatched. 

 

The only times fish have hit and I've missed is when I've forgotten what I was doing and tried to pull to set the hook. Once they're on, they're on, corner of the mouth almost every time, and a handful of times in the top (my barbs are smashed but be sure that it's a circle hook, that the point is in line with the shaft. If it isn't, I bend the hook with a pair of plyers so that it is).

 

I use hooks as small as a size 4 or 6 pretty regularly, actually that's all I use, and still catch big fish.

 

I've also had decent luck with flukes like this. I think with a smaller hook, it reduces the chances to snag so, to me, there's the chance to also fish other baits, even if just nose hooked. Something I'm looking into for different actions and fall rates on weightless presentations. 

[FishTank]

I haven't had the greatest of luck with Gami octopus hooks but the G-finesse hooks and the wide gap finesse hooks have been better.  It seems the wider the gap on circle (distance between the tie and hook point) the better hook ups I have but I tend to like the 1/0 and 2/0 sizes for wacky rigs.   

[BrianMDTX]

5 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

And once hooked, they stay hooked. 

I jinxed myself. 

 

I went out on the pond for a couple hours tonight. Started with a Jelly Worm Texas rig, then a Megabass jerkbait and finally a 5” Senko WR. I skipped the Senko under some limbs and it stopped short. I knew a bass had it so I reeled it in tight and the fight was on. It was a decent fish. It headed towards the center of the pond and turned towards my small inflatable boat. It came around front and pulled hard. My rod tip went under water, the bass made a hard tug and the line hit my yak paddle. Whatever that did was enough to pop the hook out and it was gone. 

[papajoe222]

6 hours ago, David 7 said:

I think my problem is I’m waiting a couple seconds and then reeling in.

that's the beauty of using circle hooks. A fish can take your bait deep and you still won't gut hook it. That circle hook will slide right out to its lip and then catch there on its way out.

I use them almost exclusively when teaching novice anglers. I ended up using them myself, exclusively for wacky rigs and split-shotting.

[Bluebasser86]

I've watched so many fish be missed on circle hooks with wacky rigs despite everything being done right. Wacky rigs with a good hook and the right rod/line combo have such a high hookup ratio, I couldn't see wanting to go away from that.

[Deleted account]

14 hours ago, FishTank said:

the wide gap finesse hooks have been better

On the rare times I wacky rig, that's what I'm using (with light mono) hook up is almost 100%.

[desmobob]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've watched so many fish be missed on circle hooks with wacky rigs despite everything being done right. Wacky rigs with a good hook and the right rod/line combo have such a high hookup ratio, I couldn't see wanting to go away from that.

 

 

I used to fish wacky rigs a lot and had a lot of action with them.  BUT, I also had too many heart-breaking incidences of having really nice fish come unhooked during the fight.  Those images in my mind of losing big fish keep me from throwing wacky-rigged Senkos much these days.

 

I use a L or ML spinning rod, 8lb. copolymer line, and have tried a few brands of wacky-specific hooks.  I use an O-ring on the Senko.  I settled on the not-really-all-that-weedless Owner or Decoy weedless wacky hooks.  I tried a few brands of weedless models with the wire weed guard and had very poor hooking success.

 

Reading this thread had me considering trying the circle hooks and I was surprised by your response...

 

 

 

 

[the reel ess]

Don't "set" the hook with circle or finesse hooks. Just tighten up and start reeling. 

[NHBull]

For me the NEKO hook has replaced all circle hooks.  VMC being top of the food chain....many no bs go to circle hooks with the thought that hook removal is easier.  Learning to go through  the gills mitigate the need

[ironbjorn]

I can count on one hand how many fish I have lost on a Gammy Octopus Circle Hook in 1/0 since I started using them about 5 years ago for my Wacky Rigs. They're that good.

[Bluebasser86]

44 minutes ago, desmobob said:

 

I used to fish wacky rigs a lot and had a lot of action with them.  BUT, I also had too many heart-breaking incidences of having really nice fish come unhooked during the fight.  Those images in my mind of losing big fish keep me from throwing wacky-rigged Senkos much these days.

 

I use a L or ML spinning rod, 8lb. copolymer line, and have tried a few brands of wacky-specific hooks.  I use an O-ring on the Senko.  I settled on the not-really-all-that-weedless Owner or Decoy weedless wacky hooks.  I tried a few brands of weedless models with the wire weed guard and had very poor hooking success.

 

Reading this thread had me considering trying the circle hooks and I was surprised by your response...

 

 

 

 

Most "weedless" wacky hooks I've tried are actually much better at preventing solid hookups than they are at preventing snags. The only hook that I've found with a weedguard that I like for wacky rigs is the one I'm currently using now from Eagle Claw that I believe is actually a weedless Neko hook. I also use a braid to fluoro leader with a medium spinning rod. I don't miss many and once they're stuck, they don't come off. 

 

I like circle hooks for other fish, so it isn't just a bias or lack of knowledge on how to use them. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

10 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

that's the beauty of using circle hooks. A fish can take your bait deep and you still won't gut hook it. That circle hook will slide right out to its lip and then catch there on its way out.

I use them almost exclusively when teaching novice anglers. I ended up using them myself, exclusively for wacky rigs and split-shotting.

They dont gut hook nearly as much as a baitholder or a standard octopus, but it does happen every now and then even with the inlines.  

1 hour ago, desmobob said:

I use a L or ML spinning rod, 8lb. copolymer line, and have tried a few brands of wacky-specific hooks.  I use an O-ring on the Senko.  I settled on the not-really-all-that-weedless Owner or Decoy weedless wacky hooks.  I tried a few brands of weedless models with the wire weed guard and had very poor hooking success.

Try neko style hooks.  Not a big VMC fan, but they're neko hook absolutely sticks em.