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texmike · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: Circle Hook

Been looking at the circle hooks, are they as good as they say they are?

NaplesJohn · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:02 am Post subject:

I used the light weight version for fishing finger mullet at the jetties last year...I like em. Good hook sets, and seemed to hang up less

Keystone · Finger Mullet Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 13

For bull reds and Large black drum I have been using 14/0 wide gap circle hooks. The fish get hooked in the lip and not in the throat for safe and easy released. Also, with the wide gap easy to put on crab or live perch.

I havent found a small circle hook that I like yet, I seem to lose fish compared to a J style 1/0 hook.

cckayaker · Horse Mullet Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 192

I have been using 4/0 & 5/0 circles in the bay for reds and trout for the last five yrs. Clean hook to the corner of the mouth 99% of the time. The only thing you need to get in the habit of NOT doing is "setting" the hook. Just start reeling and it will set itself.

topdog15 · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:05 am Post subject:

anytime i use bait, which is rare, I use circle hooks. The hooks sets itself in the corner of the fishes mouth and makes for easy release.
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longrod · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:04 pm Post subject:

CCKayaker said

Flyfisher · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

I use them in my fly tying. Love'em.

Ray

texmike · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

Going to be hard not to set the hook. Like Longrod said, will be hard to break old habits. Thanks for the help. Tired of releasing fish and knowing they probably don't have a chance. Want them to grow up to catch them when they are legal.

Flyfisher · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

Initially it is hard to break the habit, but to me it now seems natural.

Ray

FLOATING CABIN · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject: AGREE

IT TOOK A WHILE FOR ME TO NOT SLAM 'EM WITH A HOOK SET. I FISH CIRCLE HOOKS LIKE FLOUNDER FISHING. WHEN YOU GET A HIT COUNT TO 4 OR 5 SLOW THEN SET THE HOOK. YOU DONT HAVE TO SET IT HARD. I HAVE MISSED VERY FEW SINCE USING THIS TECHNIQUE, AND HAVE RARELY GUT HOOKED FISH.
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Flyfisher · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 5:09 pm Post subject:

Fishing for specks, I just tighten up the line and as the fish swims away, the hook will set. For redfish, I would do what FC says.

Ray

Robert Camp · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:37 am Post subject:

Ditto on what everyone said...for smaller circles I have found that Owner (especially in sizes under 1/0) are wonderful. For my kids who haven't yet figured out how to "set" - these are great on most bay fish. Agree with the notion on big fish like over drum (both kinds)...a little love tap is sometimes best to insure it's really set. Have landed huge fish and had the hook fall out when the fish hit the deck...LOL

The Trash Heap · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:55 am Post subject: Pompano Traps

Switched to thin-wire 2/0 circles about the same time Fishn' Strips came to our area. Before that, we'd used traditional hooks and peeled shrimp. Besides having our baits stolen almost invariably before the pomps came along, the problem with that was that we had to run to get good hook sets, first just to get to the rod holders ASAP, and afterwards away from the water in an attempt to catch up with the slack left in the line when the pomps felt the tension and ran towards it. This was tough on an old fat man.

Now we use the circles baited with a Fishn' Strip and a chunk of peeled shrimp. The pomps nearly always have something to eat even when another nibbler has already gotten to the shrimp, there is no need to set the hook, and so we WALK to the pole when a strike comes. Laughing

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