Circle Hooks...What the F?

[BOHICA]

Could someone with an engineering or hook design degree please explain to me why circle hooks never loose skates, sharks, blue fish or other trash fish BUT when a nice bass hits it and you fight the fish for what seems like 5 minutes they can spit that hook like the barb was bent over flush? I have lost several nice bass this early season and have no idea how they are spitting the hook after such an agressive hit and seemingly solid hook up. :mad: I am thinking of going back to regular octopus hooks vs. octopus circles.

[TSStriper]

The most common reason that I have lost fish because of circles is because of slack in the line. When the lines slacks the circle just falls right out. Have you noticed how easy it is to take the hook out once you land the fish?

This was a common mistake for me when I first started using them but now i just make sure that the line is always tight. When the fish is coming towards the boat just reel your $%% off.

[Mag]

i've noticed that problem alot with the gamakatsu hooks in particular. The EC 7/0 open circles and daiche circles seem to have a slightly bigger barb and a bit more curve inwards.
Also if you bury a big chunk of bunker or clam on the hook you'll lose alot of fish. Leave plenty of room for the hook to rotate around properly.
Hope this helps.

[VDAWG]

Thats why i dont use um !!octipus for me all the way !!!!

[design]

#1 remember murphy's law... smile.gif

#2 I know I preach this all the time....

use a true circle, or a longliner hook

http://www.leadertec.com/Images/Mustad_39960.jpg

you'll learn the tricks to get the bait on..

[ 05-11-2005, 02:52 PM: Message edited by: design ]

[CaptG]

Originally posted by BOHICA:
I am thinking of going back to regular octopus hooks vs. octopus circles. Good idea! Only thing i like them for is chunking tuna, and that's mainly because they are easily hidden inside a butterfish and tuna hit and run like freight train.

[VDAWG]

Originally posted by CaptG:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by BOHICA:
I am thinking of going back to regular octopus hooks vs. octopus circles. Good idea! Only thing i like them for is chunking tuna, and that's mainly because they are easily hidden inside a butterfish and tuna hit and run like freight train. </font>[/QUOTE]Capt.G i agree 100%,also Tuna do the schooling feeding thing.when they school up baitfish the grab one turn off to the side and inhale it,so the fish behind gets a shot next,Ideal for circle hook fishing !!!

[Brian E. Mullaney]

First circle I ever used for bass was last week on the Delaware with TSS.

Octopus - from 2/0 to 10/0 I literally have 100 packs - cicles - I have one that's on my rod from last week.

PS - I can't remeber the last time I gut hooked a bass.

[VDAWG]

Originally posted by design:
#1 remember murphy's law... smile.gif

#2 I know I preach this all the time....

use a true circle, or a longliner hook

http://www.leadertec.com/Images/Mustad_39960.jpg

you'll learn the tricks to get the bait on.. Not being a smart azz but try using that type of circle on a noggin,and see how many stripers stay on the hook .............

[jjsax]

interesting,
we gut hooked several bass last weekend and were not happy about it. One had the hook clogging his esophagus and I just could not get it out- i hate when that happens, because she was a goner. we came back saying circle hooks all the way. now i'm not so sure.

jj

[clamchucker]

Most of the problems I have seen using "true" circle hooks (NO offset) has been undersizing the hook as to it's quarry. You want the hook to perform it's function (catch the corner of the mouth as the fish turns while running). Should the "GAP" BETWEEN the point to the shank be too small to encompance the "jaw bone" your screwed!...may hang a while if "close" to size & then be thrown quite easily. Jambing the "gap" with bait is like fishing without a hook (works with tuna because under the skin). Check it out=next j hook-up stick a leadered circle in the mouth, shut the mouth & pull twards tail of the fish ;) . Then glob the hook full of bait & repeat. Next, take your circle & attempt to stick it into the jaw using very slight pressure & check for a "fit". Need a bigger HOOK/GAP huh?
Once a true circle does it's job (properly fished & sized) the entry hole resulting from fighting means zip as long as a tight line is kept IMHO. Same same for j's but a circle is "actually" more forgiving in that respect. Hope helps someone.

[BEACHBASSARD]

5/0 OWNER MUTU LITES.

AND FINNISH THE JOB.

[BEACHBASSARD]

EAK!!!
DONT LIKE THE NO.# OF THAT LAST POST

[Go Gordon]

Clamchucker couldn't be more right. I remember two years ago fishing out on the reefs with my brother for seabass using a circle hook on a fishfinder rig. We did okay, and when we were on our way back in, we stopped in the inlet for a few drifts with clam.

We missed the first four bites. I then changed out the hooks to a larger size, and nailed the next three hits, all stripers.

My advice is to use a hook size large enough to be taken by a fish large enough that you'll keep. In other words, when drifting for fluke, who cares if the hook size results in missing a 13-17" fluke, a 15" croaker, a 13" seabass, etc. Folks that fish on my boat understand that the legal minimum size limit, is different from the size limit that makes it into the boats cooler. In other words, a 17" fluke is not worth keeping, nor is a 12" seabass, 15" croaker, etc.

[wentfishn47]

I use 7/0 and 8/0 gami circles and have been doing well just keep that line tight.Now with that being said I just cursed my self :D Oh well what the hell.

Remember TIGHT lines

Mike

[ 05-11-2005, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: wentfishn47 ]

[design]

Originally posted by VDAWG:

http://www.leadertec.com/Images/Mustad_39960.jpg

Not being a smart azz but try using that type of circle on a noggin,and see how many stripers stay on the hook ............. [/QUOTE]

not being a smart azz, but... try it, you may like it.. 7 yrs and going strong...ah, what the heck do I know...

http://images.snapfish.com/3438%3A%3C7923232%7Ffp7%3Enu%3D3238%3E5%3B9%3E38%3 B%3EWSNRCG%3D3232845%3B%3C%3B694nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3438%3A%3C7923232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2329%3D6%3A%3A%3D4 7%3C%3DXROQDF%3E23236837%3B6987ot1lsi

not much :D ;)

[VDAWG]

Originally posted by design:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by VDAWG:

http://www.leadertec.com/Images/Mustad_39960.jpg

Not being a smart azz but try using that type of circle on a noggin,and see how many stripers stay on the hook ............. </font>[/QUOTE]not being a smart azz, but... try it, you may like it.. 7 yrs and going strong...ah, what the heck do I know...

http://images.snapfish.com/3438%3A%3C7923232%7Ffp7%3Enu%3D3238%3E5%3B9%3E38%3 B%3EWSNRCG%3D3232845%3B%3C%3B694nu0mrj

http://images.snapfish.com/3438%3A%3C7923232%7Ffp63%3Dot%3E2329%3D6%3A%3A%3D4 7%3C%3DXROQDF%3E23236837%3B6987ot1lsi

not much :D ;) [/QUOTE]

So you were using those type of circle hooks 7 yrs. ago till present ?
and also using them with bunkerheads,and catching,and rarely loose a striper when using big baits with those type circles?

I have tried um and i hate um,Ive lost my fair share of bigger stripers with circle hooks,Now clamming for small bass,is a totally dif. ballgame
Hey im not saying that no one should use them in fact i have friends that use them and do well with um,there just not for me !!!

If you have answered yes to my questions,i would have ta say you have the art of using circles mastered,and thats great !!

We use them all the time when Tuna fishing,and they work GREAT!!!They just dont cut it for us when fishing for "large" stripers,and huge baits are in order.......

Also nice stripers !!!!
I have a few now ya got my blood pumping !! LOL

http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/2/54Me_with_cow_striper.jpg

http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/data/2/54stripers_with_bubba.jpg

[ 05-12-2005, 07:53 AM: Message edited by: VDAWG ]

[Xpress]

Design, how much did that top fish weigh? That's a biggun.
I have used 8/0 circles for 5 years but i can remember two gut hooked fish several years ago. ( I guess only two isn't bad) That might be attributed to the slight offset the hook has. I can remember having more live bait gut hooks with j's.

[Capt. Scott]

Circles seem to work better deadsticking...I may catch fewer and smaller fish than most guys...but if you keep the line tight...I don't think I've lost a hooked bass in the last 5 years or so.

They are good for beginners (most of my crew or when singlehandling the boat)...thus the dead sticking...

[ 05-12-2005, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Capt. Scott ]

[design]

Xpress,
44lbs

VDawg, we are all better than the next guy ;) smile.gif nice fish as well. and with these hooks you either love em or hate em. I fish em freespool, And I think I'm the only one (outside of an barner of long ago, bigbasstard) that I've ever seen use them. BBunker watched me bring in the one on the bottom pic.

but
Yes to all your questions, as I kept using what works for me after my first 48" bass 7 yrs ago.
superstitious? I do wear my luck hat out all the time. :D

all my big fish have come on these circles, all on large heads, it's always out there as my hail mary set up.
fish is hooked corner of the jaw 90% of the time, the bait head slides up the leader. I do fish with octopus style and only use them with chunks or strips. And I bet I've lost more fish with these hooks because that flesh skin they seem to hook into for me is far less durable than a jaw bone.

When I first started using them, (shown to me from Capt. Ken, fortescue capt.) I fished them in freespool and still do today. I want that fish to turn and run so the hook can do the job.

[ 05-12-2005, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: design ]

[Ron/Pa]

is it me or what.............why do I feel I have two left hands when trying to put bait on a circle hook??????????
Seems so akward.........!

[BOHICA]

Wow, I didn't expect this much of a response from you guys, but thank you. I have been using Gamakatzu Octopus/Circles 6/0-8/0 for bass for almost 5 years like most of you. I usually dead stick while anchored up with clams and have had decent results as compared to regular octopus. This year however, it just seems like i am pulling the hook on too many occasions. No there is no slack in the line, most times the hook pulls when i have nice pressure on the bigger fish fighting the moving tide (drag seems to be fine). I think it's just been bad luck and Murphy's law working against me. VDawg, I get the message with the hook. How do you snell that baby? I assume you dont even bring the line through the eye of the hook?

[CaptG]

One things for sure Don, you got the circle hooks down! I see the way you do it letting them run some they'll work like they do on tuna. Me, I like the hookset too much, sure I've had just a couple swallow hooks using 9/0 and 10/0 J's and I've had a bunch of tuna swallow circle hooks too. I've missed a couple on the hookset both bass and tuna but have never lost any that were hooked up on the chunk. Allthough my Dad lost one on a 6/0 J in the rips pre-dawn one June years ago after a 20 minute fight that was the biggest striper we ever saw..and we've caught some big ones, this one was truly big a sure 50! Once we finally got the fish to the stern of the boat, which required me chasing the fish w/ the boat due to line capacity issues, the hook pulled out of the roof of it's mouth after it dove straight down, slapped the water w/ it's foot wide tail, then he was gone! What happend was once the line got to a straight up and down angle the hook pulled. Allthough, if that hook was sharp, which it wasn't it would have set past the barb and we'd of had him! Using clams for bass and drum i would not use circles as alot of times you have to stick them right away, unless you are going to deadstick, but where's the fun in that!

[design]

Originally posted by CaptG:
Me, I like the hookset too much, DITTO!
G I fish em like a J hook, You don't think I'd give up a hook set on a 40"+ fish, that's half the fun!

And I should note, a 40"+ fish is not common for me, maybe I've gotten one a year with one year not getting any over, I'm a weekend warrior so by no means an expert, but use what works for me and share what I know, I have yet to hit the 50 club.

Like I said, I didn't know any better in the beginning, one year after the hype of how to fish circles, I tried dead sticking, lost a monster as it doubled my telephone pole sized rod over, never got the B*tch outta the rod holder :mad: never did that again.

Also, these are Mustad Circles, not offset, not octopus, as in the picture, an almost perfect circle and the wire diameter is maybe 4x the size of most.

Walmart gots em :D and Daiche makes a red one now, but we won't go there ;)

[ 05-12-2005, 10:35 AM: Message edited by: design ]

[design]

oh, and for blues, more often than not, hooked in the corner jaw

[VDAWG]

Don,
i didnt mean to come off as i was better than anyone,i only posted up some pics of a few brutes cause ya really got my blood pumping,I love chacing large bass,And your 100%right dude if you have it down by all means Use the circles,Like i said i have friends that use um and have them mastered.....i tried um, i suck at using um,and like capt.G,Man i love that hook set !!

as far as tying the hook to the leader,i just use an improved clinch knot.......

[design]

Originally posted by VDAWG:
Don,
i didnt mean to come off as i was better than anyone
you didn't, not at all.

We all catch big fish, and we all fish differently and it's great to share this information, I learn from others like you.

Good fishing to you this year

[VDAWG]

AMEN TO THAT DON,after all thats what this site is all about,and for that reason,IM PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT !!!!!
And i learn alot from others,Also i try and make it a point to learn,something each and every time out !!

[ 05-12-2005, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: VDAWG ]

[Captn Joe]

I watched more fish missed with circles because gueasts were not disiplined enough to hook the fish properly. ( when Striper Fishing)

Many fish are missed because the hook is lodged in their chrusher plates in the back of their throat. Striped Bass ( the larger ones) are pro's at throwing that type of hook up.( with either type hook)

Circle hooks work great for Tuna
Captn Joe

[Reel-ality]

Thanks for all the posts guys. I thought I'd try them this year myself. I got 8/0 and 9/0 so I guess I'm in the ballpark. I'm thinking it might become mandatory in the near future to use the circles anyway.

[edhead]

I have used circle hooks on the beach for 10 years. The picture that vdawg has is the style I use and have had no problems. Set it and forget it. Remember that you just reel, keep line taunt, and don't do the monster set. Pretty easy even for novices.