Circle hook experiment...

[Jason Schillinger]

I finnally tried them, and was pleasantly surprised with their effectiveness. I went out yesterday with some smaller suckers(10-13" range) and used the 7 and 10X sizes. I had 4 hits and 3 muskies hooked right in the corner of the mouth(40", 35", and 33"). The 4th fish was very small and spit the thing out. I'll continue to use quick strikes for the most part, because I hated waiting(although the average wait was 2.5 minutes a hookset yesterday). I wanted to see if they worked so I could use them in certain instances where my quick-sets get snagged frequently(heavy weeds/leaves and shallow jagged rocks). I also wanted to prove that they are at least better than single hook straight swallow rigs, as I plan to give some to friends(including a couple guides) who won't convert to quick-sets. I plan to experiment a little more with some bigger suckers in the same lake system(good population of medium sized fish).

Any comments, opinions?

[Shep]

Jason!

Sounds like you had some fun! Was wondering how you determined when to start your retrieve? 2.5 minutes sounds a little short, but if it wasn't still t-boned... Did the rubber bands break? Did the suckers get regurgitated?

Congrats on the fish, and hope I helped on the last thread on this topic.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

[Bob Babcock]

I used circle hooks for the first time a few weeks ago. I only had one hit and didn't hook the fish. I had a few problems with my rigging that I'm sure led to missing the fish. My first problem was the hooks I used were too small. They were 8/0, but they seemed like the smallest 8/0's I've ever seen. Secondly, my rubberband was too strong....I think. Lastly, the sucker I was using was 20". That's probably too big for circle hooks.

Jason, where did you get your circle hooks? I went to Rollie's and a number of bait shops in Mercer and Manitowish Waters. Only one shop in Mercer had any and they were the ones that were too small. A few of the shops up there did have "pre-rigged" hooks, but I was too cheap to pay 5 bucks for one hook. (Side note: The Joe Bucher pre-rigged circle hooks are off-set. They need to be straightend before using) Also, where do you get the rubber bands. I got some from an orthodontist, but they were so strong I could barely break them with my hands. Most rubber bands you can buy at a store are too big, size wise. What do you think about using hard mono or flourocarbon for a leader?

As far as when to set (or not set actually), the rule I go by is to wait 'til they start to make their second run. Usually, after they hit they'll make a run toward deep water (but sometimes shallow) then they will start chomping for a while then they swallow and make a second run. That's when you're supposed to reel them in. None of this worked for me, but I'll be out there again soon.

[Jason Schillinger]

I didn't use rubberbands. I hooked the sucker through the lips and they worked great. Maybe that is the "wrong" way but it worked for me. On my homemade quickstrikes I use orthodontic rubbers, and get them locally, they work awesome(I sometimes put a small slit in the side of the rubberband so it breaks easier).

I waited for 1 minute 2 minutes 3 minutes and 6 minutes(I think, though we averaged our times in the boat, I can't remember exact times). I used a bobber and waited for the musky to stop running the first time then watched the bobber. I can see when they are chomping on the sucker and turning it around as the bobber hops with the fish chomping. It then sits still for a spell and finally moves again(usually towards where it hit the sucker), thats when I take the fish. Years ago(about 7), when I still used single hooks, I learned that when a musky took my sucker and went deep, and eventually came back shallow, it was ready to be taken. I usually did not have to wait more than 5 minutes.

[Phishin]

Hey Jason, I don't think it is a good idea to hook the sucker through the lips with the circle hook. When you "set the hook" you then have to drag the sucker out of the stomach of the fish in order to get a hook in the musky's mouth. Plus, the head of the sucker goes in first, so you have to "turn" the fish around inside the belly of the musky in order to pull it out....

One question though, was the sucker hanging from the hook that was in the mouth of the musky?? Or did the hooks break free from the sucker's mouth in the musky's belly?? Basically, when you landed these fish, where was the sucker??

Peace Out.
Steve Hulbert

[MuskieJ]

I use circle hooks and I take the rubber band and slide it through the suckers nostroles, Somewhat like the mania quick strikes. Then I put the hook trough the rubber band and twist it tight and then shove the hook back under the rubber band. After the fish takes it you let it chomp. You will after time just get the feel for when the muskie is ready. Then DO NOT SET THE HOOK just start reeling usually the first time the fish surfaces the sucker goes flying and the circle hook is in the corner of the muskies mouth. Phishin if you wait for the sucker to be swolled It does not matter what rig you are using it was too long. Remember if the muskie is hungery it doesent matter if you have a quick strike rig, circle hook or a plain hook it only takes them a matter of minutes to really swollow it. Also I use # 8 circle hooks and these seem to be the best for suckers up to 20". As for rubber bands I just use the ones that come on the sunday paper.

Later

Jim

[Rob Myers - St. Croix Rods]

I've used them the past 2 years and it's either those or quick strikes. We've had a very successful hookup rate with fish being caught in the corner of the mouth. We are using the Daiichi Bleeding Bait Hooks. I have 10/0 and 13/0 sized hooks at the store in Park Falls.
The circle hooks work great, but I'm still more confident with the quick strikes.
Rob

[Steve @ G & S Guide Service]

Ok Jim,

Yesterday, I was guiding a couple of guys and they were asking me about circle hooks. So while at the bait shop, I picked up a Daiichi Blood Red Circle hook, 10/0 I believe. I grabbed some smaller suckers as I was going to an action lake, one of the guys had never caught a muskie.

Well, I put out a quick strike rig with a sucker, and hooked up a sucker on the circle hook, just hooked it through the nose.

We had a good hookup with the quick strike rig soon, unfortunately the muskie got off when the snap broke.

Shortly after, a 36 grabbed the circle hook sucker. It went deep and stayed there for about 10 minutes. When it took off, I told the client to just lift the rod tip and start reeling. As soon as the muskie got to the surface, it came off.

Another sucker went back into the water and we tried again. Another musky took the bait and this time, I waited 20 minutes before reeling in the fish. This one came off too.

A THIRD muskie hit, this one we waited a full 30 minutes before attempting to boat it. This one didn't stay hooked either.

I've used circle hooks for smallmouth bass and haven't had this problem, so it's not like it's a totally new concept to me. What in the *$#&*(@^ did I do wrong? Can anyone tell me?

Steve @ G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods. http://www.herefishyfishy.com

[Jason Schillinger]

Thanks for replies guys. Steve, mighjt have just been the day. Sometimes the muskies won't swallow the sucker no matter how long you give them. My buddy missed 2 fish a couple days ago, including a four footer that did not swallow the sucker after 20 minutes. Those are the fish that should eat quick strikes. I(after feeding the 40-42" musky in our pond on a weekly basis) see that if the musky wants to actually eat the sucker and not just swim around with it T-boned(as they do alot), they will swallow it often in under a minute.

For those wondering, the muskies I caught on the circle hooks with the sucker hooked through the mouth, the sucker came off, but was eith found dead on the surface, or seen swimming away. I thank you for the rubber band tip, and plan to try its effectiveness tommorrow on a local lake I've been waiting anxiously to tap of its trophies. Will post tommorrow night with results.

[MuskieJ]

Steve @ G&S Guide Service.

I use to have that same problem until I started to use rubber bands.
What happens it when you hook them through the lip or nose, you actually pull the sucker out of the muskies mouth because the suckers snout is pretty strong and wont release the hook. When you use the rubber band and you start reeling the band will easily strech and break alowing the hook to release and drag the muskies mouth until it latches into the corner. I hope this answers your questions.

Best of luck

Jim

P.S. Try to use smaller rubberbands, because it they are to big they wont break. Also I use #8 circle hooks. I found that if you lay the hook across the head of the sucker you want the hook to be the same width. If the hook sticks to far out for some reason you dont have as good of hook percentages.

[RIVERWOLFGUIDESERVICE]

I have been making and marketing these rigs for two years and they are wonderful if you have patience.I found that the best rubberbands are found at wal mart in the hair care section.I found them this summer when i was getting hairs ties for my daughter.I got like 200 in assorted sizes for like 1.29. they work excellent.good luck.
RIVERWOLF GUIDE SERVICE
THOMAS A. JOHNSON 1-715-463-5031
RVRWOLFJOHNSON@NETSCAPE.NET

[Jason Schillinger]

Had 2 hits on circle hooks today(using rubberband method), and my girlfriend boated a nice one, and she lost the other(band didn't break, but I don't think it was a very big fish), had one other take that ran and dropped(big cats in this stretch love to do this). Oddly, the quick strike rigged sucker never was touched. The results have been good enough to keep doing it for awhile.