Circle Hooks

[Gull Lake Guy]

Any feedback on the use of circle hooks when live bait fishing for walleye's. Is it true that you do not "set" the hook? Any fish seem to come unhooked for no reason?

[GullGuide]

No, you do not have to set the hook. All you do is apply steady pressure and the fish hook themselves, or just start reeling. Very seldom have I lost a fish and the hook ALWAYS lodges right in the corner of the jaw. Be careful of using the off-set circle hooks though, they do not work as well and the off-set ones can catch where you dont want the hook to catch...potential gut-hooks. Give them a try, have worked great for walleye, and bass alike. They also work great on spinner rigs- just throw the rod in the rod holder and wait for the rod to bend... and whollah!..Fish on!
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[John in MN]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-19-01 AT 02:48PM (CST)[p]I fished with them and the other guy in the boat was surprised that I didn't have to set the hook. I've been using Gamakatsu that have an offset and I gut hook them a lot. I know the Eagle Claw are not offset and plan to get some of them. What are other brands that are not offset?

[Juls_WI]

I like the Owner hooks myself. No problems with them.

I don't have much more to add than the first post. I have the same experiences with the hooks as he did. I like them for slip bobber fishing.

Juls

[Bob Z]

I used circle hooks last year for perch. Lift the rod rather than set-the-hook. Works every time in the corner of the mouth. Small perch go back in better shape.

Kids have an easier time catching the perch and even if the kids are a bit slow the hook is still in the corner of the mouth.

I have also used circle hooks on tuna and dorado using live bait on the sea of Cortez. Let the bait fish swim away from the boat on a free line. Big fish takes the bait and runs, count to three, throw the reel in gear and hold on to the rod. Fun. Fun. Fun.

The off-set circle defeats the purpose of the circle hook. The off-set point hooks flesh before the hook gets to the corner of the mouth. The result is gut hooked or gill hooked fish.

[HUSKER]

I have been using Eagle claw 2/0 on catfish with great success with alot of different baits.My only complaint is not setting the hook takes some "untraining" if you know what I mean. Good fishing!!!

[Hans]

I've been using them on my 'riggin' rods for two years now, and love them. Take a little getting used to, but the fish literally hook themselves, and are easy to release. Haven't lost a fish since I trained myself not to 'set the hook'.

Hans

[EAGLE EYES]

Oh, com'on now Hans! You never lost even 1 fish? ;-) Circle hooks are a very easy way to hook a fish without yanking their inners out with violent hook sets. I don't like them for use with minnows. I do think however, they are very effective with leeches and crawlers. Like Juls said earlier, they seem to work very well under a slip cork! This is nothing new but, yes, it is very hard not to set the hook, when fishing for eyes or anything else for that matter. However, a couple of nice sized Walleyes missed from a hook set, will change your habits very quickly! ;-) Good luck! and may the fish be with you! EE

[cmb]

haven't tried themm for eyes, but they (the VMC brand) have seriously reduced the mortality of small/smallish perch.