circle hooks

[flatlander]

Has anyone tried any of the circle hooks on trotlines and limblines? Just reading how they work, it seems that they would be ideal for this. Anyone have any real experience with these?

[ben gordon]

My friend John uses them and kahles hooks I think on his limblines.  I think he prefers the kahles mainly because he uses live perch as bait and the circle can be hard to bait up on large perch.  I'll email him so he can answer your question better then I did.  I think depending on your bait you are right though.

[John]

Testing 1,2,3. I'm gonna see if this thing will allow me to post before I type out another long reply.

[John]

OK, flatlander, I'm gonna answer your question again. I posted an answer for it last week, but for some reason or another it wouldn't post. I've been havin trouble gettin logged in. The site wouldn't take my password, I got another, it wouldn't work, got another, logged in, got to this board, had to log in again, and then it wouldn't post my message. Things seem to be workin fer me now though.

I do alot of limblining, catch some big flats, and have been trying some different hooks for a few years now.

I was sold on the kahles, but started having trouble with them breaking and bending, and costing me fish. I used the 6/0 and 7/0 kahles. To my way of thinking the hooks should have either all broke due to brittleness, or all bent due to softness, not both, and not both from the same pack of hooks. I also found hooks with no points on them in the pack.

I wrote to Eagle Claw, and told them of what I preceived as a quality control problem, told them that I wasn't looking for a handout because I wasn't gonna be usin their damned kahle hooks anymore anyway, but that if they expected folks to use their made in America hooks, they needed to turn out a good product. I also sent them a bent, a broken, and a hook without a point.

They sent me a dozen L2004ELF-9/0 circle hooks to try. Best hooks yet. I had used circles, and wasn't too crazy about them because there just wasn't enough room between the point and the shank for hooking big perch in the back. A circle in say the 12/0 size was big enough for the bait, but the wire was just too large a diameter, and did alot of damage to the live bait. The 9/0 Eagle Claws have enough room between the point and shank, the wire is fairly large, but not too large, and I haven't had a hook failure with them. If I had to find something to gripe about it would be only that the point will only last for one season, but what besides a stainless will?

I wasn't able to replace the 9/0's in any tackle stores, so I had to re-order them from Eagle Claw. I think the pack of 50 was about $25.00, a bit pricey, but as far as I'm concerned, it was money well spent.

Now if this will post, here's ya an answer.

[shb]

One of the few Items I have ever used that works as advetised. Now I would hate to have to fish without them. Don't be afraid to try them.

[Daveinthebush]

Don't know about cats but fish are fish.  Up here almost all of the long liners, like a trott line but for ocean fishing, use circle hooks.  I also use them for ocean fishing and love them.  Well worth the investment.

[flatlander]

Thanks for the info. I can't wait to get out and try 'em out! I'll probably try some circles and kahles all together and see what the hookup rates appear to be next to each other.

[Slug-Gunner]

Thanks for the info. I can't wait to get out and try 'em out! I'll probably try some circles and kahles all together and see what the hookup rates appear to be next to each other.

There is a main problem that most people have when switching to CIRCLE HOOKS from say the Kahles and other styles.... that is in the HOOK-SET.
Most people are use to the "strong" hook-set required when using the Kahle or other bass/worm type hooks. The "Hook-Set" when using the CIRCLE HOOKS takes a lot of "self-control" and is the main reason a lot of people that first try the CIRCLE HOOKS claim they "miss" a lot of hook-sets with them and end up not liking them. This is especially true for older bass fishermen who are use to yanking the rod up to vertical or more with a STRONG, FAST MOTION. This pulls the hook quickly from the fish's mouth, never allowing the point-barb a chance to engage the fish's lip or jaw section. The design of a CIRCLE HOOK virtually eliminates a "gut-hooked" fish most of the time.

The "Hook-Set" when using a CIRCLE HOOK is entirely different. When you get a strike on a CIRCLE HOOK you simply lift the rod SLOWLY and BEGIN REELING. By lifting the rod SLOWLY, you bring the hook to the corner of the mouth, allowing the gap to catch the corner of the mouth as it makes the turn around the corner. Once the fishes mouth enters the CIRCLE HOOK gap, the point-barb section engages the fishes mouth cartilidge  and the fish is solidly hooked. The fish almost hooks itself! All you really do is LIFT and REEL.... keeping constant pressure on the fish.
 :twisted:  :eek:  :-D  :wink:

[John]

He ain't gonna be settin the hook on a trotline or a limbline anyway.

[shb]

That is good advice Slug-Gunner, I don't do any guiding for money, but I shure take alot of people fishing, and I always make them wait until the rod is completely bent over before I let them grab it out of the rod holder. So the fish is hooking himself. If a person can wait and let the fish hook themselves it seems like it is rare to miss a fish.

[chubjerker]

I started using circle hooks this year and they really do work but I learned a valuable lesson I would like to share.  Make sure your rod holder is secure.  I have hooked every fish that has taken my bait with one exception.  About two weeks ago I had my cat pole in a rod holder stuck in the bank and I was standing about fifteen yards away casting for white bass when my cat pole dove hard and pulled the rod and rod holder over into the water.  When I got to my rod he was gone.

[VanillaRat]

You can't beat them for when the kids are fishing with you either! My 6 year old boy took 2nd place in a derby last summer and when they asked him how he had done so good, he replied "Circle hooks". It is hard to break that habit of setting the hook, but the hookup ratio is incrediable. I use the Gamataksu in all different sizes. Where we fish,(Illinois River) the drum and carp are thick, for the kids we just thread a shad or nightcrawler on the circle hooks and let them enjoy, no worries about having to set the hook for them, or worse, trying to tell them when to set the hook.

[shb]

Good Idea, VanillaRat   thats a perfect use for circle hooks.  You can bet I will be using that advice for all the youngsters I take this summer.  Thanks for the good post.