Circle hooks? - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-30T01:44:08Zhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/circle-hooks-1?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A142722&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI can think of a need..... to…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-29:2036984:Comment:1440932011-04-29T14:17:03.118ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>I can think of a need..... to eliminate hooksets on smaller fish. As I stated before, I find they don't work as well on the little gills. Anything that improves my catch ratio of large to small bluegill is going to find a place in my tackle box.</p>
<p>As far as damage caused by fish swallowing these hooks... well yes, but if we're truly talking swallowed, where all you see is the line disappearing into the fish's throat, and not just deeply hooked, then I think it really doesn't matter what…</p>
<p>I can think of a need..... to eliminate hooksets on smaller fish. As I stated before, I find they don't work as well on the little gills. Anything that improves my catch ratio of large to small bluegill is going to find a place in my tackle box.</p>
<p>As far as damage caused by fish swallowing these hooks... well yes, but if we're truly talking swallowed, where all you see is the line disappearing into the fish's throat, and not just deeply hooked, then I think it really doesn't matter what hook you have tied on. If you go after it, you're probably gonna' injure the fish.</p> Hey Jeff nice to see you too.…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-29:2036984:Comment:1439902011-04-29T02:52:07.177ZRob Hiltonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/RobHilton
<p>Hey Jeff nice to see you too... Been a while... I agree with your last sentence... to a point...</p>
<p>But... if you are holding onto your rod, why would you need to use circle hooks.. I still think that type of hook can be extremely harmful if swallowed.... but if you have your rod in your hand and are paying attention there really is no need for that style of hook... you can be using a standard long shank hook and set it in the jaw just as easy... But... you must be paying attention to…</p>
<p>Hey Jeff nice to see you too... Been a while... I agree with your last sentence... to a point...</p>
<p>But... if you are holding onto your rod, why would you need to use circle hooks.. I still think that type of hook can be extremely harmful if swallowed.... but if you have your rod in your hand and are paying attention there really is no need for that style of hook... you can be using a standard long shank hook and set it in the jaw just as easy... But... you must be paying attention to what you are doing... and what the fish are doing... I like to catch the fish... not have them catch themselves... </p>
<p>Good Fishing</p> Hey Rob, how are you doing ma…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-29:2036984:Comment:1436852011-04-29T00:13:10.986ZJeff Sotohttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JeffSoto
Hey Rob, how are you doing man? Did you know that I started this discussion after trying out these hooks at Lake Perris on 30+ fish? Hey I really disagree with you about the shape of the circle hook helping in NOT hooking the fish in their throats or gullets. With a true circle hook, because the point of the hook is so curled in, it cannot hook onto most areas of the fishes' mouth/throat, except for the corner of their mouth or top "lips" and I believe the fish has to be swimming away from…
Hey Rob, how are you doing man? Did you know that I started this discussion after trying out these hooks at Lake Perris on 30+ fish? Hey I really disagree with you about the shape of the circle hook helping in NOT hooking the fish in their throats or gullets. With a true circle hook, because the point of the hook is so curled in, it cannot hook onto most areas of the fishes' mouth/throat, except for the corner of their mouth or top "lips" and I believe the fish has to be swimming away from you or at an angle from your line, not facing you, for the hook to grab into the fish. It's the only bait hook I'll use now. Although you are not suppose to "set" the hook with circle hooks, it's pretty hard not to when you are fishing a cricket drop shot style and you get that little tick of a bite. As you know Rob some of those fish at Perris sometimes just hit like a freight train! If you are not holding onto your rod, it's gone! I love fishing jigs, but I like this method too.<br/> Whatever rocks your 'boat'...…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-28:2036984:Comment:1431592011-04-28T15:32:23.089ZRob Hiltonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/RobHilton
<strong>Whatever rocks your 'boat'... but for me, one of the Biggest thrills in fishing for Big Bluegills is feeling that tick on the line and then "Setting the Hook"... these fish can take in a bait and 'SPIT' it out in a nano second... I think it kind of defeats the purpose to have them hook themselves. I have seen fisherman use 'Circle Hooks' for the likes of cat fish etc... and for species like that it would seem to make sense, since these fish sometimes 'play' with a bait for quite a…</strong>
<strong>Whatever rocks your 'boat'... but for me, one of the Biggest thrills in fishing for Big Bluegills is feeling that tick on the line and then "Setting the Hook"... these fish can take in a bait and 'SPIT' it out in a nano second... I think it kind of defeats the purpose to have them hook themselves. I have seen fisherman use 'Circle Hooks' for the likes of cat fish etc... and for species like that it would seem to make sense, since these fish sometimes 'play' with a bait for quite a while before deciding to swallow it... When Bluegill/Redear fishing, it can be very frustrating to keep getting hits and missing fish, but that's also a huge part of the fun for me... you have to figure out what they are doing with your bait and how they are taking it... and catching them depends on your keen eyesight and reflexes... As far as swallowing a Circle hook... This has nothing to do with the shape of it and usually depends on the type of bait you are using and how aggresive the Bluegill/Redear are at the time... Once swallowed however... these hooks are extremely difficult, if not impossible to remove... even when equipped with the best of disgorgers ... </strong> It is good to see so many peo…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-26:2036984:Comment:1427222011-04-26T23:07:36.010ZJChttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JC
<p>It is good to see so many people trying these hooks. As others mentioned, it is sometimes hard to find non-offset circle hooks, but it is usually easy to remove the offset with a pair of pliers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My experiences are similar to other comments. The offset models do tend to deep hook fish, but the non-offset hooks rarely deep hook fish.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Circle hooks work very well for me as long as I do not snatch. After using them extensively in saltwater, I have found them very…</p>
<p>It is good to see so many people trying these hooks. As others mentioned, it is sometimes hard to find non-offset circle hooks, but it is usually easy to remove the offset with a pair of pliers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My experiences are similar to other comments. The offset models do tend to deep hook fish, but the non-offset hooks rarely deep hook fish.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Circle hooks work very well for me as long as I do not snatch. After using them extensively in saltwater, I have found them very useful for panfish, catfish and other freshwater species.</p> I have tried to use bigger ci…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-26:2036984:Comment:1426232011-04-26T04:34:17.923ZKeith Owenhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/KeithOwen
<p>I have tried to use bigger circle hooks with the barb bent down and have lost fish. You have to keep the rod really bent or they back out fast. Of course that's on bigger fish that run.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I tend to use them when drifting or tight-lineing bait deep. Even with low stretch line it tough to see or feel a bite and the circle hook helps.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They aren't good for every situation, but where they work, they work very well and prevent gut-hooked fish.</p>
<p>Keith</p>
<p>I have tried to use bigger circle hooks with the barb bent down and have lost fish. You have to keep the rod really bent or they back out fast. Of course that's on bigger fish that run.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I tend to use them when drifting or tight-lineing bait deep. Even with low stretch line it tough to see or feel a bite and the circle hook helps.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They aren't good for every situation, but where they work, they work very well and prevent gut-hooked fish.</p>
<p>Keith</p> Who cares if they don't stick…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-26:2036984:Comment:1426842011-04-26T02:33:08.249ZJeff Sotohttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JeffSoto
Who cares if they don't stick under 3" Bluegill. They count fish that tiny in competitions? The next time I go out (hopefully Friday) I'm going to bend down the barbs on the circle hooks to see if they can be removed from the fishes' mouth easier. The only problem is that the crickets might come off the hook pretty easy and I'll be waiting for that strike that will never come to an unbaited hook.
Who cares if they don't stick under 3" Bluegill. They count fish that tiny in competitions? The next time I go out (hopefully Friday) I'm going to bend down the barbs on the circle hooks to see if they can be removed from the fishes' mouth easier. The only problem is that the crickets might come off the hook pretty easy and I'll be waiting for that strike that will never come to an unbaited hook. I thought they might be harde…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-26:2036984:Comment:1426062011-04-26T02:07:54.596ZJohnny wilkinshttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/chicagofishing
<p>I thought they might be harder to get out, but deep-hooking is not an issue with barbless hooks and very light line.</p>
<p>Of course, if not paying attention - that is a totally different story. I completely understand being outdoors and taking an eye off the float.</p>
<p>I have the world's best tool in either my mouth or tucked behind my ear in case any fish does get deep-hooked. It's called a disgorger and all bluegill hunters should have this tool - it saves lives.</p>
<p>If I happen to…</p>
<p>I thought they might be harder to get out, but deep-hooking is not an issue with barbless hooks and very light line.</p>
<p>Of course, if not paying attention - that is a totally different story. I completely understand being outdoors and taking an eye off the float.</p>
<p>I have the world's best tool in either my mouth or tucked behind my ear in case any fish does get deep-hooked. It's called a disgorger and all bluegill hunters should have this tool - it saves lives.</p>
<p>If I happen to deep hook a prized gill and can't get it out on the first try, I just cut the leader - chances are my hook point needed replacing anyhow and the thin hooks melt out of those fish quickly with their acidic mouths.</p>
<p>Mortality is usually for about .5 % which are very small fish where a gill is broken. Tee 3" potato chips can be fragile... the rest of them no problem.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> I think for Johnny's competit…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-26:2036984:Comment:1425872011-04-26T01:31:53.171ZTony Livingstonhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TonyLivingston
<p>I think for Johnny's competitions these hooks would not be the best choice. I've found they don't stick smaller bluegill, (under 3" ) very well. In addition, I think they can be somewhat harder to remove, once you have the fish on the bank.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you're only targeting larger gills, and aren't in a race, these hooks can be quite useful. I know that my hybrid bluegill pond is catch and release, and these hooks have become my favorites to prevent harmful, deep…</p>
<p>I think for Johnny's competitions these hooks would not be the best choice. I've found they don't stick smaller bluegill, (under 3" ) very well. In addition, I think they can be somewhat harder to remove, once you have the fish on the bank.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you're only targeting larger gills, and aren't in a race, these hooks can be quite useful. I know that my hybrid bluegill pond is catch and release, and these hooks have become my favorites to prevent harmful, deep hooksets.</p> Well - not many or I wouldn'…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2011-04-26:2036984:Comment:1420622011-04-26T00:43:01.781ZJohnny wilkinshttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/chicagofishing
<p>Well - not many or I wouldn't have been able to land that many. I had 2 small fish and one medium fish that were deep-hooked.</p>
<p>I am on that bite indicator and the goal is to NOT have them swallow it. It is a fine line between letting them take it and striking before they have the hook.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well - not many or I wouldn't have been able to land that many. I had 2 small fish and one medium fish that were deep-hooked.</p>
<p>I am on that bite indicator and the goal is to NOT have them swallow it. It is a fine line between letting them take it and striking before they have the hook.</p>
<p> </p>