Circle hooks?

[Jeff Soto]

Has anyone used a "Circle hook" for Bluegill?  I bought some black finished size 10 Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Circle hooks to try on Bluegill.  Supposedly you don't need to set the hook with your rod when you get a bite, just start reeling in the fish.  And supposedly, the fish are never hooked deep in their throats, but in the corner of their mouths, making it easier for catch and release.   I'm going out to Lake Perris in the morning to give them a try so I'll post my hook test tomorrow...

[Rob Hilton]

Hey Jeff nice to see you too... Been a while... I agree with your last sentence... to a point...

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... 

Good Fishing

[Tony Livingston]

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.

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.