circle hooks

[10.5" RES Sharon]

I finally received my Octopus "Circle" hooks yesterday. (no one near me sells them)  They are not circle hooks, and still have a barb. Do you think if I bent the tip inwards and filed off the barb, it would make them circle hooks? 

[robsabloke]

Circle hooks have barbs. If you bend the hook you may compromise the strength of it. The barb should be left as is so it can't be easily dislodged from the fishes jaw. The CIRCLE in circle hook derives from the obvious circle like shape (when compared to a typical hook) and the 'offset' from the shank that enable the hook to basically 'set itself'
Hope this helps you out
Rob

[Jimmy Walters]

If you want to go barbless (I usually do--it makes releasing easier), try pinching the barb down with a needle-nose plier. The barb might break off, or you can mash it down to the shank and have a practically barbless hook without weakening the shank. Works for me.

[10.5" RES Sharon]

That's a good idea Jimmy. Works better than the 30 minutes I spent trying to file it off along with my skin

[10.5" RES Sharon]

I decided I didn't like circle hooks, mostly because the shaft is so short. And, contrary to popular belief, the fish swallow them just as easily as other hooks. So, what's the point?

[John C Watson]

I just purchased some Gamagatsu circle hooks in size 8 to try for the exact purpose of trying not to kill bream that swallowed the hook.   The hook is supposed to be self hooking in the corner of the fishes mouth.  The hooks I received had an offset that I figured would still catch in the fishes gullet if it swallowed the hook so I straightened the offset so that the point was aligned with the shaft.  Only managed to catch one red ear about 8" long that had enough time to swallow the hook as I was fishing deep.  It was hooked perfectly in the corner of it's mount.

 

More testing to follow.  I had three wax worms on the hook a bait, by the way.

 

John

[Taylor]

All I use for bait-fishing is circle hooks. I seldom use bait for bream, so I've never tried circles for them. But, for saltwater/catfish circles are the way to go. The ones I get don't have barbs, but I almost never can find any non-offset. Even with this I've never had a gut hook with them. What methods are you using with them? I've always done the weight it down and sit method when they are in use.