Having trouble with Circle Hooks

[Matt]

Been having some problems with circle hooks lately. It always seems that I will get a bunch of hits but the fish somehow spit the hook out or when I go to set the hook it flys out. Are there any alternative to circle hooks so that I dont have to deal with weeds because thats why I like to use them. Will bending the hook work better? Maybe Im not a good fisherman Eyeball Roller

[Tuc]

Remember with circle hooks you don't set the hook. Just real in the slack line.A sharp tug on a circle hook cause the i nside of the hook to strike the fish mouth. The smooth tightening of the line puts the point first...There is an article on circle hooks in on of last years IN Fisherman mags..I will try and hunt it down. ]


Found it

http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if0502_VVCircleHooks/ (http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if0502_VVCircleHooks/)

[Fishstory]

I used to have a problem with circle hooks when fishing with cut up fish, after the hook went through it didn't stick out of the piece enough and the fish could never geta good bite on it! To be honest I stopped using them because I was loosing to many fish. Besides the only time I used them was surf casting at the ocean, I use mostly soft bait and poppers now. If I'm going to use bait I use regular big old hooks.

[Bob D]

Tuc is correct.

Here are the first 3 rules of using circle hooks:

1) Don't set the hook.

2) Don't set the hook.

3) Don't set the hook.

Wink1


Circle hooks are designed so that when a fish takes the bait and turns, the hook will pull to the corner of the mouth and hook the fish there.

What are you using them for? What kind of bait? Circle's do work well in the right conditions, but sometimes it's better to use a different style hook. A little more info would help getting you headed in the right direction.

[Angler Tangler]

I agree that the hook will set itself. Another thing to consider...don't even react to the initial pick-up. Be patient and allow the fish to fully engulf the bait and run with it a little thinking that its taken a meal free and clear.
By the way...good fisherman ask questions...poor ones keep doing the same thing over and over and fail.

[dana_c]

Try Bass Pro's Offshore Angler brand wide circle hooks, great hooks and I think they're even on sale right now. I use the 5/0's and 6/0's for cod/haddock etc. When you feel a bite you simply take up any slack and let the hook do it's work.