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smaller cat circle hooks

9K views 69 replies 22 participants last post by  Beastly Backlash 
#1 ·
I jug fish on a local lake that generally produces channel and blue cats in the 2 to 3 lb. range. I am fixing to switch my noodle jugs to circle hooks. Our local Wal-mart doesn't have much selection on circle hooks and every time I have ordered hooks online they aren't quite the size I thought they were. Can someone point me to a good "thin wire" circle hook that would fill this bill.
 
#43 ·
I had always used 5/0 for channels but since the channels in the lake I will be fishing seem to be on the smaller side, I decided to go to 3/0. The 4/0 looked good to me but since that was so close to what I already had, I dropped it down to the 3/0.

I did not order them Nick. I am visiting my son and grand kids in Knoxville and down here, Academy Sports seems to be everywhere. So, That is where I found them. I would have to look to even tell you what I paid but there wasn't any shipping so it could not have been too bad.

I think I am going to have to stick with my 8/0 Gamakatsu hooks. I have had good luck with them and have always found them sharp. I do feel that almost anything that has a curve in it and a SHARP point on it can catch a fish.
 
#46 ·
Dont forget you need to size your hook depending on the bait you are using too. Fill too much of the gap (too small of hook or too big of bait) and youll miss fish. I sometimes use 3/0 for nightcrawlers, but a big pile of shad guts or a 1” square piece of cut is too big for a 3/0 imo. Thats why i use 5/0-6/0. I catch 12-14”ers on 8/0 hooks all the time.
 
#52 ·
I use Gamakatsu hooks for just about everything...except maybe panfishing. I use 5/0 gama circles for channel cats and 8/0 for bigger fish. I have some 12/0 but they are really too thick/heavy for my liking. If I need to, I'll add a trailer hook on really big baits.

I started using the 8/0 big river hook (not a circle hook) last year but haven't landed enough fish on them to give them an honest review.
 
#58 · (Edited)
Ive had good luck with them. often Im fishing with my boy in spots where the biggest chanel is about 18" and most around 14"-15" so the 1/0's work great. Never have a problem hooking fish. Though I am selective where I use them..Mostly big creek fishing. I honestly don't use circles much, Im more of a octopus, khale and sickle hook guy..
 
#59 ·
I have lived my life with the saying "You get what you pay for" with saying that, the only thing that touches that fish is THE HOOK!!! You don't skimp on this and if ya do ya get what ya paid for!! Gamakatsu #8 Circles have served me well through over 50 years of fishing, I've not caught anything over 50#'s but that hook is always sharp and has never failed, I also use the smaller ones too, it did take me along time to even try the circles too, just didn't look right and no hook setting, that's the part I had to get used to, don't always use circles either, just in the situations called for it.
 
#61 ·
I don't know that you need to step it down too much. I regularly catch small catfish on big hooks... had one less than 3lbs. on a 10/0 Charlie Brown HD last month! But if they're gonna be on jugs that you could lose I'd go down to a 4/0 just to keep them inexpensive.
 
#64 ·
The 1/0 Diachii circles have been working very well since I got them and handle baits up too half a 5in bluegill. Biggest channel so far on the hooks was a 15lb bruiser with a mouth big enough to fit my hand into.

I really like that the number of eye hooked cats has dropped significantly.

The 3/0 Diachii circles will be good for larger baits like whole bluegill.
 
#65 ·
I ordered some #2 gama circles online and I was suspect so I only ordered one small package. I have never even seen them in the local Cabelas so I had no idea what to expect.

They are really small...I don't know what "#2" the are measuring up to...but they seem more like a #4 or #6 to me....tiny, thin wire.

That's ok...I'll find a use for them somewhere. Generally when I am using hooks this small, it is for catching bait and a circle hook is not conducive too the way I do that....

I'll find a use for them but just a heads up...a #2 circle hook is a lot smaller than you might think
 
#67 ·
I know it's already been said, but the thread has gotten long and I think it bears repeating, if you get a print catalog from catfish connection, they show you all their hooks true to size. Takes all the guess work and surprise out of what you're getting when you order from them! I think it's a great resource for all catfish anglers.

My 8 year old son is currently memorizing it. Haha!

Human Leg Reading Child Sitting
 
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