[OkieFlatHunter]

I've been experimenting this year with circle hooks as a cheaper alternative to Owner SSW and Gamakatsu octopus hooks snelled . All hooks are 8/0-10/0 that I've played with . Conditions are heavy current , takes 10-16oz to hold in the rocks . Bait is live crappie 4-6" . I've tried gamakatsu octopus circles (fail) , Mustad Demons (fail), Eagle Claw Circle Sea (fail) and lastly Team Catfish Double Action (4 flatheads 1 shallow hook set , doesn't matter if I set the hook or the fish does) . Has anyone else tried circles with success in heavy current? Thinking about Mustad Nautilus or Owner Super Mutu next

 

[Matt77]

I just don't like circles or maybe I just don't know what I'm doing. lol I fish with 3 poles. 2 I cast out and put circles on them. 1, I cast out and hold the pole with a 4/0 J hook baitholder. I like the J hook been fishing it for 25 years and I love to set the hook. Just feels right. As for circles I have tried them all also, the same ones you mentioned and haven't had much success. I would like to know what the popular brands that people like for circles. And maybe a couple tips for using them. Do you guys who do good with circles keep the drag tite when use them?

 

[catfish98054]

i fish circles all the time in some pretty heavy current on the cape fear river (tidal water ) and have no problem with hook set i use 8/0 gamas or ssw 9/0 owners however i do offset my points. on the inline hooks i have missed a few due to bait doubling back on hook i fish my drag locked down till i hookup then adjust if needed . if you need to set the hook just sweep the rod sideways this works for me

 

[Pip]

I like circles when I got current. The current works good with a circle. 1 possible thing that might be happening is the way your hooking the bait. are ya allowing enough of the barb to be exposed? Thats a common little detail that is overlooked. If your using bigger baits, try a double hook rig. They might only be taking part of the bait in their mouths and not the whole part with the hook in. Double hook rigs with bigger bait is a good idea.

I always tell people to count to 1 to 2 seconds when the rod loads up before you even touch the rod. Let the hook do it's job. Trying to set the hook with a circle is a little trickier, but can be done, but not required. There is a love/hate relationship with circles for some guys, once you figure them out, it is a good hook to have in your arsenal.

 

[Matt77]

I like circles when I got current. The current works good with a circle. 1 possible thing that might be happening is the way your hooking the bait. are ya allowing enough of the barb to be exposed? Thats a common little detail that is overlooked. If your using bigger baits, try a double hook rig. They might only be taking part of the bait in their mouths and not the whole part with the hook in. Double hook rigs with bigger bait is a good idea.

I always tell people to count to 1 to 2 seconds when the rod loads up before you even touch the rod. Let the hook do it's job. Trying to set the hook with a circle is a little trickier, but can be done, but not required. There is a love/hate relationship with circles for some guys, once you figure them out, it is a good hook to have in your arsenal.

thanks for the tips!

 

[futuremarine]

ive had some luck fishing 3/0 circle hooks in mid current rivers.

 

[Balex123]

I'm still learning about circles, but I've found the big king kahles to be a solid big hook at a reasonable price.

 

[Iowa_Josh]

There are times when they just won't work well. like when fish just chomp the bait and sit. It works if the fish turns around or maybe to the side. It works if you're over top of them. If they're facing you and happily just sitting there and you're on the bank, it's the wrong hook. Seen it and been there. Sometimes placing the bait somewhere slightly different will make all the difference.

 

[ramon06]

I use Circles only and could never go back to a regular hook, tried the Kahles on big bait (1LB and up) but didnt catch anything so i cant judge them. This is what I have found for my fishing, I hook up better without snelling hooks. Snelling hooks I lose fish more than without. I use SS Owner 9/0 & 10/0, Daaichi chunk 7/0, TC 8/0 and Gamma Octo 8/0. I love circles and even use them for Bass fishing and bluegill fishing. I use them still or anchor fishing, drifiting, slack water, heavy current. I have even caught fish when they are running towards you, which everyone says they cant hook up lol, and all you have to do is real in the slack. I see too many people set the hook with circles. They even do it when they say they dont, I watch all my friends do it, and I say why'd you set the hook and they say no I didnt lol its funny, setting the hook is just a natural reaction it is very hard and takes a long time to break the habit. You still hook up sometimes when setting the hook, but a side sweep works pretty darn good. I fish lakes and the James and Appomattox rivers. I guess some people have just had bad luck with them but for my style, type and location I fish circles just work best, others conditions may vary so they have different results.

 

[Snagged2]

I use Circles only and could never go back to a regular hook, tried the Kahles on big bait (1LB and up) but didnt catch anything so i cant judge them. This is what I have found for my fishing, I hook up better without snelling hooks. Snelling hooks I lose fish more than without. I use SS Owner 9/0 & 10/0, Daaichi chunk 7/0, TC 8/0 and Gamma Octo 8/0. I love circles and even use them for Bass fishing and bluegill fishing. I use them still or anchor fishing, drifiting, slack water, heavy current. I have even caught fish when they are running towards you, which everyone says they cant hook up lol, and all you have to do is real in the slack. I see too many people set the hook with circles. They even do it when they say they dont, I watch all my friends do it, and I say why'd you set the hook and they say no I didnt lol its funny, setting the hook is just a natural reaction it is very hard and takes a long time to break the habit. You still hook up sometimes when setting the hook, but a side sweep works pretty darn good. I fish lakes and the James and Appomattox rivers. I guess some people have just had bad luck with them but for my style, type and location I fish circles just work best, others conditions may vary so they have different results.

I guess that's why they make so many different styles of hooks... !!! Everybody's got different preferences, and styles of fishing technique...

 

[ramon06]

I guess that's why they make so many different styles of hooks... !!! Everybody's got different preferences, and styles of fishing technique...

I agree with Greg, there are so many styles and types and everyone has there preferences. Hooks are like automobiles, everyone has there reason why they like Ford or Chevy or Dodge, luxury, sports, convertabiles, family, just keep trying the circles but try different hooks on different rods until you are happy and comfortable

 

[OkieFlatHunter]

All great answers . Amazed I got that many hits in less than 24 hours lol . The TC Double actions nailed 6 more flatheads last night . Ran both daiichi chunk and gama circles again . Rods got slammed and no hookups . So I went to SSW Octopus and double actions all night with only 3 missed hits on them . Further field testing resumes tonight

 

[ramon06]

All great answers . Amazed I got that many hits in less than 24 hours lol . The TC Double actions nailed 6 more flatheads last night . Ran both daiichi chunk and gama circles again . Rods got slammed and no hookups . So I went to SSW Octopus and double actions all night with only 3 missed hits on them . Further field testing resumes tonight

remember the Daiichi Chunk and TC Double Action are the same hook

 

[AZBADBOYCATFISH]

Circles are my hook of choice..seem to do well for me and my needs but to each his own, you know.. I use TC/daiichi hooks and owner ssw circles...also use owner mutu circles but on my last trip to cabelas they didnt have any so I got some gama's that looked the same.

 

[OkieFlatHunter]

remember the Daiichi Chunk and TC Double Action are the same hook

Thank you for catching that . I meant Demons lol I really shouldn't talk to people while posting from a cell phone . Yeah there both TTI Blakemore if I recall . Valuable lesson learned last night though . Even the best hooks are crap if the point is folded over . I missed a few fish due to that . I'm guessing that's the reason anyways .