[zebcohobo202]

I just recieved an order of hooks I bought online. I thought I was getting a #6 Gamagatsu circle. Instead I got Gamagatsu octopus hooks. They look like circle hooks so I wonder if they perform like circles. Will the fish hook themselves, or will I need to get a solid hookset? I wish I had more experience with these hooks, luckily I can fall back on the experiences of my brothers. Let me know how you feel about octopus hooks.

 

[Desperado]

From my understanding they don't work like circles. You will have to set the hook with them.

 

[Jamey]

Yeah, if they're just "Octopus" hooks, instead of "Octopus Circle" hooks, some hook-setting is in order. I usually get Octopus Circles, because that's what's usually offered at my local [email protected]$$Pro. The only difference between the Octopus Circles and the regular circles is the offset eye. I read somewhere that a hook will set best when the direction of pull is inline with the shaft of the hook. In other words, if you snell your hooks, octopus hooks are what you need. If you tie directly to the eye, go for the regular circles. By the way, I rarely see Gamakatsu circles that AREN'T octopus/offset, so I REALLY need to learn how to snell my hooks. In the meantime, I've done really well so far without snelling, but I'll get around to learning the snell soon enough - anything I can do to increase my hookup ratio, even by a little bit, is well worth my time.

 

[BIG GEORGE]

You'll be fine. Been usein 8/0 gamakatsu octopus circles for quite some time. Try the uni-knot snell on them. Its a simple knot that holds real well. Treat em just like a circle cause thats what they are. LOL! If ya fish free spool with the clicker on let the fish run,take the rod outa the rod holder,hold it horizontal with the water and sweep the rod up nice and smooth and reel at the same time. BINGO! FISH ON! Once ya feel the fish is hooked ya can give it a good tug to satisfy that urge. LOL!

 

[muskie_hunter]

octopus refers to the eye of the hook being bent back at an angle..... you will still have to cross their eyes since it is not a circle hook!

 

[BIG GEORGE]

Thats news to me. Been usein for years as a circle hook and have lost very few if any fish! Wonder why they call them OCTOPUS CIRCLE HOOKS. I know there is a plain octopus hook that ya treat like a "J" hook. HMMMMMM?

 

[BIG GEORGE]

DAAAAAA! I guess I should have read the question a few more times. LOL!

 

[wolfman]

Sounds like you got the standard "J" style octopus hooks rather than the wide gap octopus circle. With the J style you will still have to set the hook. I use the 8/0 Gamakatsu octopus circles and do good with them, George uses the same as I do.

 

[centralcalcat]

i have used Octopus hooks a lot and they require a hook set.

 

[abilene]

The octopus circle hook is preferred by many. It's my understanding that the circle hook was developed for saltwater fishing and I believe this is the hook that started it all. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[barbel]

Well, if it doesnt have the severely beaked point (curving in towards the shank) then it is a regular octopus hook, which happen to be my personal favorite for live bait, and do require a hookset. If the point is curved towards the shank, then it is the octopus circle hook, and those work good with cutbait, liver, things like that. :0a26:

 

[JERMSQUIRM]

that stinks. ya they hit it on the head. the octypus do require a hook set. i like the oct circles. i don't miss many with them. and the gams are real sharp. hope ya get the right ones next time. :sad:

 

[Catfight]

I use the 7/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hooks exclusively. I bought a pack of the circles and tried them, but I can't make myself not set the hook. I lost three fish in a row, it's really easy to jerk a circle out of their mouth. I love a good Catfight.

 

[Burwell40]

I've been using 8/0 octupus circles this summer. Once I learned that you need to use a snell knot, I've been hooking up quite nicely. I also do a lot better reeling rather than swinging/setting. Everytime I swing, I yank it outta their mouths.

I'm thinking the 8/0 of kind of big for most of the fishing I do. I think maybe I can catch more of the 2-3 lbers with a smaller hook.