Thread: Circle hooks

I did not realize they make circle hooks that small.
But I don't see why they would not work.
I have used them for years offshore fishing and you do get less gut hooked fish.
I have used them on catfish also and they did fine.

I have used them on bluegill and redear, not as good on on-gut hooks as on larger fish it seems, i tried owner ? And another brand, both size 10, one was substantially larger.

Originally Posted by flymoron

I have used them on bluegill and redear, not as good on on-gut hooks as on larger fish it seems, i tried owner ? And another brand, both size 10, one was substantially larger.

Some circle hook brands have hook points that are slightly skewed and not perfectly parallel with the shank, which isn’t ideal for safe gut-hook removal. I always eyeball each hook first and, if needed, straighten it out with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
Eagle Claw hooks, on the other hand, have points that stay parallel and in line with the shank, and I’ve had great success with them. Many of the fish I catch aren’t gut-hooked . I assume that if the hook did start deep, the fight usually pulls it free and sets it higher in the corner of the mouth. For panfish, I typically use a size #8, which has worked very well for me.

i have both #10 and #8 in eagle claw brand... i love them

using circle hooks i find my hook up ratio has significantly improved

Is this the one?

Lazer Sharp Circle Sea Platinum Black Hook
– Eagle Claw

If so, how do you use it? Bait only, lure body, something else? Looking for bluegill and redear.

I've used Gamakatsu #8 circles for years...usually with small pieces of Dollar Store hot dogs. Try to get the inline, not offset...but you can carefully bend an offset into an inline. I also bend the barb down to help get deeper hooks out...even with circles, a big gill sometimes gets hooked deep.

Thanks!