If you like gamma circles, check out invicta hooks at renegade tackle. Great hooks at a great price. I am now " hooked" on gamma 9/0 octo circles. With an octopus hook you can either reel down on em like a circle or if a fish is biting real light, you can set the hook and cross their eyes!
As far as knots go, I Snell all my catfish hooks, i think there is a mechanical advantage to a Snell knot. I look at it like this, take a big ol hay hook and run your finger through the eye and try to hook a bale of hay. You can do it, but the hook will kind of flop around and it tales more pressure to hook up. Now grab the same hook by the shaft, like a Snell knot. You will have much more control and it will take much less force to hook up. I think my hook ups have increased since I started smelling hooks, and I also don't lose as many fish during the battle. And don't forget to sharpen those hooks, even a brand new hook might not be as sharp as possible. This makes the biggest difference for me.