Circlehooks for gills...

Does anyone here use the circle hooks for their bream fishing?

I have noticed while fishing with my nearly 4 y/o daughter that we get a lot of swallowed hooks which leads to some injured fish because she's still learning to set the hook. These are supposed to help with that. I haven't gotten to test them out with her yet but I wondered if anyone else had any experience with them

I just picked up some size 8 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hooks this weekend to try them out. The smallest size I found was a size 6 at our local Bass Pro Shops and I'd like maybe a 8 or 10. Also the Octopus hooks are slightly offset instead of being flush inline and I'm going to have to hammer them flat so I'd like to find some hooks that were already flat too.

If they're not inline they're not a true circle hook like you said. I don't like them for smaller fish. Gaps are way too big for a small bream to take in and they have to have a big gap for the circle to work right. You'll also have to remember not to set the hook and that may be a bit of a problem with a 4 year old.

Get a good small dehooker and a long shank #8 or #6 J hook and you should be good to go. If he gets it deep just send him out as catfish bait. ;)

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Originally Posted by smoothlures

You'll also have to remember not to set the hook and that may be a bit of a problem with a 4 year old.

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Actually that will be the easiest part right now... that's why we keep gut hooking them is she's really slow on the draw.

Your other points are well taken though... the Catfish need to eat too.

Here's something else to consider: forget the hook and focus on the float. A good float will show you bites much better than a poor one. I use very small hooks (usually #14 and #16 fly hooks) and RARELY deep hook a fish.

Try some of the Thill Shybite, Mini-Shybite, and Mini-Stealth floats and add enough shot so that just 1/4" of the tip shows.

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Originally Posted by dnchance

Also the Octopus hooks are slightly offset instead of being flush inline and I'm going to have to hammer them flat so I'd like to find some hooks that were already flat too.

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I thought the off-set was the way all circle hooks are designed.

But given your daughters age, I like the "long shank hooks and hook disgorger" solution.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Here's something else to consider: forget the hook and focus on the float. A good float will show you bites much better than a poor one. I use very small hooks (usually #14 and #16 fly hooks) and RARELY deep hook a fish.

Try some of the Thill Shybite, Mini-Shybite, and Mini-Stealth floats and add enough shot so that just 1/4" of the tip shows.

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This is advice to follow, your float is the most important part of bream fishing IMO.

I only use circle hooks when catfishing.

For me, small floats weighted to barely float solve the swallowed-bait problem because I can usually set the hook the moment the fish first sucks the bait. (The bobber doesn't resist, so what we call a "nibble" with a big bobber becomes what the fish intended--a meal taken into the mouth.)

But if the problem is that the girl can't help looking everywhere except at the float, enjoying the company and nature (which is great), then the non-resisting float will probably result in gut hooking.

I don't have experience with circle hooks for sunfish. Long-shank hooks and #8 Kahle hooks (by Eagle Claw) don't always prevent swallowing, but at least tend to make unhooking easier. Reducing the hook barb to the smallest needed to hold the bait on also helps.

If you get on a really hot bite while she's along, try the mini floats. Could be if she knows the float will go down soon after it hits the water, she'll stay focused on it, and with successful hooking will lose the frustration some kids experience because they guess wrong so often about when it's time to set the hook with a big bobber.

I use a #8 Gamatsu Octopus Circle hook on my graphite 'cane pole' to fish for bream and it does well. I went to this hook because the point is turned in a bit, so it doesn't get hung as badly in leaves, limbs, etc. I still catch my share of bluegills and 'crackers.

I fished with both of my Children when they were that small (+Nieces and Nephews) and now with my 6 yr old Grandaughter.
You have got some good advice, a light easy to see bobber weighted to neutral boayancy will help. I like to set them up with a slip bobber, so they don't have a lot dangling to snag or hook themselves while casting.

I always use the Aberdeen Hooks for the kids. It has a long shank, thin wire for less resistance in hooking, easy to disgorge and is light enough to straighten out if they hang it up in trees, or brush.

The main thing is to be paitent and let them have fun!

If they lose interest or would prefer to try catching frogs or crawdads, let them. They will be happy and learn that Fishing is not all about catching fish, it's discovering the outdoor experience that counts.
Enjoy the time with your children, they grow up way too fast and if you don't you will regret it when you get old and they are too busy to spend time with you.

Yes, I have used circle hooks (Owner Mutu Light, red) at Reelfoot for gills. I had great results. On a 3 day trip I had zero fish that were gut hooked. My boat partnet was using J hooks and had to keep several smaller fish that swallowed the hook. I was using the size 6 and for Reelfoot fish they were fine. They also allowed me (or the fish itself) to hook several where I might not have been paying complete attention.

Boilermaker

Thanks for all the info guys.. I'm going to get her some smaller slip bobbers they help a lot and she can cast her own pole with them (sometimes she even casts into the water). I'm also going to try out some of the Owner Circle hooks to see if they help, I already have a box of cricket hooks and they do ok.