Circle Hooks????

[Medics-R-US]

I like to try new things so Thursday while at Englunds I bought myself 2 14/O circle hooks as I wanted to see how well they worked. After getting home I began to tie up my leaders using the circle hooks and became somewhat apprehesive as to how well they would catch a halibut.

I did not liike the way the points of the hooks were curved straight towards the shaft. They seemed to me that it would be harder to hook a fish so I decided to modify them a little bit.

I put the hooks in a vice and twisted each one so they were slightly off center. Pretty much like a steelhead or salmon hook.

Boy was I ever impressed as it was so easy to hook a halibut when it bit and I never lost a butt while using the circle hooks.

[Reelentless]

Glad they worked well for you. I know a lot of guys who swear by them and are very suucessful. I guess the secret is to not set the hook. I can't seem to manage to do that, so its j-hooks for me.

[tomictime]

ditto....

Originally Posted by Reelentless

Glad they worked well for you. I know a lot of guys who swear by them and are very suucessful. I guess the secret is to not set the hook. I can't seem to manage to do that, so its j-hooks for me.

[Fatdad]

I started using them last season and will never go back. We use the 22/0. Had several fish hook up themselves while rod in rod holder.

[gerberman]

The best way for newbee's, just let the fish bite till the rod tip is almost to the water, then just start reeling the fish in, it will be hooked in the side of the mouth around the bone most of the time, you do not have to know when to "set the hook" as the fish will hook itself. If the newbee leaves the rod in the holder it is much easier to not set "pull the hook Out", just reel the halibut to the boat. After the hook up is made you can take the rod out and "fight the fish" Gerberman

[Silver Eagle]

What the hey are you guys too lazy to set the hook and fish, what is this just leave it in the holder till it hit the water and start reeling, what happened to fishing................Ray I don't care what you say Circle hooks are for people that like to eat there lunch while fishing.

[Bullwoods]

Circle hooks work, gotta love em!

[retaliate]

Circle Hooks don't hook, they lock, no need to set the hook, just reel in, & don't pump, or it could come un-locked, most use 16/0 or bigger.

[Smoked Salmon]

Proper gentlemen use circle hooks, electric reels, and welded aluminum rod holders.

[Paddler]

Circle hooks are great, as they will almost always hook a fish in the corner of the mouth. You won't gut hook one, so if you decide to release it, the hooking mortality is almost nil. I use 16/0's:



I'll bring some along, Jim.

[bait boy]

Hate Hate Hate circle hooks. I have to rely on a stupid fish swimming the right way and my bait being in the right place when he swims away. I'll take a swing and a miss any day thanks...

[fishonjon]

Love circle hooks. boat average 50 to 75 lbs lost only one last year my wife touched one im glad it broke her 80 lb tough line. I doubt we could have stoped that thing. Long liners have been using them since befor time.

[Reel Creel]

J hooks rock.

[Medics-R-US]

OK OK I see I started a debate here so I will have to rig up another circle hook leader from start to finish so you guys that like to set the hook will see that with my setup you can do just that.

[mount'em]

I got my halibutt on friday using a circle hook, but i have to say "half the fun is settin the hook" into a heavy jaw. For me the jury is still out on this one

[diamond back]

Circle Hooks and Halibut fishing are one in the same- sometimes hard to "set the hook" 750-900 feet deep even with the best braided line. Have not missed on Hali' since going with the big circle.

[lake creek charlie]

My first shot at halibut was in 1973 longlining out of kodiak. We spent all winter tieing the NEW circle hooks on gagnons. I was skeptical, but changed my mind with the first pick...... Still i like the game of the J hook.......

[Duckworth Dave]

Tuesday last week I bought a 100 circle hooks 16o. Dam there big. We fished the Hill Thursday & Friday and got 6 hal per day and throw a coupe of chickens back. I also got a couple of electric reels, they are the only way to go. With the circle hooks we never missed last week. This week looks like windy seas so party in the bay?

[Paddler]

The larger circle hooks also reduce bycatch, according to a study done by Canadian fisheries biologists. Important if you're fishing deep.

[Nordic Sun]

Originally Posted by Silver Eagle

Ray I don't care what you say Circle hooks are for people that like to eat there lunch while fishing.

NO.........Circle hooks are for people who like to eat their Halibut.


Bob

[Goldrush]

I gave away my J hooks about 10 years ago--I found that not too many of my friends wanted them!

[CrazyFish]

It's all about preferance! I went to circle hooks years ago and will not go back. Once a fish is hooked they are coming up to get off the hook at the boat. J hooks are still OK if you're watching one rod and that's the only thing that has your attention, but if you are dealing with helping bait, watching the drift, keeping the boat on fish, making sure lines are not tangling, or just watching whales the use circle hooks and a rod holder.

[fishbait]

Do miss the hook set, but circle hooks here. Especially with the ability to upgrade, much lower morality on released fish with a circle hook.

Biggest one I can find and except for artificiall baits, I like big monster baits the small fish can not get in their mouth.

[Abalone]

I fished at the ranch Friday with four in the crew. The one guy that used circle hooks ( Medics-R-Us) caught the most fish....!

[retaliate]

Not much truth to the mortality rate worse with J hooks, I still fish J hooks, & in 6 years of Halibut fishing with J hooks have never had a Halibut swallow the hook, a little deep a few times, usually the big(er) ones you'd keep anyways, like fishbait said big bait will not allow the smaller ones to get their mouths around the bait,...big bait...big fish, still I understand why people like Circle hooks, after all It's mostly Meat fishing, but many like myself, We just can't get used to the idea of not setting the hook, & not pumping in a fish...while standing up, yeah! I've reeled them in sitting down, from the poleholder with J hooks, when your arms get tired, & might even get one of those Electric Reels some day, espically for my Wife, but for now I'll still fish like a Man.

[tomictime]

NICE Pic Jon !!!!!

I have some )), the "help" get to use them..I prefer to SET the coals to them..primal thing..only exceeded by the turn at the harpoon..but, yea bring them ))))

Originally Posted by Paddler

Circle hooks are great, as they will almost always hook a fish in the corner of the mouth. You won't gut hook one, so if you decide to release it, the hooking mortality is almost nil. I use 16/0's:



I'll bring some along, Jim.

[fish_on]

Have never been able to land a fish on circle hooks, have not missed many on the gami big river bait 12/0 hook.