Circle fly hooks, any opinion?

[Daryle Holmstrom]

http://www.mustad.no/catalog/product.php?id=179

[kodiaksalmon]

I've used them. From what I've seen, on salmon that are in the sweet water, they can be less than perfect, as the salmon aren't taking the fly in a manner conducive with setting a circle hook. They just nip at it, and dont' really take it, turn and run like a predatory fish. They may hit it really hard, but, but setting a circle hook relies on the fish turning on the hook after the strike, and salmon in sweet water aren't hitting out of feeding, they're hittig out of aggression and territorialism. I've hooked fish and found that they've barely got the hook in their mouth, and it seems they're just holding it and when you put enough pressure on it, they spit it.

Now, I have had them work better in salt water, where the fish is dliberately taking the fly because they're still feeding. I've never used them on steelhead or trout, so I wouldn't know. I'm going to give them a shot later this year on pike in Minnesota.

Jeff

[herl]

I've tried circle hooks as stingers when I first started for Steelhead - thought that it seemed like a good idea. After I lost the first two that I hooked- I switched to regular hooks. So far with the regular ones: 2-0

I know that it is hardly scientific but after two lost fish, I just couldn't stick with it.

Eric

[g_smolt]

I too have used mustad circles on clousers and wogs, and with the "stock" hook I have had less than impressive results.

I tried circles for topwater coho, as the "usual" hooks on my wogs were gilling fish...I figured the circle would be a better fit.

Problem is, most flies ride hook-up, or hook-down...circle hooks are made to catch FLAT in the SIDE of the mouth.

After confirming this with a bunch of grabs and no hookups, I tried an old longlining mod...I tweaked the hookpoint about 15 degrees off-center, from just behind the barb forward to the tip.

More hookups, but still not as good as a regular "J-style" hook.

IMHO, and YMMV
Mark

[Wayne Jordan]

The problem with circle hooks is they were originally designed for long-line commercial fishing with bait. They work great for bait fishermen, but it even takes bait fishermen a little time to adjust to them. To properly set the hook you can't "strike" when you feel the take, you have to just apply pressure to the line and let the fish run. If you do this hook will usually slde up hook the fish in the latch, and not gut hook them.
I've used circle hooks for sailfish, striped bass, and all types tuna (bait fishing). It's a great option for those offshore fishermen practicing catch & release!

[alpinetrout]

Like Wayne said, it's all about disciplining yourself not to strike the fish. If you can do that, they work fine, but I think most people miss their first few fish with circles and give up on them before they learn how to fish them.

[kodiaksalmon]

To properly set the hook you can't "strike" when you feel the take, you have to just apply pressure to the line and let the fish run.

Exactly. Like I said, I've had decent luck with them in the salt, where the fish are more able to take it and run. Another problem with them is that like has been said, they were intended for longliners, and as such designed to have alot of backbone in the hook set, and yet, not have any hook set to speak of, letting the fish turn on the hook and set itself. This is tough on a fly rod because of the action. Not hard on a 6' halibut rod, tougher on a 9' 8 wt. In the salt I started putting the rod tip down to take the rod out of the "set" and let the fish hook itself against my fly line. That seemed to work a bit better, but it was a learning experience, learning to not set the hook, but rather let the fish do it themselves.

Jeff

[fredaevans]

I've used circle hooks in several patterns and the comment above about NOT setting the hook appears to be correct. Tighten up to get the slack out of the line only. The 'idea' behind the hook shape (actually one of the oldest in recorded history) is the fish hooks him/her self; no 'action' required by you.

Google Alaskian Native fishing gear (historical) and you'll see the hooks they made out of bone are quite similar to our 'modern day' circle hooks in concept.

Alll that said, it takes an agressive fish for these to be reasonably effective from my limited experience. If the bloody Rogue flow levels would drop:rofl: I could do some 'intensive testing.'ptyd

[huibgeselschap]

they are used in the salt in holland, europe too, on saltwaterbass, kinda like stripers, and they work really well, and dont snag on the rocks as easily.
i use the mustad cs71ss and it works for me, i use the small ones on redfins too, i guess your largemouth bass will like em too. bigger trout on smaller streams should work too, as said, if it is to work, the fish has to turn away from the angler after biting
@ the one that wants to try it on pike, make sure the streamer can be pulled"out"of the pike without tangling the dubbing or the like on the pikes' many teeth inside the mouth