Pike Fishing With Circle Hooks (New PB!) 

Thanks for your circle hook dead bait video. I will use this method from now on. I'm 73 now and have been an angler since I was 10 so I've caught a lot of good fish, and many 20 lb pike. The best fight I've ever had was when a cormorant swam under water round the bend on the Royal Military Canal found my dead bait. The first I knew of it was when my rod started levitating out of the front rest. Grabbing my rod in shock started playing the bird 50 ft up in the air. The bird was in the air, then back in the canal, on the surface, under water, going east back round the bend, then back in the air going back west. This went on for about 45 minutes and I was on my own and knackered. Finally I managed to get it netted, then the fun started. Another 4o minutes to get one size 6 treble out of the tip of its beak. It was chaos trying to unhook it without getting stabbed. When finally I got the hook out and it flew off, it had a shake in the air and had the cheek to wag its tail at me. I was still in shock and needless to say every fish that was in the area was half a mile away by now. I will be using one circle hook from now on, thanks mucka. John C in Battle, east Sussex.

already have caught a 30# Blue Cat off of these (going to try to get a 60#+ next year). ru-vid.comUgkxzXmlErSqVAEGWFEKO530BvTqFDw53QW3 Definitely very strong, and sharp. Additionally, the gap is wide enough to actually hook a fish (not always the case with circle hooks). I purchased the 8/0, but probably should have got the 9/0 (they seem slightly smaller than other 8/0 hooks). Additionally, having the point in-line helps if you drift fish. I have yet to get a serious snag with one of these hooks.

I watched this the other day and as I was starting my 2022 winter campaign today so I changed things around a little using circle hooks and winding down like you explained. I had 6 fish in total biggest just over 10lb and all hooked in the scissors. Absolutely brilliant advise. Many thanks

Congrats on the PB Ginge, very good explanation and tuition vlog, lets hope more anglers get into using circles instead of trebles. Yes, trebles have their place, but for most non lure tactics, circles are the way forward. Thanks for the upload Rich

Tried using circle hooks today. 3/0 with mackerel float fished in the margins of my local canal. Had 3 fish take the bait and only lost one. 11lb was the biggest and as you said. All the fish landed were hooked perfectly in the scissors! Excellent stuff! Thanks for the vid/advice!

Excellent advice on pike safety. Really appreciate you promoting the use of circles.. I've seen too many pike dead with trebles in their throats. Tight lines

Thank you very much.I live on a big lake in Sweden and it's full of pike and perch. The locals don't care at all about fish safety. I have already changed all my trebles on my lures to singles, but now this is has given me another avenue to explore.

Great informative video,my son wants to deadbait for pike and this is the only way I want him to do it, primarily for the fish's welfare but also for ease of unhooking.Thank you for sharing!

Two casts. 2 Pike on float fished deadbait smelt with circle hooks. Followed your guide and perfect hook up in the scissors 😎 made unhooking so much easier! Thank you 😊

Love your videos mate, I'm a Scotsman living in Ozz and I miss the coarse fishing so much. Good on you for discussing pike welfare too, it's so important.

Thank you for posting this video. I switched to circle hooks a couple of years ago and find most are hooked in the scissors and I'm glad you you mentioned about people still using mono with treble hooks, some people will never learn!!

Great video mate I’ve always used lures and spinners for pike and perch now you have shown me a new way of how to fish dead baits safely with circle hooks thanks mate some cracking crocs caught 👍🎣

Excellent video regarless of the camera. As a long time Pike fisherman in Michigan Ive never used circle hooks. Never even thought about it. Your set up gets it done well. That was a fine Jack.

Imagine being a roach in that water though, not one second would you be relaxed lol

Myself and my friend have been using single circle hooks for live baiting for years hook up rate it's excellent. We always lip hook and have had great success. Good to see other people using this method so much better for the fish

Great out of the box thinking once again, I wish all bait anglers used circle hooks there would be lots more big pike around my neck of the woods. And congrats on the PB she's a beast!!

Good to see this I have been using and going on to all the Pike fishermen around Bristol and Bath about circle hooks for 2 years I love them Had fish up to 25.12 lbs on them

Good job on that chunk mate and spread the awareness of how useful circle hooks are for people like beginners to pike fishing 🎣🐊👌

Another fantastic one mate! Love watching your content and love the fact that you have noticed how badly some people fish so you provided an easy solution. Keep it up, tight lines 🎣

What result Chris! Belting fish Great info on the circle hooks too 👍

Great bit of advice on the pike in the hot weather and the way to set the hook nice 👌 and easy. Another great video Chris Keep them coming 👍

Great video. Will definitely be giving these hooks a go. Trebles are a right pain to remove sometimes. Can see this way working on our local canal. Thanks for posting.!

I've been using double treble for dead bait, so I can set the hooks after a short run but seeing how effective this is, I will switch to circle hook for sure. I always hope to have only one hook set in the lip or something... And it usually works, but you dont risk with circle hooks. Nice one mate.

Good vid sound info on traces, good to see the circle hooks in action for pike I think I'm a convert. Worth mentioning that when the weather gets really warm it is essential to hold the pike in the water to allow it to recover and not let go until it really makes a good effort to get away as they will fight like crazy in the warm weather.

Great video and some cracking fish, Chris - well done on the new pb ! Nice one

Hi mate Just seen this video, that’s the one thing that put me off dead baiting in the past is getting the trebles out of the pike, this way is a lot better and thanks to you video I will be trying it, I do a lot of spinning but fancy the dead baiting again now. Keep up the good work mate 👍

Congrats on your new PB. Absolute stunning fish 🎣

Quality video & tips as always. Congrats on the pb. That's a Stunning canal pike from any cut. Well in 👍

Thanks for this one ginger this is how I'm going to try catch my first pike. So much better for both angler and the fish....

I ended up using circle hooks only, even on lures. The one with the double bend that you're using are the best: fishes basically hook themselves and you can't possibly deep hook them. Nice video, nice catches.

What a fish 🐠 congratulations on your new pb Chris keep em coming 🎣

I’ve used single hook for years for live and dead baits, used to play with different sea fishing patterns and preferred a Mustad Bass style in 3 or 4/0. Definitely much better for the fish and much less chance of getting tagged by a big angry deep hooked hen lol Great videos mate!

Caught my first 20lb on circle hook .use them all the time now for river fishing.

Another great video. Explanation about circle hooks and how to set them was so helpful. Never fished them but might give it a go. Looks easier to rig dead baits too!

Firstly wanna congrats on a NEW personal Best, same it didn't make the 20 mark, but a few oz short and an impressive fish none the less, Weldone fella! Secondly, I have been Piking for 21 years and never used circle hooks, been thinking about it for some time now, espesh using them Catfishing pass few seasons, watching this video you made has given me the confidence to try them this season coming, if I ever get out. I not shy in coming forward and moving with the times and you certainly have gave me a lot to think about Mr Bartle. Weldone again on a great video fella!

Listen bro this channel is fat true honest fishing not all commercial carp or carp lakes that are so stocked I wonder how the fight for oxygen this is proper fishing I love pike the first fish I caught at 12 year old on a rod and reel from the pound shop mad times

Brilliant video mate I have just started course fishing again and was wondering about circle hooks for pike and after watching your video I think it's the way forward! Two years ago I was out on my mates charter boat fishing for blue shark down In Plymouth, we were using circle hooks but it was quite difficult to remove the hooks because of the shape of the hook and the barb, I suggest flattening the barb which we did and it was obviously a lot easier to get the hooks out, but because of the shape of the hooks we didn't loose any fish! A lot of the time we were using live mackerel and even with the flattened barb the mackerel stayed on. I definitely think circle hooks should be used a lot more in course fishing specially for predators! Stunning fish mate 😉🎣👍

I ALWAYS use single circles - (almost) ALWAYS in the scissors ! Grats in new PB!

Cheers for the great video I've been fishing for perch recently with worm and have lost 3 pike after they've took my worm and bit thru my line I've just got some wire traces through the post and I'll get myself some circle hooks after watching this 🎣🎣👍

When using this method on the river, what distance do you tend to set between the float stop and bait?

Cracking pike and great fish care. Well done mate, enjoyed the vid

Well done Chris awesome fishing that last fish was a beast The old general public don’t half make me laugh

Great video, I will be using circle hooks for the first time this autumn/winter, seems so much better for the pike and much easier to take out

Beautiful fish! Especially that last one! Similar size to my pb! Makes me want to dig out the tackle, get some circle hooks and some deads and go for a walk!

Brilliant video thanks. I had literally just bought some circle hook's. Thanks for the tips on how to use them properly 👍

Hi what hooks were you using. I fancy giving them ago based on your recommendation on that video

Great video and Pike! That's a big PB PIKE Well done! Thank you for the information how too set the hook with a circle hook!

Definitely going to use circle hooks thanks for the tips! Great vid 👍

Hello mate!!! Just had my first fish on a live bait using a circle hook. About 7 kilos and 90cm long. Hooked right in the scissor just like you said. Nice one!!

Really good to see somenody taking the time to try to educate the idiots that think trebles and mono are all you need to catch pike. All nicely hooked and treated with the respect they deserve and congrats on your PB beautiful fish. 👏👏👏👏

Fantastic Video! Very impressive. The way u set the hook . Healthfully for every Pike. Well done!

Another awesome vid Chris. Congratulations on your new PB. In winter I suspect that fish will go 20 plus...get your circle hook into it then...😊

Great vid as usual,no lack of explanation,which is great.

Congratulations on the PB!! Keep the vids coming!

When I can't see you talking I think you sound like Tyson fury. Why is this man fishing and not boxing 😂 Great video as always man!

Thank you! Circle hook is always my favorite when it comes to live bait or dead bait.

Thank you for this. I have wanted to start predator fishing for a while now and have always been wary of using trebles. I'm going out with my mate who has been predator fishing his whole life so he can teach me how to handle and unhook pike. Will be definitely using this method! Thanks.

Just subbed. Hopefully your not big enough channel where you don't read comments. Honestly this video.is great example of proper teaching a method. Good enough audio and video..more importantly your straight to the point. No faffing. No stupid intro journey music. Facts..no time wasted. How.it.should be. I've been float.fishing this weekend. Caught.roach small to 8inchs in a slow river. Pretty sure I've seen signs of bigger things. Never ever done anything other than float fish for silver. But what you show in this video is exactly what I'd be happy to try. Even just for perch. Biggest.thing I've caught is 2.5lb.perch. lol

Well done on the new PB, you’ve definitely earned it.👍👍👍👍

Well done spreading the word and showing all the doubters how good circles are.

What connection do you use to carry around the landing net? Thanks. Great vid.

The ginger fisherman where do you get your flurocarbon from as I have looked around and cannot find any?

Hi, great video, i just have a couple questions. I just got started bobber fishing for pike with circle hooks. I am going to use a trolling rod with a level wind reel and a rod with a spinning reel. I will be using bluegill and perch in the 4 to 5 inch range. My question is: when im using the trolling rod with the level wind reel, am i supposed to cast bait,put reel in free spool with bait clicker on and put in rod holer or dont put in free spool? And on the spinning reel, do i cast out put in rod holder with bail left open or close the bail? Also how long do you let pike take the bait before reeling in? Thanks

what size circle hook you recomend for zander? I deadbait small fish like 7cm

Excellent. Proves there is absolutely no need for trebles or multi hook rigs.

stupid question but would that work if i had realistic gummy fish instead, on that hook?

when twitching while float fishing i always worry about spooking the pike off? if that not really a big deal? its part of the rerason i mostly freeline or lure fish but perhaps i should be doing more twitching

I have recently bought some circle hooks but not used them yet, that was very interesting to see them in use.

Thank you so much for this great tutorial video - what kinda knot are you using to tie the hook onto the 20 pound wire trace ? Tnx again !

Great video. I've been wanting to know how to 'strike' with circle hooks for a while. I've seen it written but never seen a video on it. Thanks for the video. Cheers.

The ginger fisherman I've been using circle hooks for perch for awhile and I've had great results but every time I get a pike to bite, reel down on the pike and the hook seems to just pull out when I reel, got any tips on how to fix that

Loved the video that PB pike you caught was awesome and easy release with the circle hooks i will need try them 🎣👍👍

Hey what kind of rod would you use for this type of deadbaiting on the move?

do you have a video showing the rig

Hi. What circle hooks and size do you recommend? Thanks

Hey Chris, I was out fishing for pike with dead baits today and only hooked 2 out of 6 takes. I'm now looking at your video again to see what I did wrong and I'm wondering if you've got your drag set so light on purpose? And where do you point your rod when setting the hook, at the pike, 90 degrees to the side? It's it dependent on which way the pike swims off at all?

Well done on your PB! You've convinced me!

This video was brilliant. Great to watch. This was how I use to catch pike by the method you used. Can you produce more videos like this please?

I havent been subscribed long so im watch old vids of yr and I love them especially small streams and rivers 1 u done👍

What size circle hooks would you recommend using?

Well done on the new pb 👍 lovely fish mate.

Every pike fisherman should see this video

Pure genius my friend I love this technique. Way more my style 😎 simple brother my hats off to you!!

good tips mate, and congratulations on new PB

Well done on the pb. That's a great fish!

Those circular hooks are the business bro and what a pike I’m definitely going to change my approach to predator fishing it’s a no brainier. Keep up the good work mate once again love your videos 👍🏻

I've heard such good things about circle hooks. Going to give them a blast.

I've been using circle hooks for a couple of years now for all my pike fishing. So much easier to deal with than trebles, and virtually every time gets the perfect hook hold straight in the scissors so as far as I'm concerned much better and safer for the fish. I find best thing to do is let them swallow it deep and then reel in slowly until feel resistance and then set the hook. I haven't used trebles since I found them!!

hi great video have just bought a few single circle hook traces ,i fish lough erne in northern ireland there are huge pike in it do i hook full herring or shads with hook exposed thru the dorsal

Any suggestions for pike float rod I use my 3lb carp rods for static pike fishing in winter but there no good for holding and moving around with all day ✌️

As always a great video .what size and make off circle hooks do you use etc ,

I use a 80 lbs trace with 15 inch of spare trace with a large single treble hook but I squeeze the barbs half way down and bend the end of the barb upwards it hold the fish on but it's a lot easier to get hook out and strait through the back of a roach / perch live bait or sprat mackerel any rlly oily fish but defo gonna try these circle hooks 👍🏻good vid mate

What brand is the bait run reel ur using??

Such a good fishing channel deserves way more subs

Nice fish mate! Feel the same about some of the cyclist on my local stretch. They come flying down. It’s mad how it’s illegal to ride on public footpaths but can ride at 20mph + on the tow paths!!

That’s another excellent video. Leading the way in circle hook technique nice one

Great video, I've now been convinced that Circle hooks are effective. 🙂

u should see how many guys here in the US miss fish cause they think they have to set the hook with some incredible hulk strength, i always laugh at them cause they are usually the types that like to use clever words and catch phrases while fishing and they end up sounding REALLY corny lol... Thats a really cool fishing location, having access to pike like that here would almost guarantee closed waters unfortunately. People in this country cant be even close to responsible enough to care for a fishing location like that, they would ruin it.... Keep up the great videos man!!! gonna check out more of them after this!!

Your vids are brilliant iv been binge watching the weekend, have you any ids on your set up as in line, Rod line do you buy or how you make your traces? Thanks in advance

Hi, where can I buy/ get this circle hook you use in the video?