Using Circle Hooks - Tips and Techniques  

Thanks mate!

Cheers Trav, I get asked a lot about circles and usually it's quite an in-depth discussion. I thought a video would help condense the info along with the little visual of how they work on the Marlin cast I've got on the wall!

Impatience is definitely a huge factor in people not getting the hang of them, but if you're like me and tend to 'set and forget' the bait rods while concentrating on lures then you can't do any better than circle hooks!

I have always preferred to crimp it, that style of rigging was introduced to me by one of the earlier pioneers of circle hooks in the USA who was using them for Marlin. The advantages are that it stops the hook from fouling up on the loop of mono when the live bait is swimming around and that it puts the hook into an optimum position to roll into the fish's jaw corner as the drag pressure is increasing. Probably doesn't make a huge difference but I'll take any advantage I can get 😅

Hmm, I'm not too familiar with catfish and their habits when taking a bait so it's hard for me to say exactly where it's going wrong for you. My thoughts are either the hooks are doubling back into the bait and becoming obstructed because of where they've been pinned, or if they are dragging your leader and line across structure then it could be upsetting the action of the hook. Maybe try pin them just behind the head through the back or somewhere around the nose area and see if that helps. I remember talking with a fisherman from the US a long time ago and he changed over to circles for catfish, he had success with them so I know it can be done.

@@jordythebassist Catfish inhale the bait completely. They hit much similar to the way a bass hits when they just inhale it. They don't chew on or play with the bait it goes straight to the stomach as catfist don't h are the most notorious fish in the untied states for swallowing the hook which is why most people are switching to circle hooks. I know the bait isn't getting turned around into the bait because i am only getting my hook back. And I know for sure it isn't gar because they are getting hooked for several seconds before the hook pops out. I am thinking about going back to 7/0 J hooks as I have had excellent luck with them. I just don't understand what's going wrong, It's like the hook isn't penetrating the tooth patch but I watch people on here catch them with even smaller size hooks. Maybe I should offset them?

Also I not jerking or trying to set the hook or anything like that. I use solid rod holders and I keep my drag kind of tight so the hook should set itself but loose enough to where a huge fish can pull drag and not break my break my fourty pound braid. But I am just at a complete loss

Absolutely! I use Black Magic Snapper snatches with the KL hooks which are a circle hook with an offset point (points away from the hook shank). They work exceptionally well!

I was wondering how this was related to the video until I realised what jacket I was wearing in it 😂