Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations about catching fish

I'd like to offer some fun for some visitors to my place and allow them to catch some of the catfish out of my pond. This pond hasn't been fished yet. The fish are about 3/4 to a pound, I'm fairly certain. What I'd like to know is, what kind/size hook should I use on the line? We'll probably catch a few and release them. I don't think they're large enough to harvest yet. I don't want the fish to swallow the hook or poke it through its eyeball or anything. I'm hoping these kids will have some fun, I'll get a good look at the size of the catfish, and the fish will be none the worse for the wear. Any suggestions? Thanks, folks.

Use a circle hook about half the size of the fishes mouth. Circle hooks tend to catch fish in the corner of the mouth, reducing injury to the fish http://www.gamakatsu.com/new_products/new_nautilus.htm

There is also a great deal of debate on whether barbs do much damage. Barbless hooks are available but hard to find. I take the middle road and simply pinch down the barb tight to the shank. The bump that is left helps keep the fish hooked but it is easier to remove, causing less damage to the fish.

Thanks, Ryan. Exactly what I needed to know. A crappie hook will probably work just fine then. Those are generally barbless.

i second the smashing down barbs. when i have family and friends fish my pond i always tell them to smash down the barb. i hate seeing someone catch a fish and fiddle around trying to get the hook out. it takes them a while and plus it tears up the fishes mouth.

I second the smashed down barbs.....not only easier to get out of the fish's mouth....
but to remove a buried hook from your arm...
Last week...OUCH

In my experience CC do not foul hook often, compared with BG or even LMB. It always seems like the hook is in the corner of the mouth.

Yep, corner of the mouth and thru the eye.

I haven't ever eye-hooked one; I guess the catfish or I have been lucky. I have snagged one on the tailfin and another about half way out the length of a barbel.

I use the circle hooks mainly because most of the lakes I fish have bullheads and they almost always swallow the hook. I could care less if they die, just hate to lose a good hook. Also small kids really don't set the hook hard enough. Fish hook themselves on circlehooks.

Dusty, there has been quite a bit of discussion about the use of circle hooks. In the situation you describe, I can't imagine anything working better.

Thanks, all. I'm not familiar with circle hooks. I'm going to look them up. We use crappie hooks around here quite often because they don't have barbs on them. They are sure easier to remove than the others. I don't mind if the fish swallows the hook, I'll just cut it off, but I don't want to hook one through the eye and harm the fish. I'm not sure how many of my 200 cc made it through the drought. Many did because I've fed them since and seen them eating. Now I want to see how big they are and give the kids a little fun.