Thanks Dave for your comments and compliments. I just received my magazine a couple of days ago and Bob Lusk really did a great job with it.

Although Bob didn't know it, there is a picture of me in the article. I'm the guy in the blue shirt holding the LMB for Roy Ryberg.

Dave has some of the best students you can imagine. We say you can know a person by their children. Well, you can know a college program by the quality of students it attracts. Dave's program at South Dakota State must really be outstanding judging by the students he attracts.

What we are doing with our lake is no more than what millions of people do every day. They volunteer their time, effort and money to make this a better world. We just happen to be fortunate to have this wonderful resource of a lake. None of us will save the world but if each of us had just one small group out fishing in our lake once a year, think of all the good we could do.

We use #6 Eagle Claw circle hooks. They have held every thing from small bluegills to a 10 lb. catfish. The line or knot usually breaks before the hook. I leave the barb on to hold the bait on the hook better. As long as the fish doesn't swallow the hook (as they don't with circle hooks) we don't get any immediate release mortality. We used to get quite a few fish swallowing hooks and just cutting off the leaders. We ended up with fish swimming around with 2, 3, or even 4 hooks and leaders in their mouths.

Unfortunately, that I know, Eagle Claw doesn't make circle hooks with leaders. While not as strong, I have successfully use #4 "J" hooks with leaders, bent into the shape of a circle hook with a pliers. In all of this, the most important thing is to make sure the tip of the hook is in direct alignment with the rest of the hook. Remember, the way a circle hook works is by pulling out of the fish's mouth and catching on the lip.

If you've not used circle hooks before, their use is quite different than regular "J" hooks. If you set the hook as people normally do, you will pull it right out of the fish's mouth. You have to let the fish take the bait completely and then gradually tighten the line and set the hook. Think of how a catfish hooks itself on a set line.

Especially for kids or inexperienced fishermen, circle hooks are great. They are almost error proof.

Norm Kopecky