My favorite thing I hate the most is killing a gut or gill hooked fish - especially my prized OTS CNBG and HSB!

I have run the gamut of choosing hooks for pellet flies, from tiny hooks to keep a pellet fly afloat, to heavier # 6 bait hooks to make them sink.
I catch more CNBG and HSB on sinking pellets than floaters and they don’t get hook shy…but they still occasionally get gut or gill hooks - did I mention I hate that!

OK, recently someone mentioned circle gooks - maybe esshup - they work! Catching big CNBG on almost every cast yesterday and today and only one tiny gill hook that didn’t even bleed.
#4 Eagle Circle hook with one stubby pellet on shank and another hanging off hook left gape open and culled smaller fish in the process. Just tighten the line and hook will normally catch in corner of fish mouth.

Lots of fun feeling strikes as small gills try to swallow Stubbys.
Fun fishing - did mention they work wonders on HSB?
George

Thanks, George, for the wonderful tip. I wonder if they will work on 1/8 the and 16th ounce lures?

The way they work is the fish grabs the bait, turns to swim away and the hook tries to slide out of it's mouth, but the point usually catches in the corner of it's mouth as it's sliding out of it's mouth. You aren't supposed to "set the hook" like you do with regular hooks. Just let the line get tight and reel, don't set the hook. That's hard to unlearn, evem harder I imagine with lures.

I think I am going to give these a shot, like you say should not gut hook too much. Also gives my daughter and mother-in-law an advantage and maybe they will not lose as many.

Has anyone tried these with minnows?

Wise words!

I would just add that circle hooks are great for little kids, too, since they can't really set a hook anyway. We use them for my nieces (6 and 4) and they work great.

I guess my dad started using them for Big Catfish as well as they seem to hook them every time and they can be quick on the bite. The only thing I do not like is they are also known to pull out if you jerk to set the hook. That is what I like about fishing is to set the hook.

Anyway I think the pros outweigh the cons when using these.

Now I just need to get to the store to get some, wish I had a place besides the big box store to get some.

What sizes would you recommend for each of the fish below?


BCP
BG
HBG
GSF
CC
Tilapia

Thanks

What was said above about setting the hook is true. Especially about it being the best part!

They work, but I prefer the long J hooks for fishing on a public lake. On my pond I do use the circle hooks for the exact reasons george states

Circle hooks have had me hooked since they first came out back then they were mainly only large sizes for catfishing but now they are in all sizes and they are all I will use..

I have been unable to find small circle hooks, where is the best place to get them?

Here's the page with "part numbers". Let your fingers do the walking searching the big retailers on-line or maybe check amazon?

http://www.ownerhooks.com/circlehooks.htm

I never heard of these, good info! Thanks for posting this George.

Thanks Loretta!
Hey, you fly fisherman, I've tied up some CH(circle hook) Brimanators....check Pond Fly Fishing topic.

I want to order some circle hooks for catching perch, can someone recommend one from this page: http://www.ownerhooks.com/circlehooks.htm
Thanks!

I'd try and find

Mosquito Circle # 6 5185-051

or

the Mutu Light in #8 or #6 either black or red.

Just remember that you just reel the line tight when using circle hooks, don't "set" the hook.